2000-2001 National Head Start Fellows

Head Start has served as a national laboratory for services to young children and their families, developing new knowledge to inform the entire early childhood field on best practices for young children. In keeping with this tradition, the National Head Start Fellows Program was created. The core of the program is an intensive work experience in Washington, D.C. The Fellows spend one year working in the administrative branch of the federal government where they learn firsthand from nationally recognized leaders and contribute their knowledge, skills, and local perspectives to the discussion of significant issues affecting children and families.

Head Start Fellows are energetic professionals who serve as apprentices in the areas of program development, research, child development, health, family development, and policy. They also participate in educational and leadership development programs, attend seminars, and explore national issues with senior government officials, policy makers, researchers, community leaders, and innovative early childhood program practitioners. We are proud to introduce the 2000-2001 Class of National Head Start Fellows:

Beverly Ann Angustain is an Even Start Director at Plaza de la Raza Head Start in the city of Commerce, California. Beverly Ann's responsibilities include the management and operations of the Even Start Literacy Program. Before this appointment, Beverly Ann was Parent Educator at Plaza de la Raza, Inc. She earned a BA in American Studies from California State University, Los Angeles, and has completed graduate coursework in the Marriage, Family and Child Counseling Program at Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, California. Beverly Ann's voluntary activities include a variety of local grassroots initiatives. She is an advocate of family literacy and a firm supporter of "Home, School, and Community" collaborations and partnerships. Beverly Ann will work with the Program Management and Operations Branch in the Head Start Bureau, and can be reached at (202) 205-8899, or by E-mail at: bangustain@acf.dhhs.gov.

Terra Bonds is a Child/Family Development Specialist at KCMC Child Development Corporation in Kansas City, Missouri. She is responsible for working with children and families in their home environments by providing parents with education, employment, and housing resources, and assisting families with developing strategies for building strong foundations for their children. Terra earned an MS degree in Counseling Psychology from Avila College in Kansas City, Missouri, and a BA in Psychology from Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia. She serves as a classroom leader for elementary school-aged children at J.S. Chick African Centered School and as an instructor and public speaking trainer for adolescents at the Kansas City Media Project and Leadership Institute. Terra will work with the Family and Community Partnerships Branch in Head Start Bureau, and can be reached at (202) 205-8034, or by E-mail at: tbonds@acf.dhhs.gov.

Harold "Jess" Brien is a social worker for the Division of Child Family Service in Salt Lake City, Utah. Jess was previously employed as a child welfare worker intern for the state of Utah, a partial care worker, and director of personnel for the Crow Tribe Administration, Crow Agency, Montana. He earned a MSW degree from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City and a BS in Human Services from Montana State University in Billings, Montana. Jess' voluntary activities include providing recreational activities for members of the Salt Lake City Track Club and service as a consultant for the Indian Walk-In Center–Health Advisory Committee. Jess will work with the American Indian Program Branch, Head Start Bureau. He can be reached at (202) 205-8696, or by E-mail at: jbrien@acf.dhhs.gov.

Beverly Gould is a doctoral candidate at the New York University School of Psychology with a focus on child and adolescent psychiatry. Prior to pursuing a Ph.D., Beverly was a clinical supervisor at an Early Head Start program in New York, a clinician, social worker, and social psychologist. Her community service includes the co-development of a summer program for neighborhood youth at the Madala Center and membership in an Interfaith Fellowship Choir. Beverly will work with the Health and Disabilities Branch of the Head Start Bureau. She can be reached at (202) 205-8478, or by E-mail at: bgould@acf.dhhs.gov.

Traci Hefner was a Social Service Manager for the New Britain Head Start Program in New Britain, Connecticut. She was responsible for ensuring that family advocates received appropriate training and were familiar with community resources. She was also previously employed as a behavioral health care consultant for Inglewood Associates in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and supervisor at Summit Center for Human Development in Clarksburg, West Virginia. Traci earned an MSW degree from West Virginia University in Morgantown, and a BA in Liberal Arts from Fairmont State College, Fairmont, West Virginia. She served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate in Morgantown, West Virginia, and as a volunteer counselor for the Sexual Assault Crisis Service in New Britain, Connecticut. Traci will work with the Training and Technical Assistance Branch, Head Start Bureau. She can be reached at (202) 205-5931, or by E-mail at: thefner@acf.dhhs.gov.

