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

A boost in federal funding will allow Luzerne County Head Start to extend the reach of its income-based Early Head Start program. 

LCHS receives over $10 million annually from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, for its Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Recently, HHS increased LCHS’s annual funding by $807,385 through a nationally competitive grant opportunity that allowed for Early Head Start expansion. HHS made $6,922,114 available to ACF Region III, which includes Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington D.C.

Early Head Start is a home-based program that provides child development and family support services to expecting parents, infants and toddlers up to age 3 using a two-generation approach. LCHS offers Early Head Start services in Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, Edwardsville, Exeter and Tunkhannock. Family educators conduct weekly home visits, and families may attend socialization events at their Early Head Start center. 

With this award, LCHS increased its federally funded enrollment for Early Head Start by 50 children, bringing the total to 222. (The United Way of Wyoming Valley funds 10 additional Early Head Start children.) 

Infants and toddlers in the Wilkes-Barre, Edwardsville and Exeter areas are the focus of the expansion. Eligible families interested in enrolling may fill out an application at lcheadstart.org or call 570-829-6231 for more information. 

Additionally, LCHS will hire five family educators with a tentative November start date to serve the new caseloads. Applications are being accepted on the agency’s website. An Early Head Start Career Fair is scheduled for Friday, October 11, from noon to 4 p.m. at the LCHS Beekman Street Center, 23 Beekman St., Wilkes-Barre. On-site interviews will be held, and candidates are encouraged to bring their resume.

“We are thrilled to expand our Early Head Start program,” said LCHS Executive Director Lynn Evans Biga. “We know that to support the development of the whole child, we must focus on the whole family. We look forward to creating pathways to success for even more children and families in our community.” 

Cindy Lange, whose 3-year-old son Kaiden went through Wilkes-Barre Early Head Start and transitioned to Head Start this year, praised the program for its hands-on approach and focus on cooperative play. 

She said Early Head Start helped Kaiden develop his gross and fine motor skills, learn his shapes, colors, alphabet and numbers, and understand the importance of proper hygiene and healthy eating.

Along with supporting Kaiden in achieving these milestones, their family educator was skilled in being able to recognize when intervention and evaluation were needed, Lange added. 

“It’s a wonderful program that I encourage all parents of young children to explore,” Lange said.

By Brooke Williams, Community Advocate

As part of its goal to increase the involvement of fathers in the classroom, home and community, Luzerne County Head Start once again participated in the Million Fathers March on September 20.

A project of the nonprofit Fathers Incorporated, the Million Fathers March is a nationwide event in which fathers, father figures and male role models demonstrate their commitment to their children’s education by escorting them to school. LCHS participated in the initiative for the first time in 2023 and saw a positive response from the fathers and father figures in its programs, which set the stage for continued engagement throughout the school year. 

During the Million Fathers March, LCHS encouraged fathers and father figures of Head Start and Pre-K Counts students to drop off and/or pick up their children. Meanwhile, those enrolled in the Early Head Start home visiting program had the opportunity to attend a special Family Day at their center. LCHS sites across Luzerne and Wyoming counties held family engagement events and activities to coincide with the initiative, including arts and crafts, dance parties and breakfast.

By Brooke Williams, Community Advocate

Team members at Chewy’s AVP1 Fulfillment Center in Wilkes-Barre participated in a Back-2-School donation drive throughout the month of August benefiting Luzerne County Head Start. 

Donations included hundreds of crayons, colored pencils and markers, which will benefit children across the agency’s Head Start, Pre-K Counts and Early Head Start programs in Luzerne and Wyoming counties.

Following a remarkable 46 years of service, Luzerne County Head Start Executive Director Lynn Evans Biga has announced her retirement from the agency.

Biga formally made the announcement at an LCHS Board of Directors meeting on September 19. Afterward, the board voted to rename the agency’s Beekman Street Center in Wilkes-Barre after Biga in honor of her outstanding service. Her last day at the agency will be October 25, 2024. 

