April 21-25 is National Home Visiting Week, and Luzerne County Head Start is joining the Institute for the Advancement of Family Support Professionals to celebrate the important work of home visitors everywhere and the positive impact they make on maternal and child health outcomes.

This week, LCHS is highlighting its Early Head Start family educators who make a difference in the lives of children and families every day. Early Head Start provides comprehensive child development and family support services to expecting parents, infants and toddlers up to age 3, and their families in Luzerne and Wyoming counties. Families participate in weekly home visits focused on goal setting, health and nutrition, parenting education, and more. They may also attend socialization events with other families at their Early Head Start center.

LCHS is proud to have such caring, knowledgeable and supportive EHS staff who are committed to building stronger families. Visit theinstitutefsp.org to learn more about National Home Visiting Week.

What made you want to become a family educator?

Since I was very young, I’ve been passionate about working with children and families. Teaching is my calling, and I’ve always felt drawn to support others through early education and meaningful connections.

What is the best part of being a family educator?

The best part is being able to contribute to each child’s overall development. Being part of their growth—no matter how small the progress—fills me with joy. I also love supporting families, connecting them with community resources, and being helpful in any way I can. Helping others gives me peace and makes me feel like I’m fulfilling my purpose in the universe.

Tell us about a time when you knew you made an impact on a family.

There are many special moments, but a few that stand out are: when I helped one of my families obtain child care assistance for their children; when one of the twin girls took her first steps during a home visit and her mom cried with joy; and when one of my little girls greeted me with “Good afternoon, Ms. Mirkelys,” and her dad told me she had spent the whole week practicing my name. These are the moments that truly touch your soul.

What is something people might not know about home visiting?

Home visits are not just about showing up at someone’s house. It’s about building a connection. It’s seeing children get excited to see you, parents welcoming you and trusting your work. It’s planning each activity with purpose, based on each child’s strengths. It’s so much more than just a visit—it’s about creating bonds from the planning to the moment you carry it out.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I just want to say how grateful I am for the opportunity to work with so many families and witness the growth of every child. This work has taught me to celebrate every little milestone and to cherish every shared smile.

Abbey Healey, Tunkhannock EHS

What made you want to become a family educator?

I have always found joy working with children and adults. As a family educator, I get the opportunity to teach and learn when I step into a home. I truly enjoy my role as a family educator and look forward to seeing my families each week.

What is the best part of being a family educator?

Being able to see the progress from both the child and parent as they grow and accomplish goals, as well as milestones that they once thought were so far.

Tell us about a time when you knew you made an impact on a family.

I have assisted a family in the past in getting medical insurance, scheduling doctor visits, and transporting them to be seen by their provider. The family was so relieved to have that assistance and maintain their child’s health and their own.

What is something people might not know about home visiting?

There are many opportunities to make connections in the community and access resources. Family educators can help lead families in the right direction to services that best fit their needs.

Debbie Tavaglione, Exeter EHS

What made you want to become a family educator?

I wanted to become a family educator because I had been working in a classroom for over 20 years and felt I wanted a change. However, I knew I still wanted to work with young children.

What is the best part of being a family educator?

The best part of being a family educator is the close relationships formed with families. Watching the families grow and improve not only their parenting knowledge and skills, but also their life circumstances, is truly rewarding.

Tell us about a time when you knew you made an impact on a family.

I had a family a couple of years ago from South Africa. This family had a language barrier and needed much help navigating and applying for different types of assistance. I helped the family apply and obtain help with food, medical and dental care, education and housing. Dad went on to obtain a CDL and get a great job driving a truck and the family was even able to eventually purchase their own home.

What is something people might not know about home visiting?

I feel people might not be aware of the significance of the relationships between family educators and their families. Not only do family educators impact the families they serve, the families also leave a lasting impact on family educators. They show us the power of resilience, determination and love of family.

Rosalinda Peralta, Hazleton EHS

What made you want to become a family educator?

