FHSA Welcomes Director Lizbeth Casco‑White to Lead
the Office of Head Start

The Florida Head Start Association congratulates Lizbeth Casco‑White on her appointment as the new Director of the Office of Head Start. Her extensive background in early childhood development, family services, and public leadership reflects a deep commitment to strengthening opportunities for children and families nationwide.  

Director Casco‑White brings more than two decades of experience across early learning, family advocacy, and government service, including overseeing Early Head Start standards across multiple centers and family child care homes, where she helped ensure that 90 percent of children met key developmental benchmarks. Her academic preparation—spanning human development, marriage and family therapy, and law—combined with her recent service as Virginia’s Deputy Secretary of Labor, positions her to lead with both compassion and strategic insight.

“We welcome Director Casco‑White back to the Head Start community and look forward to partnering with her to advance the mission we all share,” said Wanda Minick, Executive Director of the Florida Head Start Association. “Florida’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs serve more than 30,000 children and families each year, and strong federal leadership is essential to ensuring our programs have the resources, stability, and guidance needed to deliver high‑quality services. We are encouraged by Director Casco‑White’s experience and her clear dedication to supporting the early childhood workforce and the families we serve.”

FHSA looks forward to collaborating with Director Casco‑White and the Office of Head Start to elevate exemplary practices, strengthen family outcomes, and continue building a strong early learning system for Florida’s youngest learners.

For additional information about the Office of Head Start and its work supporting children and families nationwide, please visit: https://headstart.gov/