It’s not unusual for those who work with students and young learners on a daily basis to miss those interactions as they move up and into administrative and managerial roles.
That’s where Cesilia Pereira found herself when she transitioned from a family services provider within Harris County Department of Education’s Head Start division to family services coordinator. Based at HCDE’s administrative building at Irvington, Pereira was no longer at a Head Start campus directly working with some of Harris County’s youngest students and their families.
“It was hard, and I still miss it,” said Pereira, a coordinator for more than 10 years after serving nearly five as a family services provider. “Whenever I am at a campus, I may jump to answer the phone or I try to get in there because I do enjoy working with the families.”
While her role changed, her heart for serving others didn’t, making Pereira an invaluable team member for Head Start. Her passion for seeing beyond paperwork and meeting requirements with every individual she encounters is what separates Pereira, and why she was selected as HCDE’s December Employee of the Month.
Pereira looks at the young child as a whole person and not just a body in the seat within Head Start, said Health and Family Services Manager Jasmine Imo, who nominated Pereira for the recognition.
“You can tell she really has a heart to help families in Harris County, to make sure their children’s needs are met as well as the families’ needs are met,” Imo said. “It’s not just checkmarks, papers, files and boxes with Cesilia. She goes a step further, like if your child doesn’t have a physical or dental record, she’ll ask, ‘Why not? Do you need health insurance? Has your child been feeling okay?’
“She goes beyond the paperwork and beyond what Head Start requires from us. She really wants to make sure children’s health and well-being are taken care of.”
Part of Pereira’s affinity to Head Start and its impact comes from her background. Originally from Los Angeles, Pereira was raised by a single mother who didn’t have the opportunity to learn to read and write.
Resources were limited in their community.
“Had a Head Start been in our lives, it would have helped my mom so much,” Pereira said. “I feel that my mom would have had those resources to know I could learn to write here, learn to read and get some of those basic skills.”
What Pereira’s mom, Vicenta, did teach her was the importance and value of hard work. She pushed her to be better, building resilience and overcoming hardships.
As Pereira grew, her accomplishments were just as much her mother’s. She credits her mother for being able to send her to college. When Pereira graduated, she said it was because of her mom.
Pereira’s path to education started as a volunteer while in high school at the Los Angeles Central Library. She saw her future as a librarian, but needed more hours when applying for an entry-level position. That led her to volunteer for an afterschool program at a neighborhood elementary school.
Upon completion, Pereira asked for a letter of recommendation. The site coordinator countered with an open position and Pereira accepted, working as a program worker and then supervisor for six years.
She enjoyed the program but realized a gap existed between the school and its programming and family engagement. So, Pereira moved over to social work to better assist families and their needs.
“Head Start bridges both,” she said. “We get to work with the families, we get to work with the children but we also get to build skills for the families as well – skills to become self-reliant and build a network within their community.
“My values, both professionally and personally, align working for Head Start.”
Pereira puts the same passion and energy in raising her 11-year-old daughter, Krisna. As Krisna moves from one interest and hobby to another, Pereira is there cheering her on. From soccer and tap dancing to equine therapy.
And in her role as a family services coordinator, Pereira is a “mother” figure for the family services providers who directly interact with families.
She even catches herself – and has to remind herself that the providers are professionals, albeit young professionals, in this field.
“It does feel a sense of accomplishment when their win is my win,” Pereira said. “Sometimes I can tell that I might be pushing them too much and I need to slow down. Then you’re like, ‘Let’s build this, let’s do this, let’s do that.’ It feels good to know that you are impacting the community.”
When Imo joined Head Start four years ago, Pereira helped make her transition smooth.
Four years later, Pereira is still just as valuable to all those she encounters, both professionally and personally.
“Cesilia deserves to be employee of the month at Harris County Department of Education.” Imo said. “She’s a mom of a sweet girl and again, she comes to work daily, gets the job done, goes over and beyond and doesn’t boast at all. You know people that just do amazing stuff and it’s not for a job. It’s for people and they don’t get acknowledged but they just keep doing amazing work. That’s Cecilia.”