CCIU opens Head Start classes in Jennersville

Head Start, started 45 years ago by President Lyndon B. Johnson, works to give a pre-school education to families who would otherwise be unable to afford it.

Alice Mihan, a family service specialist at Head Start who will also supervise the classes at Jennersville, sees how different the Head Start program here is compared to elsewhere.

“What sets us apart is that we’re totally comprehensive,” said Mihan. “We not only provide services to the children, but we also provide services to their families, like education and nutrition programs, and housing information.”

“Our teachers work half the day with the kids, generally in classes of 17, and then spend the other half of the day doing family service work.”

Mihan feels that through their use of creative curriculum and working on the socio-emotional development of the students they’ve been able to create a positive reputation.
“We’ve been out recruiting in Jennersville, and it’s been going great,” she said. “We’re really excited to expand and the enrollment has been picking up.”

Debbie Hertzfeld-Miller, Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) Head Start and Even Start supervisor, sees the many benefits to having the program expand in southern Chester County.

“There’s a continually increasing awareness of the program and the services we offer,” said Miller. “There are lots of families from the West Grove and Avon Grove areas who we wouldn’t have otherwise been able to help but now can with the new location.”

She also sees the possibilities afforded by having the classes run out of a facility that is also home to a place as vibrant and educationally focused as the Technical College High School is sure to be.

“One of the biggest benefits I see is that the children will be able to work with other areas of study. We’re hoping to develop collaborative relationships with other programs in the building, like automotive, or horticulture, or even culinary.”

“So that way we can get the kids into the classrooms, or have a student from those programs come and give a demonstration or talk to the kids.”

Another plus that Hertzfeld-Miller sees is that the high school students enrolled in the Early Childhood Care and Education program at the Technical College High School will be able to work with the preschoolers at Head Start as student volunteers.

“We want them to be able to come and interact with the kids, and hopefully for some of them, when they receive their CDA’s (childhood development associate credential) they can come and work with us as aides.”

Add in the Technical College High Schools’ brand new playground, and it’s seems that the Chester County Head Start’s newest location could not be more ideally situated.