A parent’s well being is just as important as a child’s. A healthy parent creates a healthy environment for a child to thrive in. Becoming a family educator would support my philosophy by working one-on-one with parents.

What is the best part of being a family educator?

Seeing the results of my efforts will always be the best part of being a family educator. The opportunity to see the impact I’ve made in families makes it worth it. Seeing the children run up to me is a lovely bonus, too.

Tell us about a time when you knew you made an impact on a family.

Back in 2022 was when I truly realized I had made an impact. The family I was working with didn’t have the means to surprise their kids with Christmas presents. I was able to provide them with donations such as diapers, high chairs and seasonal clothes which they needed. Having both parents cry while hugging me touched my heart.

What is something people might not know about home visiting?

Something people might not know about home visiting is the amount of strength needed when facing the less fortunate cases and keeping a professional face while helping them move forward.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

My path in Head Start first started 11 years ago back in New Jersey where I first began as a volunteer. I volunteered for almost six years before moving to Pennsylvania and working for Head Start again.

Maria Price, Wilkes-Barre EHS

What made you want to become a family educator?

Being bilingual in Spanish, I saw an opportunity to support non-English speaking families who might otherwise miss out on the valuable resources Head Start provides to the community.

What is the best part of being a family educator?

As I started my role as a family educator, I quickly discovered how rewarding it is to empower parents to overcome personal challenges by providing them with the necessary tools and resources to reach their goals. This promotes overall family well being that ultimately reflects in the well being of their children.

Tell us about a time when you knew you made an impact on a family.

One moment that stands out is when a parent with very limited English stepped up as Parent Committee chairman, something she never imagined doing. With ongoing coaching and support, she gained enough confidence to lead meetings. This instilled in her the motivation to continue on by enrolling in ESL classes. Nothing was stopping her!

What is something people might not know about home visiting?

Most people don’t realize that home visiting goes far beyond child development. It builds trust, bonds that strengthen families, and often becomes the only consistent support system some parents may have. It is meaningful to know you are helping families grow in ways that may impact for generations.

By Brooke Williams, Community Advocate

We will hold our 60th Anniversary Luncheon on May 19 to celebrate Head Start’s longstanding commitment to the community’s children and families. The event will also recognize our dedicated staff and community partners while honoring the next class of Head Start Alumni Scholarship recipients.

This tradition wouldn’t be possible without our sponsors. Their financial support enables us to recognize the community organizations, businesses, individuals, students and staff who have contributed to our agency’s ongoing success. This year’s event sponsors are…

Diamond Sponsorship Level:

Gold Sponsorship Level:

Benco Family Foundation

Panzitta Enterprises Inc.

WVW Transport, Inc.

Silver Sponsorship Level:

Cambridge Investment Research

Seltzer Group Partners

Snyder & Clemente 

Bronze Sponsorship Level:

Becker’s School Supplies, Inc. 

Creative Benefits, Inc.

Cross Valley Federal Credit Union

Kaplan Early Learning Company 

Lakeshore Learning Materials 

Luzerne County Community College

Mark J. Sobeck Roof Consulting, Inc.   

Metz Culinary Management 

We would also like to thank this year’s Head Start Alumni Scholarship sponsors:

Fran Williams Memorial Scholarship

Benco Family Foundation Scholarship

Eugene Hogan Memorial Scholarship

Tomalis-Gatusky Family Scholarship

PNC Bank Scholarship

Navient Community Fund Scholarship

George & Ann Evans Memorial Scholarship

Mary & Tom Sewatsky Family Scholarship

LCHS Board of Directors Lena Taylor Memorial Scholarship

Luzerne County Bar Association Charitable Foundation Scholarship

Church of Christ Uniting Scholarship

LCHS Policy Council Claudia O’Boyle Memorial Scholarship

Delaney Family Scholarship

Coombs Family Memorial Scholarship

Pittston Tomato Festival Committee Scholarship

Cross Valley Federal Credit Union Scholarship

Jeffrey Rehill Memorial Scholarship

By Brooke Williams, Community Advocate

Luzerne County Head Start students were thrilled to receive their own “Elephant & Piggie” books from the LiTEArary Society as part of its 60 Years of Head Start Project. 

