Hello, My name is Glenna Zeak. You may have noticed my story posted on this website. It is entitled Portrait of a Head Start parent. As noted in my story, I am now a graduate student at Penn State University, preparing my dissertation for defense for my Ph.D. in early childhood. My dissertation is on the parent involvement policies and practices of Head Start. I am examining those strategies that have been effective in cultivating resiliency in families, particularly the adults, and those factors that may preclude parents from being effectively involved. When my work is complete, I plan to give a copy of the study to Head Start as my way of saying thanks for what they have given me. It will provide insights into parent involvement that hopefully will awaken the nation and community to the importance of parent involvement in the program, as well as a resource for evaluating what we currently do, and ways we can be even better for families.
If you are interested in anonymously sharing a bit more about your experience with Head Start to further enlighten my research, please respond to the following questions and post them to this story or email me at zkfam586@aol.com.
1. How have you been involved with Head Start? For example, what are the ways Head Start has involved you as an adult?
2. How has your involvment with Head Start changed your life personally?
3. What are the barriers to parent involvement, that is, what makes it difficult for you to be involved?
4. What additional kinds of parent involvement opportunties would you like to see Head Start provide for adults?
5. How can Head Start improve on involving parents?
Thank you for sharing.
Glenna Zeak