NHSA

Maximizing Your PFCE Efforts
2023-04-20 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Maximizing Your PFCE Efforts: How Small Changes Can Make Big Differences! The Parent Gauge and Ready4K Trauma-Informed teams have been working together to bring enhanced data-informed decision-making to Head Start programs.
Join us for a webinar to explore how to use information from these two tools in combination to maximize your family engagement efforts.
Moderator: Sandy Oceguera, NHSA Senior Data Product Manager
Expert Presenters:
Victoria Jones, is NHSA’s senior director of data. Victoria has prior experience in early childhood education from her five years working at Sesame Street in New York City. Victoria earned her bachelor’s degree from Barnard College at Columbia University and received her master’s in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Lorena Sernett focuses on Early Childhood Partnerships & Grants for ParentPowered, home of Ready4K. In her role, she facilitates partnerships with education providers to enhance family engagement efforts for parents of our youngest learners.Lorena supported the early childhood learning community at Teachstone Training and Teaching Strategies and was instrumental in the global expansion of CLASS®, The Creative Curriculum®, and GOLD®. Ms. Sernett holds bachelor degrees in International Business and Spanish, and has over 20 years of experience in the education and technology fields.
Brought to you by:

Kids On-Campus: Head Start and Community College Partnerships
2023-04-13 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Exploring On-Campus Child Care Solutions: Head Start and Community College
A chronic shortage of affordable on-campus child care leaves student parents – especially single mothers – struggling to meet a basic need necessary for pursuing post-secondary education. The long-term benefit of obtaining post-secondary education is well understood by parents, but the reality of the lack of affordable childcare solutions is often a barrier.
Join the Association of Community College Trustees and the National Head Start Association as we launch our Kids on Campus project. During this webinar, we will provide insights on the issues faced by student parents at large in accessing childcare and highlight some of the work done thus far that has led to this project and partnership. Together, ACCT and NHSA will develop resources for partnerships to match existing Head Start providers with community college campuses that can offer free facilities.

Prioritizing Funding Wages
2023-04-12 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
The Office of Head Start has encouraged programs to consider a change in scope as one way programs can right-size their budgets giving an opportunity to improve the staff wages. This is how we do it….
President and Chief Executive Officer at Children & Families First, Maria Layne-Stevens will share their process on how they improved staff wages by completing a change in scope, ALL while having open lines of communication with OHS. Attendees will identify strategies to work with what they have locally to make informed decisions and learn more about the advocates who continue to push for increased funding for Head Start programs across the nation.
Improving staff wages is one of the initiatives of the NHSA’s Workforce Development Hub. The Hub is a comprehensive resource and think tank, set up to provide real solutions and support the development of a national workforce pipeline for Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

Presenter:
Maria Layne-Stevens is the President and CEO at Children & Families First. Drawing on her passion for young children and families and her experience as a product of Head Start, she leads her team in executing the strategic direction of the largest Head Start provider in the State, which is also a source of comprehensive services for more than 6,000 families in Guilford and Rockingham Counties. For more than 25 years, Maria has been deeply engaged in issues around early childhood education and she continues to advocate for equitable social, economic and educational outcomes for underserved populations.
Known for being a visionary, Maria has been instrumental in the development of the agency’s programs and staff, successfully growing the budget by $3.5 million over the last five years and securing capital funding in excess of $3 million to build new facilities and complete major renovations at four facilities since 2015.
Maria holds a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Sciences from Ohio University, and a master’s degree in Psychology with a specialization in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Capella University.

Apprenticeships in Early Learning: Getting Started
2023-04-06 11:30 - 12:30 (America/New_York)
Apprenticeships in early childhood education are gaining momentum! This webinar will feature two topics and speakers:

First, we will hear about the newly established National Center for Early Care and Education Workforce from Elizabeth Pufall Jones, the Director of Preparation and Work Environment Programs at the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment.
Then, Heather Bryant, dean of Early Childhood Education and Early Learning at Dallas College, will share about the evolution of their apprenticeship program, and the role of Head Start of Greater Dallas. The session will include time for Q&A.

This webinar will be moderated by the leader of the HeadStarter Network‘s Apprenticeship Work Circle, Pamm Shaw. Pamm is also the VP of Strategic Funding and Partnerships at the YMCA of East Bay.
Can’t join us live? No problem – registrants will receive a recording of the session. Be sure to check out our Apprenticeship Kick-Start Guide.