The LiTEArary Society, an entirely youth-led nonprofit on a mission to end book deserts for disadvantaged children, is collaborating with the Pennsylvania District of Key Club International. Key Club members from local high schools visited the Edwardsville Head Start Center for storytime and gave each child a book to take home as part of the initiative.

By Brooke Williams, Community Advocate

Funding from M&T Charitable Foundation will allow Luzerne County Head Start to provide care packages to children and families in need.

M&T presented LCHS with a $5,000 check for the Head Start Project for Caring, which will provide bags of essentials to Head Start families experiencing homelessness, as well as Head Start children in foster care. LCHS gives children in these circumstances preference in the enrollment process due to higher need. 

LCHS staff and volunteers will pack the Head Start Project for Caring Bags with toiletries, comfort items and other necessities.

By Brooke Williams, Community Advocate

The Times Leader Media Group named Luzerne County Head Start a Silver Winner in the NEPA Best Places to Work contest. The 2024 contest took place over a four-week period and The Times Leader received hundreds of votes for local companies, large and small.

“Our dedicated and passionate staff are the heart of the Head Start mission, and the work they do every day is transforming the lives of children and families in need,” said LCHS Executive Director Beth White. “It is because of their commitment that Head Start remains a force for positive change in our community.”

Read the agency’s feature in The Times Leader here.

By Brooke Williams, Community Advocate

Luzerne County Head Start held a ceremony to dedicate its Beekman Street Center in Wilkes-Barre to longtime executive director Lynn Evans Biga.

Biga retired last month after 46 years of service to LCHS, with 35 spent as executive director. Under her leadership in 1994, LCHS purchased the Beekman Street Center, making it the first program in Region III to buy its own building. So, it was only fitting to the LCHS Board of Directors that in honor of Lynn’s legacy, the building would bear her name.

Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski presented Biga with a citation from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Head Start children decorated the covering for the new sign with their handprints and sang for the crowd. Leadership Northeast donated a tree in recognition of Biga’s career, which will be planted outside of the center.

By Brooke Williams, Community Advocate

October is recognized as Head Start Awareness Month to highlight Head Start’s commitment to breaking the generational cycle of poverty by providing access to critical early childhood education and support to families in need. Luzerne County Head Start has been a local leader in these efforts since the inception of the national Head Start program in 1965.

In celebration of Head Start Awareness Month, LCHS welcomed guest readers to its Beekman Street Center in Wilkes-Barre.

Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown read “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” by Dr. Seuss to Classroom 12 and presented a proclamation for Head Start Awareness Month.

Cody Forgach, Northeast Pennsylvania regional representative for U.S. Senator John Fetterman and a former Head Start student, read “Clifford the Big Red Dog and the Big White Ghost” to Classroom 10.

Cody attended LCHS in Nanticoke as a child and shared the positive impact that Head Start had on his life. He also spoke to LCHS leadership about the issues facing Head Start and the importance of investing in high-quality early childhood education.

By Brooke Williams, Community Advocate

Jessica Suda Baab never hesitates to share her Head Start story. 

“Whenever anyone mentions Head Start, I burst with joy and enthusiastically proclaim my love for the program, and how it changed my life,” she said. “I am glad I never have to know what my life would be like had I not attended. I truly don’t think I would be where I am today without it.”  

Growing up in Dorrance, Jessica attended Luzerne County Head Start from 1990 to 1992, first at Rice Elementary School in Mountain Top, then at the Nanticoke Center.

“My mom was single-handedly raising my three older brothers and me while working full time, advocating for my oldest brother who was struggling with the challenging gift of dyslexia, and navigating a difficult divorce from my father who was battling alcoholism,” she said. “While there was no shortage of love in our home, my mom knew that the encouraging support and structure from an early learning center would have a great influence on me both emotionally and educationally.” 

