I am currently serve as the Executive Director of Project Social Care Head Start and have had the honor and pleasure of being involved with PSCHS since 2010. I have experienced the growth of the agency as we expanded to serve our community in need. PSCHS is dedicated to helping the most vulnerable members of our community, and I am proud to have had the opportunity to play a small role in PSCHS’s good work.  I look forward to many more years with PSCHS, making a difference and helping children and families in need.

I have been with Project Social Care since the inception of its Early Head Start Child Care Partnership grant in early 2015. Prior to joining EHS, I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood and Special Education from New York University and am proud to have been a certified classroom teacher for over ten years. I started my career working as an Early Intervention provider, before getting my Master’s Degree in Special and Inclusive Education from the University of Cambridge. I next spent time as a preschool teacher in self-contained classroom setting, where I found such joy watching children explore and discover the world around them.  It is my privilege to now be leading Project Social Care’s EHS program, where I get to be part of a nurturing community filled with inquisitive children and loving families, as well as passionate teachers and management staff who work closely together to design an enriching curriculum.  We respect the significance of the infant and toddler years, and strive to lay a strong foundation for children’s future learning experiences in preschool and beyond. I believe that infants and toddlers are highly capable individuals who construct their knowledge through interactions with adults, peers, and the environment. Guided by this belief, I am committed to utilizing family, academic, and community partnerships to support children in their journey as life-long learners.

AmyValle@PSCHeadstart.com Extension 305

Having worked with children for 12 years has helped me to gain a great deal of insight and passion for the field of Early Childhood Education.  As an educator, I have had the opportunity to gain an understanding of children’s strengths, knowledge, interests, and skills, and work closely with parents and members of the community to create a warm, enthusiastic learning environment.  As a Center Director of a child care program, I have enjoyed mentoring teachers and working with families and the community, as well as feeder schools to help prepare children to become “school ready” for kindergarten and beyond. As a Head Start Program Director, I continue to work closely with not only managerial staff but also teachers to continue to make a positive impact on families within our program.  I love my profession due to my genuine love for children and interest in them each reach their full potential.  With this passion, I continuously strive to make a difference in the lives of children and families through our Head Start program.  I hope to continue to inspire and support all staff, children, and families while creating a safe, fun, and healthy learning environment. I hope to foster each child’s competence and family success while maintaining a high-quality program.

Josephine@PSCHeadstart.com Extension 310

I have had the pleasure of working at PSCHS since early 2015. I have been in the Early Childhood field for as long as I can remember. Even as an adolescent I found a passion working with young children. I have a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood General and Special Education, and have spent the better half of a decade working in the field. As a teacher in both general and special education programs, I have led classrooms serving children with various developmental needs. This foundation has brought me to my next venture as the Early Head Start Education and Inclusion Coordinator. I enjoy helping families and children build their own foundation through our partnership grant.  Working together with local childcare centers, we can give the most enhanced education families and children deserve. I have now found a passion for all the amazing benefits the EHS CCP has to offer.

EliannaLader@PSCHeadstart.com Extension 314

Before joining the Project Social Care team, I moved from China and completed my Master’s Degree in Accounting. As a Fiscal Assistant, it is my job to conduct accurate reporting, ensure compliance with federal regulations, and effectively allocate our budget. I am very proud to be working with disadvantaged families knowing that my efforts are a small step towards providing them the Head Start Advantage.

Chelsea@PSCHeadstart.com Extension 313

I have been working at PSCHS since the summer of 2015. Prior to working at PSCHS, I worked in an Early Childhood Special Education preschool for over 6 years. During this time, I gained a significant amount of experience working with children that have a wide range of special needs. Being the Education and Inclusion Coordinator for PSCHS allows me to help teachers better advocate for children and their families, and to support staff in ensuring the highest quality of care and support services. My favorite part of working with young children is watching them grow each day to reach their fullest potential. There’s no feeling like contributing to the process of a child’s growth throughout the year.

Nikkita@PSCHeadstart.com Extension 317

I obtained my B.A of Science in Psychology (Applied Behavior Analysis) from Kaplan University. I have always been interested in working for non-profit organizations that service children and families and this is where I have acquired the bulk of my professional experience. Prior to becoming the PFCE Coordinator for PSCHS, I worked as a Family Worker for 2 years and so the transition to my current management role was a natural progression. As the PFCE Coordinator, my role is to plan, develop, and administer PSCHS’s Parent, Family, and Community Engagement service, ensuring an integrated and comprehensive system of services for children and families. Working with PSCHS has given me the opportunity to be more hands on with families while also being an ongoing support to our EHS and HS family advocates.

Sammara@PSCHeadstart.com Extension 312

I have been a part of the Project Social Care team for over 3 years, first as a Family Advocate and now as the Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance (ERSEA) Coordinator. In my position, I help plan and implement enrollment systems as well as ensure regulation compliance. My favorite part of the job is welcoming families from all the unique communities we serve and helping to support each site in building enrollment.

Leah.Frankel@PSCHeadstart.com Extension 301

I am originally from the UK and have over 30 years of experience directing distribution centers. My experience includes making sure all my employees work within a safe and healthy environment, and protecting against work accidents to ensure that each employee goes home to their loved ones at night. I did this by training each employee on how to do their work safely and removing any obstacles that would cause a preventable injury. I’m proud to bring that same enthusiasm and expertise to Project Social Care Head Start, making sure that every child has an awesome experience in a safe and healthy learning environment.

Walter@PSCHeadstart.com Extension 318

I have worked with PSCHS since the beginning of our EHS CCP grant. I currently oversee Health and Nutrition for all our EHS and HS programs. I really enjoy working with our family advocates and am very proud to support our sites and families in ensuring our children are healthy and safe!

Gila@PSCHeadstart.com Extension 308