Sponsored by:

Learn With Walden University
2023-04-05 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Come learn with Walden University as they join you in celebrating early education, young children, teachers, families, and communities.
Every day, you support the academic and emotional growth of your students. Walden wants to support you with a webinar that will help you make your classroom an inclusive space where your students’ social and emotional needs are met.
JOIN US FOR A LIVE WEBINAR:
Calm Heart, Clear Minds, Let’s Learn!
Presenter: MoNique Waters Kirkland
Join MoNique Waters Kirkland as she shares how she includes social and emotional learning, mindfulness, and emotional awareness while prioritizing her students’ mental health in her classroom. These small but impactful shifts will not only benefit individual students but will change the dynamics and behaviors of your whole class. You will walk away with ready-to-implement ideas that will leave you and your students feeling good and learning like never before.
To learn about Walden University and all the degree and certificate programs in education, visit WaldenU.edu/NHSA or call 1-855-628-3427.

Lunch and Learn with Parent Gauge
2023-04-04 12:30 - 2023-04-25 13:00 UTC
Bring your lunch (or coffee or mid-morning snack!) and join the Parent Gauge team for a “Lunch & Learn” series this April. Each Tuesday in the month of April, the team will focus on one component of using the Parent Gauge tool and provide an in-depth demo and best practice tips. We’ll hit important topics like setting up centers, uploading rosters, and utilizing the reports built into the tool.
The series is designed for those already using Parent Gauge, but those interested in learning about Parent Gauge are welcome to sit in! Are you interested in becoming a subscriber? Learn more!

April 4: “Setting Up for Success” Preparing Prior to Your Interview (Watch Recording!)
April 11: “What Does This Button Do?” Buttons, Rosters, and general Parent Gauge Use
April 18: “Remarkable Reporting 101”
April 25: “Remarkable Reporting 102”

This “Lunch and Learn with Parent Gauge” series is brought to you by the Parent Gauge team at NHSA!

Spring Garden Storytime
2023-03-08 13:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York)
Spring is right around the corner and we are ready to get those gardens started! Are you? The Spring Garden Storytime is a great way to kickoff the spring season. Together, we can share the joy of gardening AND storytime with your Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms!
Our storytellers are gardeners, and in these LIVE storytime sessions they will read wonderful garden-themed books to the children, and “show and tell” about interesting plants. Both teachers and students will love this interactive learning session!
Presenters:
Noel Nicholas (she/her) is the Educational Content Manager for KidsGardening, where she co-develops original educational materials designed to help kids play, learn and grow through gardening. She holds a BA in Creative Writing from University of Southern California, where she developed a passion for informal education while teaching poetry at 32nd Street School/USC Magnet. Prior to joining KidsGardening, Noel worked as a Museum Educator at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, developing and delivering educational programs for diverse, multi-generational audiences, and managing the museum’s Storytime Live program. In her spare time she teaches in the school garden at Third Street Elementary in Los Angeles.

Sarah Pounders, while working toward her master’s degree in Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University, Sarah Pounders served as a school garden coordinator and conducted research on the benefits of using school garden programs to teach nutrition. She went on to work at various botanical gardens and for Cooperative Extension in Virginia and Texas. Since 2005, Sarah has been an education specialist at KidsGardening, coordinating numerous children’s gardens and writing curricula and activities for youth of all ages. Sarah enjoys gardening at home with her two children and serves as the volunteer garden coordinator at her son’s elementary school.

Sponsor:

Want even more? Check out our Gardening with Kids Basics course provided by The Academy.

Advancing Conversations with Policymakers
2023-03-07 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
As part of the Early Head Start Rising Advocacy series, Finding Common Ground and Advancing Conversations with Policymakers, will examine techniques to find common ground with policy makers, identify tips and messages that advance conversations with decision-makers, and provide information that may be shared in your state and community to advance Early Head Start.
Moderator: Katie Dufford-Melendez
Presenters:

Joshua Harris, Senior Manager of Marketing and Communications
Allyson Frazier, National Senior Director

Sponsored by:
Voices for Healthy Kids

Elephants with NHSA and Zoo in the Classroom
2023-03-02 14:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York)
Who wants to learn about Elephants?!? NHSA and Zoo in the Classroom is a high-energy, interactive experience that include music and movement. It is designed to keep children active, engaged, and thriving.
Join the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (SNZCBI) and NHSA for three LIVE learning opportunities about Zoo animals, created specifically for Head Start and Early Head Start programs across the country!