Jessica still remembers the positive impact her Head Start teacher had on her. It was the first time anyone other than her mother was enthusiastic about each of her accomplishments in class. That encouragement fueled Jessica to be creative, kind and curious. 

“My mother was relieved and proud to see my potential recognized during a difficult time,” Jessica said. “My transition to kindergarten was a seamless one, and that was all because of Head Start.”

Jessica graduated from Crestwood High School in 2006 and earned her bachelor’s degree in theatre: general studies from West Chester University in 2010. After graduation, she began working at KISS Theatre Company (Kids Innovating Stage & Sound) in Wilkes-Barre and eventually became its executive director. 

She credits Head Start with providing a strong foundation for her educational pursuits and being a creative catalyst for outlets like drawing, arts and crafts, and eventually theatre.  

“During my adolescence, I never was 100% sure what I wanted to do for a career. The only thing I did know was that I enjoyed working with people, and I wanted to help make their lives better and easier,” Jessica said. “Head Start ensured that if I worked hard and was kind to those around me, I would be successful in whatever path I chose.”

Today, Jessica is the philanthropic services coordinator at the Luzerne Foundation. She also serves on the boards of KISS and the Fine Arts Fiesta. She lives in Mountain Top with her husband, Kevin, and their son, Brody.  

Jessica is proud to be a Head Start alumna, and she remains grateful to the program for its meaningful and lifelong impact. 

“I thought everyone attended Head Start. It did not occur to me until much later in my life that my family had to meet specific criteria to attend,” she said. “Head Start provided the equity to allow me to succeed alongside my fellow peers. I am most thankful for the friendships, encouragement, educational structure, and the relief and support it provided my mom during a difficult time.”

By Brooke Williams, Community Advocate

Luzerne County Head Start is expanding its home-based Early Head Start program and looking for additional family educators to provide child development and family support services to expecting parents, infants and toddlers up to age 3. Click here to learn more and submit an application. Four LCHS family educators shared why they were drawn to a career in Early Head Start.

Jessica Schneider – Edwardsville

When Jessica Schneider walks up to the front door for a home visit, there’s nothing like seeing the toddlers in her caseload smiling and jumping up and down.

Jessica first came to Luzerne County Head Start as a substitute teacher in 2011 and then moved into an itinerant associate teacher role. When the agency had an opening for a family educator in its Early Head Start program, Jessica knew it was something she wanted to do.

“I love working with the entire family,” she said. “The parents are their child’s first and most important teacher and I am able to help them be successful in that role.”

Jessica takes pride in seeing the children’s growth over time, like Joseph, who she’s been working with since he was only 3 weeks old. Alongside Joseph’s mother, Jessica helped him with tummy time, sitting up without support, crawling, pulling himself up and eventually walking. He is now 27 months old and they have progressed to identifying pictures and body parts, stringing large beads and other learning activities. Soon, they will begin the transition process for Head Start.

“Being a family educator is very rewarding,” Jessica said. “A family educator position is ideal for you if you like to make a difference. Family educators support the overall success of families and the child will learn more if their family is doing well.”

When a child in her caseload reaches a milestone like a first step or word, Alyssa Meyers shares in the family’s excitement.

As a family educator, it’s also rewarding when she’s able to guide a family through a situation, then eventually see them grow from the experience and take the steps she taught them to reach a goal.

Working in Early Head Start appealed to Alyssa because of its two-generation approach.

“I really enjoy working with children and the fact that you get to work hand in hand with the family in their environment is such an amazing benefit,” she said. “Not only are you working with children, but you’re also working with the parents and seeing where the learning is actually happening.”

For example, when a child’s assessment scores were on the lower side, Alyssa focused on the area in need of attention and provided the child’s mother with additional resources and activities. By the time of the next assessment, the child’s scores had improved.

