Director-at-large Candidate, JewRonda Greene 

Episcopal Children's Services Head Start/Early Head Start, Senior Director of HS/EHS – Educational Operations

Why do you want to serve on the FHSA Board of Directors?

I have a deep and enduring commitment to Head Start, having worked in the program for over 20 years. I have served in many capacities, beginning my Head Start career as a teacher and continuing to grow my skills in multiple arenas, including mental health, education, center management, and center operations. FHSA is committed to empowering its membership to build advocacy, leadership, and service enhancement, and I want to use my skills and talents to advance the mission of FHSA.

What skills and talents would you bring to the FHSA Board of Directors?

Academic Degrees and Certifications: I have numerous credentials that demonstrate my expertise in Head Start and Early Childhood Education. I hold an associate degree in science, a second associate degree in arts, and a bachelor's degree in early childhood education. I am currently pursuing my master's degree in educational leadership from the University of Florida. I hold the Crisis Prevention Institution (CPI) certification, having learned and demonstrated best practices for managing difficult situations and disruptive behaviors.

Board Experience: I currently serve on the Board of Directors for both the Early Learning Coalition of Lake County and Arnette House in Marion County. I can bring my knowledge of the needs of children to support the ELC and have helped the organization improve their ability to link children and their families with services. Arnette House provides residential and non-residential services for youth who are at risk of entering the juvenile justice system, those in foster care, and those with family crises. I have been able to use my expertise in crisis situations as well as my ability to effectively work with parents to support the organization's capacity to help and support children with behavioral issues.

Knowledge and Experience with Head Start:  I have worked in this amazing program for over two decades. A good example of how I have been able to use my expertise can be seen in the quality improvement work I have done with our CCPs. I worked closely with my team to ensure that we held the same expectations for our CCPs as we do for our directly operated centers. I focused on supporting our CCPs in rising to the challenge of increasing their CLASS scores. Since putting this CCP focus into place, CLASS scores increased a total of 2.52 points, an increase of 18% (Fall 2020 to Spring 2023).