Program 1: Thursday, October 20: Small Mammal House (watch recording)
Program 2: Thursday, January 19: Cats of All Kinds (watch recording)
Program 3: Thursday, March 2 (National Read Across America Day): Elephants (watch recording)

Presenters for NHSA and Zoo in the Classroom:
Emily Porter – Manager of Early Childhood and Family Learning Experience
Rachel Hutchison – Associate of Special Projects, NHSA
Nick Young – Preschool Musician, PlayMotion Music
Smithsonian’s National Zookeepers

Paving the Way to Your CDA!
2023-03-01 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Earning a CDA® credential demonstrates educators’ knowledge, skills, and abilities in the early childhood education field as well as their commitment to professional development. Designed for working Head Start and Early Head Start professionals, The Academy’s CDA® Training Pathways program gives learners the flexibility and support they need to achieve their goals.
Join us as we share how NHSA is making the CDA credential a smooth process for professionals. Together, we will explore the CDA pathways to determine which path and learning experience is just right for YOU!
We are here to support you as you achieve your goals. To do so, we have created a comprehensive curriculum that includes all of the materials you will need. In this webinar you will get to hear from the course author, 2 graduates, a program leader, and a CDA coach. Please join us to learn how you can pave your way to your CDA!
Moderator: Zuly Vazquez

Zuly is the Manager of Early Head Start Professional Learning at NHSA. She has worked with Head Start, and Early Head Start programs for over a decade, specializing in training, mentoring, coaching, facilitation, curriculum implementation, and management. She worked for several years in the classroom, providing high-quality education to children from different cultures, traditions, and ethnicities. She is a former EHS/HS parent. She has vast experience supporting and providing technical assistance to teachers, family child care providers, education specialists, and families in large EHS/HS programs in Florida and Georgia. Over her career, she designed a supplemental Christian early childhood curriculum, bilingual online lessons, and classroom observation tools and has facilitated early childhood education courses in English and Spanish at the college level. As an active early childhood advocate, she is a board member of her local NAEYC affiliate and Family Child Care Home Alliance of Georgia. She is a senior advisor of Latinas United for the Children of America.

Webinar: Child Nutrition Programs Proposed Rule
2023-03-01 14:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York)
Join us for a webinar with USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) in collaboration with NHSA and national partners. USDA will provide an overview of the proposed rule Child Nutrition Programs: Revisions to Meal Patterns to be Consistent with the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and its impact to operators of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
Co-Sponsors

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Afterschool Alliance
Alliance for a Healthier Generation
Child Care Aware of America
CACFP Roundtable
CLASP (Center for Law and Social Policy)
Feeding America
Food Research & Action Center
Homegrown
National Association of Family Child Care
National CACFP Forum
National CACFP Sponsors Association
National Farm to School Network
National Head Start Association
National Recreation and Park Association
No Kid Hungry Campaign by Share Our Strength
Partnership for a Healthier America

Health Service Certification Information Session
2023-02-27 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Curious about NHSA’s Health Service Certification? As part of Head Start’s comprehensive services, every Head Start and Early Head Start program provides services to promote health, behavioral health, and safety for children and families. New and experienced health services staff can use Academy at NHSA courses to learn more about health services and the role of health services staff.
In this one-hour information session, you will meet a course instructor and a certification graduate. We will also share information about the learning platform candidates will use, and the support that is provided to candidates as they work through the competencies. The end result is a certification that meets the qualification requirements laid out in the Head Start Performance Standards for health service professionals, and an achievement of which you can be very proud!
There will be an opportunity for Q&A so interested candidates can better understand the certification requirements and see themselves completing this certification.
Presenters:
Kristina Ellis, Director
Kristina is director of The Academy at NHSA. As a Head Start alum, Kristina’s interest in early childhood stems from a rich background in social services work and her commitment to early childhood education and family engagement. Before NHSA, Kristina worked for CAP Tulsa, one of the largest anti-poverty nonprofits in Oklahoma and a nationally recognized provider of research-based, high-quality early childhood education for low-income children.