“Just by working with the family those four weeks and giving Mom some extra guidance, we were able to see such a big improvement,” Alyssa said. “I love the statement ‘You are your child’s first and most important teacher’ because it is so true and once the parents understand this, you can see a huge improvement.”

Alyssa said she would encourage others to look into a family educator role because it’s not just a job, it’s a career where you will want to grow.

“This is the most rewarding job you will have as an educator,” she said.

Julie Winters – Wilkes-Barre

Julie Winters wanted a career that allowed her not only to work with young children, but help their families thrive.

As an Early Head Start family educator, Julie provides comprehensive child development and family support services. This includes working on developmental milestones with children, helping families set and achieve goals, and much more.

“I adore working with babies and toddlers. I also enjoy helping the parents understand child development,” Julie said. “It’s very rewarding to see the child’s progress, but even more so when you know you helped the parents be their child’s first and most important teacher.”

For Julie, it’s meaningful to see the two-generation impact. She would also recommend the family educator role to others if they’re looking for a career that allows for a good work-life balance.

“The fulfillment of knowing you have helped make a difference not only in the child’s life, but in the lives of the entire family is the best part of this job for me,” Julie said. “I also adore my coworkers and supervisors as they are helpful, caring and can make the work day fun. For a single mom, working someplace that offers paid holidays off the same as the school schedule is extremely helpful to me and my two daughters.”

Jesselyn Fernandez – Hazleton

For Jesselyn Fernandez, being an Early Head Start family educator is all about building connections with families.

“I always try to create an environment where the family feels safe and willing to talk about anything,” she said. “I love witnessing families accomplish goals, whether it’s getting their license, passing their citizenship exam, or even taking steps to enroll into school or a program to pursue a career because sometimes, the most difficult thing to do is start.”

Jesselyn was drawn to the home visiting program because it gave her the opportunity to work directly with families on enhancing their littles ones’ development. She had previously worked with prenatal mothers and loved being a source of support for them.

When she sees how excited the children get for her home visits or hear they were asking about her throughout the week, it makes her feel like the time she spent with the family was valuable.

In addition to the rewarding experiences with families, Jesselyn said she would encourage others to consider a career as a family educator because of the benefits LCHS offers, including extended paid holiday breaks that match the schedule of her school-aged daughter.

“It’s incredible how you don’t see how fast the time has gone until you’re getting ready to help the child transition into Head Start and start reminiscing on the silly moments you and the family have witnessed watching their child grow through the years,” Jesselyn said.

By Brooke Williams, Community Advocate

Luzerne County Head Start is inviting former students to apply for its merit-based, competitive scholarship program. 

Now in its 39th year, the LCHS Alumni Scholarship Program – funded by businesses, organizations and individuals in the community – honors the achievements of former Head Start students set to graduate from high school and continue their education. In May, LCHS awarded $22,000 in scholarships to 16 seniors from seven school districts in Luzerne and Wyoming counties, bringing the total to $355,450 since the program’s inception. A total of 349 scholarships have been issued to students to offset the cost of higher education.  

The scholarship program is open to Head Start alumni who are graduating from high school in June 2025 and planning to attend a college/university or vocational/technical school. 

The Scholarship Committee of the LCHS Board of Directors chooses recipients based on academic performance, personal achievements, leadership, motivation and school and community involvement. Scholarships will be awarded during the LCHS 60th Anniversary Luncheon on May 19.  

Download the application here. Applications should be filled out and emailed to lchsscholarship@hsweb.org or mailed to Luzerne County Head Start, Inc., 23 Beekman St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702, Attn: Brooke Williams. The deadline to apply is Friday, Jan. 24, at 4 p.m. 

LCHS is also seeking new scholarship sponsors for this year’s program. For more information about sponsoring or applying for a scholarship, call 570-829-6231 ext. 356 or email brookew@hsweb.org.

By Brooke Williams, Community Advocate