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WHO WE ARE:

The Wisconsin Head Start Association (WHSA) is a private not-for-profit membership organization representing more than 16,000 children and upwards of 3,900 staff composing the 56 Head Start/Early Head Start programs in Wisconsin.  It is governed by an elected 15-member Board of Directors composed of director, staff and parent representatives and also includes the immediate past President of the Board.  WHSA works to continue to strengthen Head Start and Early Head Start programs for the benefit of children and families through advocacy, professional development, and strategic alliances.

Head Start is a federal program for preschool children primarily from low-income families.  A network of community-based, non-profit corporations, Indian reservation governments, school districts, Cooperative Education Service Agencies (CESAs), county government, and a university administer the Wisconsin Head Start programs. Children who attend Head Start participate in a variety of educational activities.  They also receive free medical and dental care, have healthy meals and snacks, and enjoy playing indoors and outdoors in a safe setting.  Head Start helps all children succeed.  Services are offered to meet the special needs of children with disabilities.  Most children in Head Start are between the ages of three and five years old. Services are also available to infants and toddlers in selected sites through the Early Head Start program option.  In Wisconsin, 14 programs offer Early Head Start.  Head Start and Early Head Start programs promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children and by extending health education, nutrition, social, and other services to family members.

Head Start provides a comprehensive child development program for young children and their families.  The program areas include child health and development, family and community partnerships, and program governance and management.  Head Start is family-centered and community-based, providing developmentally appropriate activities for children and support for parents in their work and child-rearing roles.  Since its inception in 1965, Head Start nationwide has served over 22 million children and their families.  For fiscal year 2008, Head Start was federally funded at over $6.8 billion and served over 908,000 children and their families nationwide.  In Wisconsin during program year 2008, state and federal funding ensured over 16,000 children and their families received the benefits of participation in Head Start.
 


OUR VISION:

We are an association of leaders dedicated to assuring the availability of comprehensive top quality services for children and families in our state.  We will accomplish this through advocacy, the delivery of professional development services, and the creation of unique resources for people and organizations committed to families.

WHSA BOARD DIRECTORY :

Name
Board Position and Committee Membership
WHSA
Affiliate Position
Program
Contact Information
2009 Officers of the Board of Directors/Executive Committee Members
Cathy Howe-Thwaits

President

Ex-officio Membership to all

Vice-President

Director Affiliate

Marathon County Child Development Agency, Inc. Head Start Program
720 Grant Street
Wausau, WI 54403
w 715-845-2947
f 715-845-0909
chowe@mccdahs.org

 

June Cheeks

Vice-President

Vice-President

Parent Affiliate

Social Development Commission (SDC)

Head Start Program
4041 N. Richards Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53212
w 414-906-2700

f 414-906-2754

 

Julie Perkovich

Secretary

Finance Committee

President
Director Affiliate

Sheboygan Human Rights Association

Head Start Program
4350 Tower Drive
Sheboygan, WI 53081
w 920-458-1154
f 920-58-0451
jperkovich@hsshebco.org

 

Mary Anne Wieland

Treasurer
 
Finance Committee Chair

At-Large Member

(Affiliate's Recorder Position)

Jefferson County/CESA 2 Head Start Program
N3995 Annex Road
Jefferson, WI 53549-9655
w 920-674-5577
f 920-674-6865
mwieland1@sbcglobal.net
 

Tom Mattke

Past President,

2000-2006

 

c/o Wisconsin Head Start Association

122 E. Olin Avenue, Suite 110

Madison, WI 53713

tmattke@greenbay.k12.wi.us

 

 

Name
Board Position and Committee Membership
WHSA
Affiliate Position
Program
Contact Information
Director Affiliate Representatives
Sharon Glessing

Board Member

At-Large Member
CESA 11 Head Start Program
225 Ostermann Drive
Turtle Lake, WI 54889-9191
w 800-352-6283
f 715-986-2040
 

Tim Nolan

Board Member

Region V Representative

National Centers for Learning Excellence, Inc.

Head Start & Early Head Start Program

N4W2200 Bluemound Road

Waukesha, WI 53186

w 262-548-8080

f 262-548-8084

timfuture@aol.com

 

 

Name
Board Position and Committee Membership
WHSA
Affiliate Position
Program
Contact Information
Parent Affiliate Representatives

Laura Merwin

Board Member

Recorder

SWCAP Head Start & Early Head Start Program

212 E Chapel Street

Dodgeville, WI 53533

w 608-935-5422

f 608-935-1498

 

Latasha Pearson Board Member Region V Representative

Next Door Foundation Head Start Program

2545 N. 29th Street

Milwaukee, WI 53210

w 414-562-2929

f 414-562-1979

 

TBD

Board Member
President
 
TBD

Board Member

At-Large Member

 

 

 

 

Name
Board Position
WHSA
Affiliate Position
Program
Contact Information
Staff Affiliate Representatives
Cathy Adelman

Board Member

Finance Committee Member

President
Sheboygan County Head Start
4350 Tower Drive
Sheboygan, WI 53081
w 920-458-1154
f 920-458-0451
 
Shelby Fetting
Board Member
 
By Laws Committee Member
At-Large Member (Affiliate's Recorder Position)

Western Dairyland EOC, Inc.
23140 Whitehall Road
P.O. Box 125
Independence, WI 54747
w 715-985-239

f 715-985-2581
sfetwdhs@westerndairyland.org

 

Kathy Gorrell

Board Member

By Laws Committee Chair

At-Large Member

Rock-Walworth Comprehensive Family Services, Inc. Head Start & Early Head Start Program
1221 Henry Avenue
Beloit, WI 53511
w 800-774-7778
f 608-299-1629

gorrel@att.net

 

 

Jolee Zehren

 

Board Member

Personnel Committee Member

Vice-President

Green Bay Area Public Schools Head Start Program
200 S. Broadway, #144
Green Bay, WI 54303
w 920-448-2226
f 920-448-2252
jzehren@greenbay.k12.wi.us

 

 

Name
Board Position
WHSA Position
Contact Information
Wisconsin Head Start Association Staff

Molly Kovarik

 

Assistant

Wisconsin Head Start Association
122 East Olin Avenue, Suite 110
Madison, WI 53703
w 608-442-6879
f 608-442-7672
kovarik@whsaonline.org

Shelley Cousin

 

Executive Director

Wisconsin Head Start Association
122 East Olin Avenue, Suite 110
Madison, WI 53703
w 608-442-6879
f 608-442-7672
cousin@whsaonline.org

 

CONTACT US:

Wisconsin Head Start Association
122 East Olin Avenue, Suite 110
Madison, WI 53713
Phone: 608-442-6879
Fax: 608-442-7672
Shelley Cousin, Executive Director
cousin@whsaonline.org


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