Carrying out the Head Start mission has been Biga’s life’s work. The Kingston resident began her career at LCHS as a Head Start teacher in 1978 after graduating from Penn State University. She became the agency’s education coordinator soon after, and by 1989, its executive director. 

She has remained a steadfast leader ever since, spending her career building relationships within the community while helping the agency create a relevant service model to meet the emerging needs of children and their families. Biga’s 35 years as executive director have been characterized by her continuous efforts to move LCHS forward to better serve the community’s most vulnerable population. 

In 1994, Biga led the agency through the purchase of the Beekman Street Center in Wilkes-Barre, making LCHS the first program in Region 3 to acquire its own building. Today, it is the largest LCHS site and home to 14 preschool classrooms, an Early Head Start location and administrative offices. 

Under Biga’s leadership in 1999, LCHS received funding to expand its reach with a new Early Head Start program and serve 32 expecting parents, infants and toddlers in a home visiting setting. Since then, the EHS program has grown significantly. Recently, LCHS received a competitive federal grant to expand EHS services by 50 children from birth to age 3, bringing the total to 232 between five locations. 

Other expansions have allowed LCHS to serve additional children and families throughout Biga’s tenure. Most notably, in 2005, LCHS was among the first in Pennsylvania to be awarded state funding for preschool services. That same year, LCHS was selected as one of the “40 Outstanding Head Start Grantees” in the country. 

Biga is a 2023 graduate of Leadership Northeast’s Executive Leadership program and a 2008 graduate of the John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA – Johnson & Johnson Management Fellows Program. She serves on the Pennsylvania Head Start Association Board of Directors and is a member of the National Head Start Association. She previously served on the SHINE Advisory Board. 

Since 2001, Biga and her family have sponsored the George R. Evans Memorial Scholarship through the annual LCHS Alumni Scholarship Program, helping former Head Start students achieve their dreams of going to college. 

In 2023, Biga received the LCHS Bold Leadership Award for her contributions to the agency. She was also the recipient of the 2018 Kids Hero Award from Dinners for Kids, the 2011 Reverend Jule Ayers Outstanding Spiritual Welfare Award and the 2010 Leadership Wilkes-Barre Community Leadership Award. 

For Biga, the most significant part of her time at LCHS has been the relationships built, from the staff and families to the Board of Directors, parent Policy Council and community partners. 

“It has been an honor and a privilege to work alongside such talented individuals as we brought success to our organization as a strong and resilient team that cares deeply about the children and families we serve. I am so passionate about this work and thankful for the opportunity to do it every day,” she said. “These have been, and will remain, the best years of my life.” 

Upon Biga’s departure, LCHS Assistant Executive Director Beth White will move into the role of executive director. White, of Factoryville, has been in her position at LCHS for nine years. She brings over 20 years of experience in early childhood education to her new role, with 15 being in a Head Start program. 

Biga said she’s leaving LCHS in capable hands and looking forward to seeing the direction White takes in the future, especially as the agency celebrates 60 years in 2025.

“While I may be stepping away from my role, I am not saying goodbye completely. I will support and mentor Beth White as she transitions into my role and, most importantly, be a lifelong advocate of LCHS,” Biga said. “I am excited for what lies ahead, and I am grateful for the career that has been afforded to me, bringing me to this moment.” 

LCHS Board of Directors President Stacey Kile thanked Biga for her years of service to the agency.

“Under Lynn’s exceptional leadership, our mission and vision of providing early education and creating a supportive and nurturing learning environment where children can grow, thrive and reach their full potential have not only been realized but have flourished beyond our expectations,” Kile said. “We are deeply grateful for her unwavering dedication and the profound impact she has made on our Head Start children, families, staff and community. Her commitment has ensured that we address the most critical needs of our children. As she embarks on her well-deserved retirement, we will miss her greatly and wish her all the best. Thanks to Lynn and the rest of our Head Start team, we are well-positioned to continue our mission of assisting children and families for many years to come.”

By Brooke Williams, Community Advocate