Head Start Alumni Honored with Impact Certificate of Recognition Awards

Alumni Touted for their Professional Achievements and Contributions
to the Head Start Mission

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Today, five Ohio-based Head Start alumni were honored with the Alumni Impact Certificate of Recognition from the National Head Start Association (NHSA). The award certificates celebrate their accomplishments, professional achievements, and contributions that reflect and advance the Head Start mission at the local, national, and global levels. The recognition came during the four-day National Head Start Conference and Expo. This year’s conference is especially vital as Head Start marks its 60th anniversary as a legacy brand for early childhood learning, child care, and strengthening families.

For six decades, lawmakers have invested in Head Start, one of the nation’s most respected and bipartisan programs. In every state, Head Start sets expectant parents and children from birth to age five up for success with critical health care, nutritious meals, and other services. Head Start’s multigenerational approach also strengthens families and connects parents with resources such as job support, housing, and counseling to improve family stability and engagement.

The honorees include:

• Samantha Forsythe – Mentor and Coach at the Child Development Council of Franklin County, Inc., in Columbus, Ohio 

Samantha attended the Child Development Council of Franklin County (CDCF). While working full-time as a parent at CDCF, she obtained a Bachelor’s degree and is now actively involved in her son’s academic and extracurricular activities, and works at the agency to deliver critical support to teaching staff in her new role as coach and mentor.

• Lexius (Lex-Us) Leonard – Social Services Manager/Child Development Council of Franklin County, Inc. 

Lexius attended Deshler Head Start Child Development Council of Franklin County, Inc., and began her tenure at CDCF as a family service worker in 2023. Lexius’ empathetic leadership, strong work ethic, and pattern of exceeding expectations led to her promotion to social service manager. In this role, she leads a team that identifies and implements strategies that put the success of Head Start families first.  

• Tashianna Kwakye – Early Learning Program Owner/Administrator 

Tashianna attended a home-based program and the Mattie B. James Center as part of the Child Development Council of Franklin County Head Start in Columbus, Ohio. She has several roles: owner/administrator of various early learning programs, director of operations for a licensed agency serving individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities, and an early childhood mental health consultant with Nationwide Children’s Hospital serving early childhood programs. Her positive experience with Head Start’s whole-child, whole-family approach influences her current work and her future endeavors as she has plans to open a school in Ghana.

• Noel (No-elle) Tinnes – Teacher Assistant/Child Development Council of Franklin County Inc. 

Noel attended Avalon Head Start/Child Development Council of Franklin County, Inc. and became a teacher assistant at the same organization. She is a first-generation college attendee who volunteers for several local community organizations to better her community. 

• Janvier (John-Vee-Ay) Anais Ward – CEO of Creole 2 Geaux 

Janvier attended the Mattie B. James Center Child Development Council of Franklin County, Inc. Janvier is the owner of Creole 2 Geaux, a restaurant specializing in New Orleans-style cuisine. Janvier had this goal when she was a parent in Head Start, and worked on developing it with her family service worker when her daughter was a student there. As a result, Janvier started a food truck before launching her brick-and-mortar location at the East Market in Columbus, Ohio. She now has another downtown location in the Arena District in Columbus, where she has catered to many celebrities and received coverage on Good Day Columbus, NBC 4, and Experience Columbus.  

The Alumni Impact Certificate of Recognition is given to a Head Start alumnus/na who is a demonstrated champion for the vulnerable and whose accomplishments, affiliations, and professional career have positively impacted the local, national, or global community, and honor the Head Start mission.