Karen Heying is Executive Director of Child Care Choices, Inc. in St. Cloud, Minnesota, a private non-profit organization providing child care resource and referral and a child and adult care food program. She was previously employed as a statewide consultant/director in Rochester, Minnesota, for the Minnesota Child Care Resource and Referral Network and executive director and national field manager for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America. Karen's voluntary activities include service as a CanSurmount Coordinator for the American Cancer Society and as a Big Sister for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of St. Cloud, Minnesota. Karen will work with the Program Operations Division of the Child Care Bureau. She can be reached at (202) 205-8713, or by E-mail at: kheying@acf.dhhs.gov.

Sarah Merrill was a teacher at the John Hancock Child Care Center in Boston, Massachusetts. Her responsibilities included the implementation of care programs for seven infants, ranging in age from two months to twenty months. Sarah also has been a mentor teacher for the past few years, working with protégé teachers and assisting with their professional development. Her voluntary activities have included serving as co-founder of the Wheelock College Policy Seminar Advocacy for Care and Education Team, founder of the John Hancock Child Care Center Sign Language Task Force Committee, and service on the St. John's Episcopal Church Nursery Program Committee. Sarah will work with the Early Head Start Team, Head Start Bureau. She can be reached at (202) 205-8654, or by E-mail at: smerrill@acf.dhhs.gov.

Dr. Guylaine L. Richard is Director/Program Services Coordinator for Family Services Agency, Inc./Early Head Start in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Her duties include the management, supervision, and monitoring of the program's staff and independent consultants. Guylaine has also been a consultant for the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Social Services, Professor of Allied Health at Maryland's Prince George's County Community College, and Health/Mental Health/Nutrition Coordinator for the Prince George's County Public Schools Project Head Start. She earned a Masters degree in Public Health from George Washington University, an M.D. from Universite d'Etat d'Haiti, and a Baccalaureate I and II from Institution Ste. Rose de Lima, Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Her voluntary and community involvement includes providing transportation and assistance to elderly individuals through the American Red Cross, conducting program activities for St. John's Literacy Institution at Prospect Hall in Frederick, Maryland, and teaching religious education to youths at Mother Seton Parish in Germantown, Maryland. Guylaine will work with the Health and Disabilities Branch, Head Start Bureau. She can be reached at (202) 205-8283, or by E-mail at: grichard@acf.dhhs.gov.

Kathleen Sullivan is a Family Support Coordinator for WSEM-CDC Head Start in Cleveland, Ohio. She is responsible for compliance, training, and management of parent involvement and social service programs. Recently promoted to this position, Kathleen was formerly a parent involvement coordinator at WSEM-CDC and an AmeriCorp member. Her voluntary activities include service on the WSEM Youth Services Advisory Board, coordinator of an art show, and member of the American Bando Association in Cleveland, Ohio. Kathleen will work with the Program Operations Division, Head Start Bureau. She can be reached at (202) 205-8602, or by E-mail at: ksullivan@acf.dhhs.gov.

Wassy Tesfa is a Special Needs Specialist at Community Housing Service/Head Start in Pasadena, California. Her duties include the design, development, and implementation of disability services for the program; collaboration; community outreach; and grant writing. Wassy has also held positions as a speech, language, and mental health consultant, counselor for Ethiopian Community Center Outreach Services, Inc., and as a freelance journalist for Radio Voice of Germany in Frankfurt, West Germany. Her community service includes the creation of "Tesfa in Los Angeles," an initiative designed to rehabilitate homeless families in Ethiopia, and serving as founder of the Ethiopian Human Rights Committee in Los Angeles, California. Wassy earned an MA degree from Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, West Germany, and a certificate from Studien Kolleg, Cologne, West Germany. She will work with the Program Support Division of the Head Start Bureau, and can be reached at (202) 401-2962, or by E-mail at: wtesfa@acf.dhhs.gov.

The fax number for all Head Start Fellows is (202) 401-5916. For more information on the National Head Start Fellows Program, contact: JoAn Herren, Training and Technical Assistance Branch Chief, Head Start Bureau T: 202-205-8566; E: jherren@acf.dhhs.gov.