Jackie Rivera, Instructor
Jackie has been a Health Administrator at a Head Start in central Missouri for over 10 years and is a Certified Community Action Professional. Before becoming a nurse, Jackie spent 10 years as an early childhood education teacher. Jackie oversees health and safety at her agency and is project manager for the agency’s Childhood Obesity and Diabetes Prevention Project and Women and Infant Relief Program. Jackie is a Licensed Practical Nurse, Child Development Associate, and Lactation Counselor. Jackie is certified to train in many topics, such as Compassion Fatigue, CPR/First Aid Motivational Interviewing, I Am Moving, I Am Learning, Family Wellness, Infant Massage, Mind in The Making, and Experiential Facilitation. Jackie has had the honor of being named for a National Child Plus Community Service Award and received MOCAN Healthcare Profession Award.
Certification Graduate, Adriene Etheridge-Holden, YMCA of Metro Atlanta Early Learning Health Service Manager

Certification Graduate, Rene Guernsey, Floyd County Head Start Health Assistant

How Garden Programs Combat Food Insecurity
2023-02-23 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
How Garden Programs Combat Food Insecurity: GroMoreGood Garden Webinar
Sarah Pounders of KidsGardening will share how Head Start/Early Head Start can use garden programs to combat food insecurity. We will also hear from two Head Start programs who are GroMoreGood grantees about how their garden programs are making a difference in their communities.

Presenters:
Sarah Pounders, While working toward her master’s degree in Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University, Sarah Pounders served as a school garden coordinator and conducted research on the benefits of using school garden programs to teach nutrition. She went on to work at various botanical gardens and for Cooperative Extension in Virginia and Texas. Since 2005, Sarah has been an education specialist at KidsGardening, coordinating numerous children’s gardens and writing curricula and activities for youth of all ages. Sarah enjoys gardening at home with her two children and serves as the volunteer garden coordinator at her son’s elementary school.

2021-22 GroMoreGood Garden Grant Recipients: Jennifer Bagdanov, Acelero Learning and Polly Philips, Verner Center for Early Learning will share about their garden program experience.

Sponsors:

Want even more? Check out our Gardening with Kids Basics course provided by The Academy and the GroMoreGood Garden Grants.

Four-Week Mindfulness Workshop for Head Start
2023-02-21 19:00 - 2023-03-14 20:00 UTC
NHSA is proud to partner with Starling Minds to offer a four-week mindfulness workshop to help Head Start staff to learn self-care tools for better mental clarity, presence of mind, and calmness. This workshop will allow you the time and space to focus on your wellbeing and learn self-care tools.

February 21, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. ET
February 28, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. ET
March 7, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. ET
March 14, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. ET

This Four-Week Mindfulness Workshop for Head Start is available for free through NHSA membership! Not a member? Encourage your program to start the year off right and sign up today!

Family Service Certification Information Session
2023-02-21 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Curious about NHSA’s Family Service Certification? In this one-hour information session, you will meet our reviewers and learn about the process of building a portfolio. We will also share information about the learning platform candidates will use, and the support that is provided to candidates as they work through the competencies. The end result is a certification that meets the qualification requirements laid out in the Head Start Performance Standards for family service staff, and an achievement of which you can be very proud.
Attendees will gain:

a better understanding of what this certification entails;
course intensity;
what support is provided by the enrollment process;
what support is needed for the student;
understanding of the program’s policy and procedures;
understanding of family services as the comprehensive support of Head Start; and
knowledge and skills needed to be a family services worker.

Moderator: Rachel Hutchison
Presenters:
Donita Brunson
Donita Vaughn-Brunson has worked in family services with Head Start for nearly three decades, training staff in areas of family engagement, eligibility services, home-visiting, and mentoring/coaching. In addition to grading NHSA’s Family Service Credential portfolios, she is certified to train the Exploring Parenting 21 st Century program and Conscious Discipline Parenting Education Curriculum. Donita is passionate about supporting families in becoming self-sufficient.

Sara Langi
Sara Langi is part of a Head Start/Early Head Start program in sunny Florida. She holds a Bachelor’s in Sociology and Master’s in Educational Leadership from Grand Canyon University. Sara has vast experience coaching staff utilizing the PFCE Framework and navigating the family partnership process. Sara has also earned NHSA’s Family Service Credential and is eager to support others through the process.

The Future of ERSEA in Head Start
2023-02-15 14:00 - 16:00 UTC
With our partners at Wipfli, NHSA is hosting online, two-day training series on current best practices with your professional peers and exploring challenges and solutions regarding the future of ERSEA in Head Start.
Learning Objectives:

Review regulation requirements from the HS Act and for 45 CFR Part 1302, Subpart A (ERSEA).
Share best practices in implementing ERSEA in the program.
Explore future challenges and solutions regarding ERSEA in Head Start.

