Before future educators and nurses can lead a classroom full of students or care for a patient in need, these aspiring professionals must learn what it means to meet people at their level. San Jacinto College North Campus recently approached Harris County Department of Education’s (HCDE) Head Start program for a new partnership that gives students an opportunity to gain those lessons firsthand by working alongside Head Start professionals to build the skills, confidence and experience they will carry into their careers.
“We strive for excellence at HCDE, and we want to share that excellence with those who decide to enter the profession of early care and education,” Head Start Senior Director Venetia Peacock said. “I think our partnership with San Jacinto demonstrates a strong, trusting relationship. They know we are 100% committed, not only to our students, but to their students as well.”
Department leaders collaborated with San Jacinto College to create a two-fold program that allows students enrolled in early childhood development courses to participate in a work-study program that compensates them while earning the 300 credit hours needed to graduate. Those enrolled in the nursing program are welcome on campus during their clinical rotations to learn how to interact with young patients and their families.
Sheffield Head Start is the hub for the pilot program, entitled “Pathways of Teaching Careers,” where teachers and administrators guide a handful of students throughout the semester, share knowledge gained over decades-long careers and create an environment where interns can ask questions.
“This program has been so welcoming for our students, and they feel that they are part of HCDE’s Head Start community, which has allowed them to maximize this experience,” said Caresal Bolds, the program director for child development at San Jacinto College.
Diana Trevino was part of the inaugural cohort in the spring. She visited Sheffield several times a week, working with educators to learn classroom management techniques, instructional planning and content methodologies that engage young learners.
“I enjoyed getting to work with different teachers, learn about their classroom experience and ask them for wisdom,” Trevino said. “They’ve seen different students, different classrooms and ages, and there are lessons in all of those experiences that I want to just be a sponge for.”
Helping people learn has always been something Trevino enjoyed, but when her younger brother was diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), she knew it was her calling.
“I would help him complete his homework and see how much he struggled,” she recalled. “I want to help kids be successful in their academic careers, and getting a chance to start early with these Head Start students is a really cool opportunity.”
The intern teacher was placed in a 3-5-year-old classroom, where she often assisted students in learning centers that promote exploration, social skills and school readiness through dramatic play, construction and writing activities. Students are grouped by developmental skills, where Trevino was forced to adapt her teaching methods to meet each student’s individual needs.
Beyond those skills, San Jacinto students also received the opportunity to witness how educators lead parent discussions about their children’s key challenges and milestones or identify families who might need individualized attention.
“The chance to work with diverse learners from various cultural backgrounds, linguistic or socioeconomic status is priceless,” Bolds said. “Watching how these teachers engage with families helps our students learn to create inclusive environments for children and families, and you don’t get that from other programs. That’s what makes this partnership with HCDE so valuable.”
Coolwood, Channelview and Compton Head Start facilities also welcomed nearly 30 San Jacinto nursing students like Sarah Perez, who rotate among campuses to help provide nutrition and health services to Early Head Start and Head Start students, which are part of the program’s core values.
As the oldest of five siblings, Perez was born to immigrant parents and raised in the North Shore community. She saw at an early age the disproportionate resources provided to low-income families compared to those provided to wealthy families and wanted to make a difference.
“I’ve always taken care of people and loved learning how the human body works, so nursing seemed like the best path,” she said. “I believe God put me in this program for a reason because I know this is where I’m supposed to be learning these skills. I see the less fortunate being helped and given so many opportunities. Everything feels like it’s falling into place.”
Nursing students complete various clinical rotations in a traditional health care setting before they are placed on a Head Start campus, where they can assist with feeding, potty training and supporting health and wellness activities. Future professionals also help conduct vision screenings and monitor children’s growth and development. The experience gives them a chance to put their clinical training into practice while learning to recognize and respond to their patients’ needs. Unlike other rotations, Head Start students require nursing candidates to be more attentive to nonverbal cues, since young learners aren’t always able to fully express themselves.
“Working alongside children gives our students the opportunity to see if nursing is a true fit for them,” explained Dr. Tyra Rideaux, the department chair of nursing at San Jacinto College. “They have to gain the knowledge and skills to work with someone of various developmental levels or understanding because talking to a three-year-old, a 30-year-old and an 85-year-old with dementia are all very different.”
Added Perez: “You have to learn how to accommodate. Sometimes you can distract them, talk to them or try to show them something, but it can change on a dime. You have to be patient with them, gentle in your communication and use simple vocabulary. All those skills have been helpful throughout this rotation.”
While collegiate leaders and students are focused on the skills learned through internships and clinical hours, Peacock says Head Start staff are excited about the opportunity to invest in the people who will carry their newfound knowledge into classrooms, clinics and the local community for years to come.
The educators program has already welcomed a new handful of students for the fall and a new cohort of nearly 30 nursing students will participate in orientation this November.
“This opportunity is really a twofold blessing for Head Start because we know the more adults in an early childhood classroom, the better,” Peacock said. “These students come out of the classroom and can immediately see what they learned in action. We are helping San Jacinto create a high-quality workforce, and at the same time, they’re helping us create high-quality environments for young learners.”
That investment is already paying off in some ways. Trevino still has about a year before she gains her bachelor’s degree, but she recently joined #TeamHCDE as a teaching assistant at Sheffield Head Start. She credits the skills she gained throughout her internship and the months of building relationships with students, educators and administrators for her new position.
“I think I’m always going to be a pretty shy person, but the Pathway of Teaching Careers program definitely helped me become more confident in my abilities,” she said. “I know I can handle being in the classroom with a dozen toddlers before I graduate. Now I get to continue working alongside the teachers here, I’m just grateful.”
“This partnership ties into the mission of Head Start, which is to promote and to grow people to their full potential,” Peacock said. “I hope that it’s one we can continue and grow over the next few years.”