Kathryn Alemán-Cloud Wins the Vanessa Rich Leadership Award

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Kathryn (Katie) Alemán-Cloud has been awarded the Vanessa Rich Leadership Award by the National Head Start Association (NHSA) at its recent Conference and Expo. Alemán-Cloud serves as the center director of Telamon Migrant Head Start in Michigan. 

The Vanessa Rich Award is named in honor of a former NHSA Board Chair who made her mark in her early years and whose impact is still felt today. After serving as a teenage intern in the summer of 1965, Rich embarked on a 40-year career of Head Start leadership and service in Chicago. This award in her memory is intended for a new Head Start or Early Head Start director who is carrying on the legacy of Vanessa’s famed saying: “Head Start doesn’t stop on the front porch; it comes all the way into the house.” 

Alemán-Cloud was awarded for her exceptional leadership skills and unwavering commitment to excellence, integrity, and service. She leads by example, bringing a steady, positive energy, genuine care and compassion, and authenticity and empathy toward her team and the children and families she serves. Alemán-Cloud was also acknowledged for her ability to navigate complexity, mentor and support staff, and be a champion for all families.

Founded in 1965, Telamon | TRC began as “The Migrant Project” by the North Carolina Council of Churches with a mission to support migrant farm workers. As part of Alemán-Cloud’s work, she helps strengthen families’ lives by providing pathways to self-sufficiency and building a legacy of success for future generations. 

“Kathryn Alemán-Cloud leads by example and is a true testament of what the Vanessa Rich Leadership Award is about – providing a positive influence on Head Start families and the broader community, and demonstrating leadership in everything she does,” said Yasmina Vinci, executive director of the National Head Start Association. “Alemán-Cloud’s contributions have significantly advanced the mission of Head Start and the Telamon Michigan Migrant Head Start.”

For more information about the Vanessa Rich Leadership Award, and NHSA, please visit https://nhsa.org/scholarships-and-awards/vanessa-rich-leadership-award/.