As a Head Start student, Lillian admired her teachers so much that she would come home and pretend to be one herself while playing school.

When the time came to seriously consider her future career options, she reflected on all the teachers who had made an impact throughout her life. This included the staff at Luzerne County Head Start’s Plains Center, who she credits with giving her educational journey a strong beginning. Head Start provided a place where Lillian felt supported and excited to learn, while also offering her family the resources they needed to succeed.

Wanting to make a difference in the same way, Lillian decided to pursue an associate degree in early childhood education – even earning a Head Start Alumni Scholarship and returning to LCHS to complete her student teaching requirements. Now, she is back where it all began, serving as an associate teacher in the LCHS Pittston New Street Center while working toward her bachelor’s degree.

“I know that some of the children who walk into my classroom may be facing circumstances similar to what my own family experienced, and I want them to know that their circumstances do not determine where they can go in life,” she said. “Being able to give back to a program that gave so much to me and my family is something I am incredibly grateful for, and I hope I can be the kind of teacher that my Head Start teachers were for me.”

Lillian’s family enrolled her and her sister in Head Start because they wanted to make sure their children were ready for school. The family was low income at the time and expecting another child.

Ms. Robin and Ms. Theresa, as well as the classroom’s Foster Grandma Cookie, always found ways to make the school day exciting. Lillian can still clearly picture good times like their field trip to Hillside Farms, or when her teachers transformed their classroom into a campsite. The program also provided assistance for Lillian’s family, including gifts during the holiday season.

“Looking back now, I realize that Head Start wasn’t just there to prepare me academically and socially for school,” Lillian said. “The program also supported my whole family during a time when that extra help really mattered.”

Lillian finds joy in working with Head Start children and seeing the wonder and beauty of the world through their eyes. She said it’s been surreal to return to Head Start and experience the classroom from the other side. In many ways, the room is still set up the way she remembers it, which makes coming back feel like even more of a full-circle experience.

“The best part of my job is simply seeing the children smile, learn and have fun. I love watching a child get excited because they learned how to write a letter, or seeing a group of children playing family together in the dramatic play center,” she said. “Those moments might seem small, but they are some of the most rewarding parts of teaching. Seeing their excitement and knowing that I get to be a part of these early experiences really does make my day.”

By Brooke Williams, Community Advocate