Professional Development Through
the National Head Start Fellowship

By Traci A. Hefner

Leadership Vision
By Terra Bonds

#1
Proceed
Forward toward the goal
Work starts and suffering stops
I act; parents progress; children smile
Induce happiness

Terra Bonds was a 2000–2001 Head Start Fellow with the Head Start Bureau in Washington, D.C.

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A Personal Thought
By Wassy Tesfa

A world
Grounded in honesty
Nurtured with compassion
Open and thoughtful
Joy
A vision of wholeness

Wassy Tesfa was a 2000-2001 Head Start Fellow with the Head Start Bureau in Washington, D.C.

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One way you may consider enhancing your professional development is through the National Head Start Fellowship. The Fellowship is a phenomenal experience that will challenge your intellect and thinking–and quite possibly be a life changing opportunity.

It is a privilege to be a member of the 2000-2001 Fellowship class. The exposure to top policy makers, lobbyists, and child development specialists is immense. This experience has piqued my curiosity to learn and understand fully how best practice or research becomes national policy. Furthermore, being in the nation's capital has allowed me to attend senate and congressional hearings, think tank seminars, and lectures by some of the most influential people on child development issues and social policy.

Exactly how the Fellowship experience will influence my career is yet to be determined. I am confident, however, that the knowledge and resources acquired during the Fellowship year will profoundly benefit the children and families I serve in the future. Finally, there is the added benefit of forming lifelong relationships with the nine other Fellows. I have been inspired and challenged by each of them in a way that will influence my life forever. This has truly been an amazing experience–an experience that I highly recommend for anybody interested in professional development.

Why professional development?
Professional development is fully recognized as essential to ensuring quality staff and service to Head Start families. As stated in the Head Start Act, a bipartisan
reauthorization, "the purpose of the Fellowship program is designed to enhance the ability of Head Start Fellows to make significant contributions to programs, by providing opportunities to expand their knowledge and experience..."

Since 1996, the Commission on National Head Start Fellowships offers ten Fellowships to emerging leaders in the field of early childhood and family services. As an intensive one-year work and education experience, the Fellowship provides an opportunity for increased knowledge on a multitude of policy issues, program development, research, and best practice modalities in the field of child development. This exposure assists in the development of a new cadre of leaders.

Who should apply for the Fellowship?
Individuals who apply for the Fellowship are highly motivated with a desire to grow professionally as well as personally. The class of 2000-2001 represents a variety of different disciplines and education levels. This class is composed of social workers, teachers, a psychologist, a social anthropologist, and a medical doctor. The education level ranges from a baccalaureate degree to a master's degree to a medical degree. The group's diversity allows for a more profound experience for each of the Fellows. Moreover, work placements are with the executive branch of the Federal government and vary in content according to the Fellows' interests and expertise. Hence, a class is generally composed of individuals from multi-disciplinary backgrounds, interests, and education.

Why should you apply?
The Fellowship experience provides a more thorough understanding of how government works in terms of policy development and implementation. You will gain a broader perspective of the national issues affecting children and families. However, the Fellowship is not only about understanding policy. A plethora of leadership development trainings provide an opportunity to explore the type and style of leader you are or possibly want to become. The trainings are further complemented through leadership book discussions, meetings with senior management, policy makers, educators, and researchers, and content workshops on conflict management, effective writing, and career development. This experience will expand your knowledge base, network, and resources–empowering you to be a more proficient leader.

Where can you get more information?
For additional information regarding the Fellowship, contact the address and number below:

Council for Professional Recognition
2460 16th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20009-3575
Telephone: (202) 265-9161

Traci Hefner was a 2000–2001 Head Start Fellow at the Head Start Bureau in Washington, D.C.