Description:
Head Start/Early Head Start programs have a specific set of requirements to assist program leaders in identifying, recruiting, and selecting those children and families with the most need in their communities. This training will focus on all of the eligibility, recruitment, selection, enrollment, and attendance requirements, best known by the initials ERSEA, including adjusted guidelines and areas of Determining community strengths Documentation Recruitment options Attendance Fees, And more!
Presenter:
Tammy Jelinek, Principal
Tammy has spent more than 20 years working in and with grant-funded and fee-for-services nonprofit organizations. She engages with leadership teams to strategically align their goals to grow, expand, and meet their mission. Tammy has trained nationally in the areas of OMB Uniform Guidance, Head Start/Early Head Start Act and program regulations, parent/volunteer involvement, organizational development, human resources, leadership, and management. In helping clients make changes to impact their communities, she has engaged in organizational development and culture initiatives, process design and implementation, financial analysis, and change management (including coaching). Tammy holds a B.S. in business management (psychology minor) and an M.B.A. (emphasis in organizational development) from Upper Iowa University. She answers questions for the My Wipfli Annual Membership.
Certificate of completion is good for two months.
Regular Rate: $350
NHSA Member Rate: $300

Family Engagement in the Trenches
2023-02-14 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
A look at family engagement in the trenches from fellow practitioners. A three-part informational series supporting family engagement through the use of data, tools, and best practices. Experts from across the topics will convene to host transformational webinars to share their tried and true strategies with fellow practitioners.
Attendees register once and can choose one or more occurrences to attend.
Feb 14, Mental Health Wellness (Watch Recording!)
Feb 21, Administrator Planning and Organizing (Watch Recording!)
Feb 28, Staff Interview Sensitivity Training (Watch Recording!)
Family Engagement in the Trenches: Mental Health Wellness
Presenter: Maria Valdez with Communify Santa Barbara County, CA

Family Engagement in the Trenches: Planning and Organization of Data
Panelists:

Liz Bender of Youth in Need, MO
Nyanda Finley de Santos of Community Services for Children, PA

Family Engagement in the Trenches: Staff Interview Sensitivity Training
Panelists:

Sherry Day, Family Service Worker, Leads, Inc.
Jessie Hixon, Family Service Worker, Leads, Inc.
Scott Sykes, Family Service Worker, Leads, Inc.

Sponsored by:

How to Create a Positive “Classroom” Environment!
2023-02-02 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
How to Create a Positive “Classroom” Environment with Social & Emotional Learning!
NHSA is teaming up with Harmony Social & Emotional Learning to bring you an outstanding, 2-part, positive classroom training. We intentionally put classroom in quotations because the best practices, resources, and examples shared in this series can be applied to ALL places Head Start supports are provided: in the classroom, in the home, in the play areas, on the bus, in the community, in the dining area, and on and on!
Developing healthy relationships with children is vital to their social and emotional development. The Sanford Harmony Essentials Kit can help you make every interaction a meaningful one! In this interactive session, attendees will learn how to use the Meet Up and Buddy Up tools. Every participant can then sign up to receive the toolkit – FREE.
Education Managers: you can sign up to receive a kit for every educator you support.

Presenter: Jako Tjoutuku

Sponsored by:

Want More Professional Recognition?
2023-02-01 16:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
If you answered YES! to wanting more professional recognition, then we have a program for you! NHSA can help you to showcase your education, professional development and professional achievements with our new Digital Portfolio!
NHSA is proud to announce the creation of a Digital Portfolio especially for its membership, which will bring professional recognition directly to you – at no cost! NHSA’s Digital Portfolio stores all of the professional development (PD) you complete within NHSA and all of the PD you complete outside of NHSA.
Whether you complete a course, credential, attend a webinar or conference, this easy to access, easy to share resource will be at your fingertips to showcase that work. Join us for this exciting webinar as we launch the Digital Portfolio and help you showcase your professionalism.
Moderator:

Dr. Deborah Bergeron, Dr. B served as director of the Office of Head Start from 2018-21. From 2019-21 she broadened her leadership as director of the Office of Early Childhood Development in the Administration for Children and Families. Known as “Dr. B” to former students and teachers, she spent three decades in pre-K–12 public education as a classroom teacher and school administrator. She currently serves as deputy director for Community Engagement and Innovation at the National Head Start Association.

