From the moment LeAndra stepped into her preschool classroom as a child, the warmth and care of SETA’s Head Start left a lasting impression on her. She remembers cold winter mornings filled with the comforting aroma of apple cinnamon oatmeal, her favorite breakfast. “This meal felt like a warm hug and reminded me of being at grandma’s house on weekends when my mom had to work,” recalls LeAndra.
LeAndra’s days were filled with imaginative play, such as cooking pretend meals for baby dolls in the play kitchen, building castles in the block area, and acting out stories with dragons and princesses. These joyful moments weren’t just play; they were the foundation of her social and emotional development. One of her earliest lessons in self-awareness came from a simple classroom tool: the “Today I’m Feeling…” chart. Each morning, she would look into a mirror and match her expression to a face on the chart. “It taught me to pause, look inward, and understand my own emotional state.”
At the time, she didn’t realize that this nurturing environment was part of SETA’s Head Start program. However, once she became a parent, LeAndra was in search of options. “As the costs for private daycare increased, I was a student at the time, navigating the system to secure assistance. The process, and my own financial reality, was difficult to manage,” she states. “But as I explored my options, I discovered the name of the program I had attended as a child, and with it, a full-circle appreciation for the lasting, foundational impact of that early education.”
LeAndra soon enrolled her daughter, Sophie, in SETA’s Head Start program, and under the guidance of dedicated teachers, Sophie flourished. “I saw Sophie thrive under their care. She would come home proudly practicing how to write her name and excitedly tell me about using counting bears to sort by color and playing math games,” she recalls. “The program did more than just teach her core skills; it built her confidence and gave her a solid academic foundation.”
LeAndra’s journey with SETA didn’t end when her children graduated from the Head Start program. She became deeply involved in the parent community, serving on SETA’s Policy Council, Parent Advisory Committee, and the Health Service Advisory Committee. Her admiration for the teachers, Family Service Workers, and program specialists led her to discover the power of parent voices. “Serving on these boards for the past four years has been an education in itself. I’ve learned about the strategic initiatives SETA implements to meet families where they are and provide the support they need to achieve their personal and family goals,” says LeAndra.
For this SETA Head Start alumni and parent, the program has been more than just a stepping stone. “Being part of this movement is a full-circle way of giving back to the very institution that laid the foundation for my daughter’s success. My journey has shown me that empowerment is contagious, and remarkable things can happen when a community comes together with a shared purpose. SETA is taking on the fight to advocate for parents and families, ensuring they have access to health care, nutrition, and early education. The most inspiring part is seeing parents realize that their stories have the power to shape the policies that build our children’s future.”
