Mrs. M
Married to an alcoholic; abused physically, sexually, and emotionally; and with three children aged 1-3, Mrs. M was in despair. She prayed daily that her husband would come home and pass out on the couch, but most of the time he beat her instead.
One day, a Head Start representative came to visit. Mrs. M was deeply embarrassed by her bruised and battered appearance and her home’s condition. Thankfully, the visitor didn’t come in. She suggested Head Start for Mrs. M’s 3-year-old. Later, the Head Start parent involvement coordinator invited her to meet with parents to plan a children’s party. She accepted and was elected committee chairperson with the responsibility of serving on the policy council. When someone noticed her taking notes, she was elected secretary to the council.
The next year, her second child enrolled in Head Start. The policy council elected her state representative. That meant she would attend state level meetings and share information for Blair County Head Start. When her youngest child enrolled in Head Start the following year, she was elected policy council chairperson, continued as state representative, and became a Head Start national representative. This meant a trip to a national conference in Colorado; it proved to be an awakening for her. She saw that she was valued and promised to make major changes for her children’s sake as well as her own. She planned to file for divorce but wanted to wait for the “right time.” That time came all too soon, when one of her husband’s episodes of violence almost ended her life.
Mrs. M turned to Head Start for help and was guided though every step, from hospital to lawyer to shelter. She enrolled at Penn State University, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood and returned to Head Start as a teacher. Over the years, she grew to understand Head start from many angles, first as a parent, then a teacher, and later an education coordinator. In 2000, she received her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood. She serves Head Start as a consultant, and provides training, support, and encouragement to parents and staff. She also assists in annual program reviews. In 2002, she entered Penn State University to pursue a Ph.D. in Early Childhood. Her goals are to continue to serve Head Start and educate potential Head Start teachers at the college level, while ensuring that the curriculum includes a healthy dose of parent involvement.
Every detail of Mrs. M.’s life as described in this story is true. I know, because I, Glenna Zeak, am the former Mrs. M.