The hum of excitement filled the hallways on Aug. 18 as young learners clutched new backpacks and waved goodbye to their parents, their eyes wide with curiosity and maybe a little fear. The first day of school at Harris County Department of Education’s (HCDE) 13 Head Start campuses marks the beginning of countless discoveries, friendships and moments that will shape the love of learning for the county’s youngest students.  

“We’re looking forward to a bright and beautiful school year,” Senior Director Venetia Peacock said. “Throughout the first few weeks, we will focus on routines, social-emotional learning and getting the kids settled and comfortable. We want them to start connecting with their teachers and environment to help get rid of some of that separation anxiety.”  

Campuses support children’s growth from birth to 5 years old through services centered around early learning and development, health and family well-being. Students in the Early Head Start and Head Start programs follow the Frog Street Press curriculum, which promotes school readiness for infants, toddlers and preschool-aged children from low-income families. 

Despite a few tears in the morning, most students settled in nicely for the first day. The young scholars were greeted by their new teachers, who tasked them with storing their belongings in cubby shelves before washing their hands for a nutritious breakfast. Healthy meals are one of the program’s cornerstones and are provided daily at all campuses.  

Over the past few years, HCDE has invested in renovating and improving several Head Start campuses to create brighter, more welcoming spaces for children to learn and grow. With those upgrades complete, leaders are turning their focus toward strengthening the heart of the program: families. The division is doubling down on engagement by introducing a position that welcomes parents interested in education to work in non-instructional roles on campus. The goal is to create a deeper connection between home and school while offering parents a pathway to meaningful employment opportunities.  

“You come in as a parent and figure, ‘Hey, I’m good at working with children.’ Then we can work with you on a career ladder to grow in Head Start and other positions,” Peacock explained. “That family engagement is important because when children see their parents involved in their school, they understand its importance, and they’ll have fewer behavior problems and more academic success.” 

The first day of classes is just the starting line. As parents become more involved and educators establish connections with the students, those curious eyes and small hands will start reaching for new opportunities that soon reflect the foundation HCDE’s Head Start division sets out to build — one where the future is full of families, staff and students moving forward together, fostering readiness for school and a genuine love for it.  

“This year, I hope our students are exposed to new ideas that help them grow and learn, and I want our teachers to reconnect with the joy of why we do this work because the children need us,” Peacock smiled.  

To learn more about HCDE Head Start, visit hcde-texas.org/head-start.