Presenter:
Tawsha Scord has been an Account Manager at Accredible since September 2021. She manages about 80 accounts and ensures they are getting the most out of their partnership by being her customers’ biggest advocate and providing business reviews and strategy planning. Outside of work, Tawsha enjoys living the adventure life in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons.

2023 Winter Leadership Institute
2023-01-23 - 2023-01-26
Explore meaningful policies, the role of Head Start in our country’s recovery, and meet with lawmakers to help provide a level of stability that will make all the difference. The 2023 Winter Leadership Institute will take place in Crystal City, VA January 23-26.

NHSA and Zoo in the Classroom
2023-01-19 14:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York)
NHSA and Zoo in the Classroom is a high-energy, interactive experience that include music and movement. It is designed to keep children active, engaged, and thriving.
Join the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (SNZCBI) and NHSA for three LIVE learning opportunities about Zoo animals, created specifically for Head Start and Early Head Start programs across the country!

Program 1: Thursday, October 20: Small Mammal House (watch recording)
Program 2: Thursday, January 19: Cats of All Kinds
Program 3: Thursday, March 2 (National Reading Day): Elephants (register here)

Presenters for NHSA and Zoo in the Classroom:
Emily Porter – Manager of Early Childhood and Family Learning Experience
Rachel Hutchison – Associate of Special Projects, NHSA
Nick Young – Preschool Musician, PlayMotion Music
Smithsonian’s National Zookeepers

Winter Garden Storytime
2023-01-18 13:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York)
Do you know what plants can grow in a winter garden? Let’s find out! Together, we can share the joy of gardening AND storytime with your Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms! Our storytellers are gardeners, and in these LIVE storytime sessions they will read wonderful garden-themed books to the children, and “show and tell” about interesting plants. Both teachers and students will love this interactive learning session!
Presenters:
Noel Nicholas (she/her) is the Educational Content Manager for KidsGardening, where she co-develops original educational materials designed to help kids play, learn and grow through gardening. She holds a BA in Creative Writing from University of Southern California, where she developed a passion for informal education while teaching poetry at 32nd Street School/USC Magnet. Prior to joining KidsGardening, Noel worked as a Museum Educator at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, developing and delivering educational programs for diverse, multi-generational audiences, and managing the museum’s Storytime Live program. In her spare time she teaches in the school garden at Third Street Elementary in Los Angeles.

Sarah Pounders, while working toward her master’s degree in Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University, Sarah Pounders served as a school garden coordinator and conducted research on the benefits of using school garden programs to teach nutrition. She went on to work at various botanical gardens and for Cooperative Extension in Virginia and Texas. Since 2005, Sarah has been an education specialist at KidsGardening, coordinating numerous children’s gardens and writing curricula and activities for youth of all ages. Sarah enjoys gardening at home with her two children and serves as the volunteer garden coordinator at her son’s elementary school.

Sponsor:

Want even more? Check out our Gardening with Kids Basics course provided by The Academy.

Supporting and Retaining Staff with Accredible
2023-01-12 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
As program leaders, you can support and retain your staff by helping them to showcase their education and professional achievements with NHSA’s Digital Portfolio!
NHSA is proud to announce the creation of a Digital Portfolio especially for its membership, which will bring professionalism to your staff directly – at no cost to you! NHSA’s Digital Portfolio stores all of the professional development (PD) your staff completes within NHSA and all of the PD they complete outside of NHSA.
Whether they complete a credential, attend a webinar or travel to an in person conference, this easy to access, easy to share resource will be at your staff’s fingertips. Join us for this exciting webinar as we launch the Digital Portfolio and help you support your staff to showcase their professionalism. This is an incredible resource for you and your team.
Moderator:

Dr. Deborah Bergeron, Dr. B served as director of the Office of Head Start from 2018-21. From 2019-21 she broadened her leadership as director of the Office of Early Childhood Development in the Administration for Children and Families. Known as “Dr. B” to former students and teachers, she spent three decades in pre-K–12 public education as a classroom teacher and school administrator. She currently serves as deputy director for Community Engagement and Innovation at the National Head Start Association.

Presenter:
Tawsha Scord has been an Account Manager at Accredible since September 2021. She manages about 80 accounts and ensures they are getting the most out of their partnership by being her customers’ biggest advocate and providing business reviews and strategy planning. Outside of work, Tawsha enjoys living the adventure life in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons.

