Lutheran Services Florida is proud of the hardworking, dedicated, and skillful team that educates and cares for each and every child in our program. Read below to learn more about the people who have chosen to build a fulfilling career in early education.
“You have to be empathetic. Our hearts are in this. We are mothers and fathers first, and we treat our students like they are our own.”
Kelly Archibald is a site manager at the Tarpon Springs Head Start Center. She has been an educator for over 26 years, with the last six years in the Pinellas County Head Start Program. Beginning as a teacher in one of the centers in Pinellas, she believes that making genuine connections with the students and families is critical to the success and longevity of a child’s participation with Head Start. Her management style is simple: treat others as you would treat yourself.
“We build relationships at Head Start. The relationships with the students and families have a long lasting impact on their development within their communities.”
Lymarie has taught many children over her 16 year career. She values the relationship created not only with the student, but with the family to ensure the success of the students in the Head Start program. She believes the success of the program is the holistic nature of the programs, encompassing nutrition and exercise as well as the academic elements. She is currently an educator at the Tarpon Springs Head Start location.
“Not only are we making sure our kids are on the right academic path, but we try to make our kids ready for life in elementary school when they leave our learning centers.”
Beginning her career as a teacher at the Connie L. Marmaro center in St. Petersburg, she discovered her passion was to help with early childhood education. The Head Start program affords her this opportunity, where she has been with the program for over 9 years. She loves the work/life balance she gets from the Pinellas Head Start program, and is always there to help her co-workers. Currently, she is the site manager for the Dunedin Head Start program, and fosters a family-style work environment by creating a warm, open-door atmosphere.
“As a mother, I understand what many of our Head Start families are going through. This helps me in my job to better serve those in our programs”.
Ana has been a FACES (Family and Community Engagement Specialist) for over three years and feels that the presence of a human to help with the application process has helped with the success of the program. Parents will see her involvement and more likely continue with the programs as the relationship strengthens. Her main focus is bridging the gap between the community and Head Start programs, which both are paramount to the long term success of the children.
“I fight for the families that I serve. I will find resources within the community to help our families get what they need to succeed.”
Carmen is an 18 year veteran of the Head Start program. As a Family and Community Engagement Specialist (FACES), she helps those families enroll in programs that may not have the technology to do so. She is also a community resource to the families, connecting them to other non-profit organizations that my help with the family’s long-term viability. Being bilingual has always helped her with families that are scared to reach out and receive the services available due to language barriers. Her colleagues admit that she is a hard worker and a huge asset to the team.
There are many fulfilling opportunities to make a difference in the lives of children and families in and out of the classroom. We’re always looking for dedicated employees to join the Head Start Team. Browse the opportunities below. If you’re interested, contact us and submit your resume!
Serves as lead worker in classroom. Performs duties planning and implementing educational activities for pre-school aged children or infants/toddlers in the Head Start/Early Heart Start Program that comply with federal performance standards. Participates in the HS/EHS Quality Assurance efforts.
Serves as lead worker in classroom. Performs duties planning and implementing educational activities for pre-school aged children or infants/toddlers in the Head Start/Early Heart Start Program that comply with federal performance standards. Participates in the HS/EHS Quality Assurance efforts.
Works as part of a teaching team in developing activities for preschool children. Assists the teacher in carrying out the goals, policies and activities designed to implement educational objectives and performance standards. Works with families to promote parent involvement in the program. May serve as Bus Monitor on activities where the program transports children. May perform additional duties based on program needs and areas of developing expertise. Participates in the HS/EHS Quality Assurance efforts.
Supports and assists families as they identify and meet their own goals through a family-centered case management model for developing and carrying out the program family partnership agreements., including responsibility for child files, enrollment/applications, etc. Assists with the completion of the child health requirements and other required screenings and assessments. Participates in the HS/EHS Quality Assurance efforts.
Lutheran Services Florida