Officers read to Head Start students

By Kathy Thomson

The month of October has been designated as Head Start Awareness month since 1982, and this year local Head Start family services coordinator Stephanie Jaco asked local leaders to help her implement one of the recommended activities.

“One of the suggestions to celebrate Awareness with our class was that we have community members come read to us,” said Jaco. “We have amazing people who serve our community and I reached out to our volunteer fire department, police department, state troopers, and EMS. Overall, we had 11 volunteers come to talk to our class and read them a book.”  

Among the readers were sheriff Ed Miller, volunteer firefighters Alison Gardenhire and Jeff Hill, deputy sheriffs Jason Price and Quinton Lee, state troopers Brian Waggoner and Chad Overton, police chief Mike House, police officer Kelli Cobb, VFD chief Kyle Tischler and his dalmatian Ember, paramedic Brittany McBee, and correctional officer Leticia Cecilio.  

“The class enjoyed having local ‘heroes’ come in and read,” said Jaco. “After the story, they also had the opportunity to ask questions about how each of the volunteers serves the community, about their uniforms, and some of their vehicles.”

According to Jaco, the little girls in the class really got excited about seeing females in some of these roles.  

The class was asked to identify the differences in the uniform patches that each reader wore. 

“The children also asked about the equipment that each person had to carry in order to do their jobs and about their footwear and hat,” said Jaco. “Regardless of the boot or shoe, the cowboy hat or the ball cap, it seemed the kids felt that was very important, as that question was asked of every single reader.”

The children learned some safety tips including the importance of wearing their safety belts in the car and when to call  9-1-1. 

“We had the opportunity to see deputy Price’s patrol vehicle and a few fire trucks as well,” said Jaco.   

Some of the volunteers brought a book that they wanted to read, while others picked from a selection that Jaco had available.

“I left it open to the reader,” she said. “Most had favorite books that they brought that they read to their own children. After the story and the questions, we got each volunteer to pose with the class and get a picture.”

According to Jaco, the volunteer reader program was so well received that she hopes to do another month of community readers in the spring.  

“We also have a weekly reader, Pam Davis, who comes every Thursday afternoon,” said Jaco. “She usually brings two books and reads to our class using different voices and facial expressions. The children really look forward to her reading days.”

Albany Head Start has immediate openings for qualified three and four year old children. For information about applying for Head Start, call NSES at 325-762-3384.