Jannette Morales, Teacher’s Assistant, MAOF Zoe II Head Start Center, Huntington Park, CA
I have been working in early education for 12 years. I love working with young children because I enjoy playing with them, teaching them, and preparing them for the future. I also like the relationships I build with their families and the ability to help them help their children.
Recently, I transferred to a position as a Teacher’s Assistant in the Head Start program. I decided to work in Head Start because it challenges me more professionally and I feel it’s a strong program for the children. Head Start gives them a very structured schedule and, I feel, more time is dedicated to the development of each child.
I work with 3-5 year old children. Every child in Head Start benefits from this program. They learn a lot – from the ABCs to phonics to socializing with other children. And there are many classes and trainings for their parents, as well. Parents learn about nutrition, how to help their children continue to learn at home, how to work with children who are hyperactive. They learn how to be better parents.
I’m worried about how the cuts will affect the families and the children I work with. The parents tell me they are worried. They are working parents and they don’t know what they’ll do if Head Start is gone. Some of them have children who are graduating from the program this year and they have younger ones who they want to enroll in next year’s program. But we don’t know if there will be a program next year. They ask me, “Where are we going to leave the children?” “What are we going to do?” I fear that these children will just be at home watching TV.
Early Education is the foundation for a child’s future. Sometimes children I have taught come back to visit me after they are in elementary school. The parents tell me, “my son made the honor roll or my daughter got a certificate of accomplishment.” It makes me feel good. It makes me proud because I know that we have started them off on a solid course for their future. I think Congress has to really think about what cuts to Head Start will mean to the children and the families in our communities – not just now but in the years to come.
