Stacy E. Johnson, the new chief program officer/Head Start director for the YWCA Head Start/Early Head Start program, and her staff have one goal: to prepare children for future learning. Johnson wants every child to know that they are cared for and will be nurtured in a safe environment.
She took over on August 19, filling the void left by Betty Robinson, longtime YWCA Head Start director who passed away in July of 2013.
As Robinson’s health declined, Johnson served as interim Head Start director; and prior to that, she was assistant director. Her previous positions, she said, has taught her one thing – her new role will be extremely demanding.
“It’s just a difference when you know that the buck stops with you now,” she said.
One of her short-term objectives as director is to have a successful Federal Peer Review for the upcoming school year. Every three years, the government sends a team of people to all grantees during a certain period to review Head Start/Early Head Start centers, making sure they’re in compliance with all federal regulations.
In addition to having a successful Federal Peer Review, Johnson vows to make sure that the maximum amount of income-eligible children and families have access to its services and that quality teachers are recruited and retained.
The YWCA Metro St. Louis Head Start/Early Head Start provides comprehensive child development services that increase the school readiness of children ages birth to five years old. In 2012, nearly 4,000 income-eligible families were served through 11 centers, 16 childcare partner sites and one delegate agency, the Urban League.
It is the largest program in the St. Louis area and the second largest in a four-state region that includes Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa. It is licensed by the state of Missouri and nationally accredited.
Johnson considers herself to be a “Head Start- lifer.” She first began her career with Head Start 28 years ago, when she was “fresh out of college.” Of those 28 years, she has spent 20 in managerial positions that date back to when she worked for the Kansas City School District’s Head Start program.
Johnson holds a master’s in early childhood administration from National-Louis University in Evanston, Ill. and a bachelor’s in child development from Truman State University. She has participated in the Johnson & Johnson Management Fellow Training program and serves as a Federal Peer Reviewer.
She foresees one major hurdle she and her staff will have to overcome – federal budget cuts. Last school year due to budget cuts, the YWCA was forced to close its Manchester Center in South City, and reduce its enrollment by 160 children. It’s highly likely that budget cuts will again be on the books in 2014, she said.
“We’re in the process now of looking at where we can make cuts that would have the least impact to children and families,” she said, “and at all costs – staff.”
Johnson said her aspiration was never to be a Head Start/Early Head Start director. She envisions herself as a “change agent” in Washington, D.C. making policies for the betterment of all national Head Start programs, but understands she must first pay her dues.
“My aspiration is to continue to climb,” she said. “There are steps that have to come before that, things that you need to learn and experience. This is just one of those stepping stones.”