Financial Wellness Assets for January
2023-01-12 13:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York)
Financial stress is the most common and persistent form of stress we face, impacting our physical and mental health, the health of our communities, and our satisfaction in our work. Join NHSA for Financial Wellness Thursdays for Leaders with The Beans (a financial wellness company founded by a former educator and a Head Start alumna!). This program is built specifically for Head Start/Early Head Start program leaders, to help you learn how you can stress less about money – and help your team stress less, too.
Presenters:
Melissa Pancoast, CEO & FOUNDER
Melissa Pancoast is the founder and CEO of The Beans, a financial care company changing the way hard working Americans relate to their finances. She started her career as a teacher, where she saw the impact of financial stress firsthand in her community. After completing graduate work at the University of Oxford, she served as a researcher in the University of Oxford’s Center for Evidence-Based Interventions. Her work, a series of “Economic Strengthening” workshops has been shared with 300 million people worldwide as a pillar in the global emergency response to COVID-19. Melissa has a MS in Evidence-Based Social Intervention from the University of Oxford and a BS in Political Science from Stetson University.
Alex Orozco, FOUNDING DESIGNER + HEAD OF PRODUCT DESIGN
Alex Orozco is the founding Designer and Head of Product Design at The Beans. As a Head Start alumna, she knows the power of Head Start first hand. In college, she taught English to teachers in Mexico and recruited educators. She earned her MSEd in Teaching English as a Second Language and started her career as a 5th grade ESL math teacher. Additionally, Orozco also coached basketball and chess to help pay down nearly 90k in student loans. She is responsible for the design and user experience of the app, The Beans brand, and the Customer Success team.

Webinar: Tackling Mid-Year Behaviors
2023-01-11 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
We are halfway through this academic year! Are you noticing new behaviors in your classroom? If so, this webinar has what you need to help address those mid-year behaviors. We will share three innovative approaches to the classroom environment. These strategies not only mitigate challenging behaviors, they significantly increase delightful interactions!
Join our experts as they share how to make transitions a meaningful part of your day; how to use movement to increase focus; and how to inspire the desire to behave well.
Presenters:
Dr. Deborah Bergeron, served as director of the Office of Head Start from 2018-21. From 2019-21 she broadened her leadership as director of the Office of Early Childhood Development in the Administration for Children and Families. Known as “Dr. B” to former students and teachers, she spent three decades in pre-K–12 public education as a classroom teacher and school administrator. She currently serves as deputy director for Community Engagement and Innovation at the National Head Start Association.

Hayes Greenfield founder of Creative Sound Play and the Greenfield Method (TGM), is a professional musician and teaching artist who has been teaching young people since 93. He’s taught TGM in Detroit with the PNC Bank Grow Up Great Initiative, consulted at Bank Street Head Start, has led professional development workshops and created programs for special needs high school students and teachers for the New York City Dept of Ed. Hayes has taught Applied Saxophone at Teacher’s College, Improv Camp at Lehman College, and has performed internationally with his interactive Jazz-A-Ma-Tazz, music/performance/workshop program. He has been recognized by New York University with their 2005 Jazz Educators Award, and his family CDs “Jazz-A-Ma-Tazz” and “Music for a Green Planet” have received critical acclaim and many awards.

Nick Young has been sharing the joy and enrichment of interactive music and movement with children for over 30 years. Nick began his career as a preschool teacher. After witnessing the social, emotional, and educational benefits of interactive music in early childhood, Nick created The Young Music Company—a mobile music school for preschoolers that brings music into the lives of thousands of children every year. Nick has presented his dynamic music and movement workshops at hundreds of conferences, conventions, and institutions. In 2016, Nick created the PlayMotion Music, music and movement curriculum and teacher training program to empower teachers to bring the magic of music and movement into their classrooms.

Sponsored By:

Cost-Saving Benefits with Amazon Business for Nonprofit! Webinar
2023-01-11 13:30 - 14:30 (America/New_York)
NHSA is excited to share more information about the cost-saving benefits for Head Start programs!
Amazon Business for Nonprofit and NHSA will host a webinar to launch and deep dive into our 2023 partnership. The Amazon Business team will share:

cost-saving benefits offered to Head Start Programs,
demo account best practices to maximize & manage grant spend-down dollars, and
answer questions during an open Q&A session.

