A Head Start Father Building a Different Future

Michael Poole got to experience fatherhood earlier than he expected.

When he was in his early 20s, he entered a relationship with a woman who already had a young child. Suddenly, he found himself helping raise a child before becoming a biological father himself.

Having grown up without his father and later with a stepparent, Michael understood firsthand how much a child’s life can be shaped by the adults who show up for them. He also carried a fundamental belief that a difficult childhood does not have to determine the kind of parent you become.

“Just because your life was not the best doesn’t mean you should do the same things as an adult,” he said. “I took what I had experienced and pushed myself to become better.”

Michael stepped up as a father, working through his own childhood trauma to be the person he needed when he was younger.

Today, Michael and his fiancée are raising their children in Jordan Park, three of which are currently students at LSF Pinellas Head Start.

For Michael, enrolling his children was an easy decision.

He grew up hearing positive things about the program from his younger brothers, who attended Head Start years earlier. Living near the Jordan Park Head Start center made the opportunity even more accessible for his family.

Michael quickly saw how the Head Start team showed up for his family in the same ways he did.

His oldest daughter entered the program with a speech impediment. Over two years in Head Start, Michael watched her confidence and communication skills grow. “The improvement was massive,” he said.

Each of his children learns differently, but Michael said Head Start’s teachers and staff recognized those differences and met each child where they were. From language development and school readiness skills to everyday milestones like potty training, the program became an extension of the family’s support system.

“I believe Head Start is a good support system,” Michael said. And for Michael, that support goes both ways.

While some parents drop off their children and head to work, Michael became one of the most engaged fathers in the program. He participates in A Man Everybody Needs, or AMEN, a fatherhood involvement initiative that encourages fathers and positive male role models to take an active role in their children’s development and Head Start community.

The program helps fathers build connections, access resources and understand the critical role they play during a child’s earliest years. For Michael, involvement is about setting an example.

“I want my kids to see Dad’s always active, Dad’s always here, I don’t have to worry,” he said.

Whether participating in fatherhood activities, volunteering at family events or lending a hand wherever needed, Michael consistently shows up. Earlier this year, he even volunteered to help at a Mother’s Day celebration for Head Start families.

Sandra Louza, a Family and Community Engagement specialist with LSF Head Start, has watched Michael’s commitment firsthand.

“Michael is always present and willing to participate, assist, volunteer or simply do whatever he can to support the program,” she said.

His dedication to showing up for his family extends beyond the bounds of the classroom. Michael and his fiancée recently set a family goal of purchasing a vehicle. Through determination, teamwork and careful planning, they achieved that goal earlier this year, creating greater stability and opportunity for their family.

For Sandra, their accomplishment reflects something she sees often when families become engaged in Head Start.

“When families build on their strengths and actively participate in their children’s education, they become leaders and advocates not only for their own children, but for their communities,” she said.

That commitment to community is something Michael carries with him every day. In his neighborhood, he keeps an eye out for local children, encouraging them to make positive choices and avoid trouble whenever he can.

Someone showed up for him when he needed it. Now, he is determined to do the same for others.

At LSF, we know that children thrive when fathers are engaged. Through Head Start, parents are empowered as their child’s first and most important teacher while receiving the tools and they need to build beautiful futures for their children and themselves.

In Pinellas County alone, LSF Head Start serves over 1,200 children across more than 80 classrooms, helping prepare young learners for kindergarten and life beyond the classroom.

But behind every enrollment number is a story and a future being shaped. Families like the Pooles demonstrate what becomes possible when children and their parents are given the support they need to thrive.

This Father’s Day, Michael’s story reminds us that fatherhood is not defined by perfection or by the stories that shape our past. It is defined by our choices and how we decide to show up in the present.

And sometimes, being a good father is as simple as making sure your children never have to wonder whether Dad will be there. Because he always is.