Meet our Presenters:
Leon Bart Williams: Senior Strategic Accounts Representative, Nonprofits
Sydney Zeller: Customer Advisor, Nonprofits

More information about Amazon Business:
Amazon Business helps millions of customers worldwide—from small businesses, schools, hospitals, non-profit organizations, and government agencies, to large enterprises with global operations—reshape their procurement with cost and time savings, greater productivity, and insightful purchasing analytics. Procurement and business leaders enjoy convenient shipping options on hundreds of millions of supplies across categories like office, IT, janitorial, food service, and professional medical supplies. Customers also have access to a variety of business-tailored features and benefits, including a curated site experience, Business Prime, business-only pricing and selection, single or multi user business accounts, approvals workflow, purchasing system integrations, payment solutions, tax exemptions, dedicated customer support, and more. Amazon Business is currently available in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and India.

Stand-Up Meeting
2023-01-09 16:30 - 17:00 UTC
The purpose of this NHSA Members’ weekly Stand-Up Meeting is to share real-time updates and pressing information with colleagues across the country.
Please note: there will be No Stand-Up Meetings on the following observances:

New Year’s Day
Martin Luther King Day
Presidents’ Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Veterans Day
Christmas Eve Day
Christmas Day
Conferences
Other recognitions as noted via email to registered attendees

Early Head Start Advocate Training
2022-12-16 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Only 1 in 10 income-eligible families are able to access Early Head Start. Together, we can change this and NHSA’s Early Head Start Rising campaign is here to help! This research-based 1-hour advocacy training is designed to help you hone your ability to effectively educate and advocate for Early Head Start in your daily interactions and with policymakers and community leaders. This training will also give you an opportunity to become familiar with NHSA’s Early Head Start Rising Advocacy Toolkit. We hope you can join with other Head Start leaders passionate about supporting pregnant women, infants, toddlers and their families at this important training!
Moderated by NHSA Staff

Financial Wellness Thursdays for Leaders
2022-12-08 13:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York)
Financial stress is the most common and persistent form of stress we face, impacting our physical and mental health, the health of our communities, and our satisfaction in our work.
Join NHSA for Financial Wellness Thursdays for Leaders with The Beans (a financial wellness company founded by a former educator and a Head Start alumna!). This program is built specifically for Head Start/Early Head Start program leaders, to help you learn how you can stress less about money – and help your team stress less, too.
Upcoming Financial Wellness Programs:
On the registration page, you can choose to register for one or more of the following sessions.

Thursday, December 8, 2022
Thursday, January 12, 2023

Presenters:
Melissa Pancoast, CEO & FOUNDER
Melissa Pancoast is the founder and CEO of The Beans, a financial care company changing the way hard working Americans relate to their finances. She started her career as a teacher, where she saw the impact of financial stress firsthand in her community. After completing graduate work at the University of Oxford, she served as a researcher in the University of Oxford’s Center for Evidence-Based Interventions. Her work, a series of “Economic Strengthening” workshops has been shared with 300 million people worldwide as a pillar in the global emergency response to COVID-19. Melissa has a MS in Evidence-Based Social Intervention from the University of Oxford and a BS in Political Science from Stetson University.
Alex Orozco, FOUNDING DESIGNER + HEAD OF PRODUCT DESIGN
Alex Orozco is the founding Designer and Head of Product Design at The Beans. As a Head Start alumna, she knows the power of Head Start first hand. In college, she taught English to teachers in Mexico and recruited educators. She earned her MSEd in Teaching English as a Second Language and started her career as a 5th grade ESL math teacher. Additionally, Orozco also coached basketball and chess to help pay down nearly 90k in student loans. She is responsible for the design and user experience of the app, The Beans brand, and the Customer Success team.

Parent Advocacy Engagement Call
2022-12-07 19:00 - 19:45 (America/New_York)
Families Unite for Head Start: Parent Advocacy Engagement Call
Parent engagement is one of our top priorities!
Join the nationwide community of Head Start parents and caregivers. This is a space for parents to receive the latest Head Start updates and advocacy resources from the National Head Start Association as well as connect with Head Start families from across the country.
As parents and caregivers, you are your child’s biggest advocate. The National Head Start Association is looking to empower, support, and inform Head Start families interested in the healthy development and education of children.
Sign up now to join us for our quarterly parent advocacy engagement calls!
This is the final engagement call for 2022.

Special in-person meet-up during the week of Parent and Family Engagement Conference (December 12th – 15th)
Please stay tuned for our 2023 schedule.
