Arkansas Head Start Association

05/04/2026

WHY ATTEND?
✔ Help shape the future of Arkansas Head Start
✔ Share your voice and ideas
✔ Connect with colleagues across the state
✔ Strengthen outcomes for children & families

WE NEED YOU THERE!
Your voice matters as we improve our strategic plans, goals, and vision!

Please RSVP your attendance to [email protected] by Friday, May 8, 2026

04/23/2026

Please join us in recognizing the team that represented Arkansas at NHSA's Parents Unite:

Parents
1. Toya Woods, MCAEOC Head Start Program in Blytheville, AR
2. Brittany Bradshaw, BRAD EHS/HS Program in Pocahontas, AR

Staff Person:
3. Jacqueline Baker, MCAEOC HS Program in Blytheville, AR
4. Angela Blankenship, BRAD EHS/HS in Pocahontas, AR

We thank them for their commitment to the Head Start/Early Head Start program and willingness to represent the state at the national level.

A special thank you to Jackie Govan for her assistance in organizing the team!

04/13/2026

The AHSA Best of the Best Choice Awards give us the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the incredible individuals who make a lasting impact in our Head Start community. These awards highlight the passion, dedication, and heart that shine through in classrooms, programs, and communities. Congratulations to all of the nominees. Voting will be available from April 13, 2026 to April 17, 2026. Please vote for a nominee in each category.
And don’t forget—registration is now open for the 2026 Arkansas Head Start Institute! Be sure to secure your spot as we come together to learn, grow, and celebrate all that we’ve accomplished.

Thank you for helping us honor the amazing people who make Head Start what it is!

Here is a link to the voting ballot for the Best of the Best of Awards:

Arkansas Head Start Association's 2026 Best of the Best!! The AHSA Best of the Best Choice Awards give us the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the incredible individuals who make a lasting impact in our Head Start community. These awards highlight the passion, dedication, and heart that shine....

04/02/2026

The nomination period has been extended to April 10, 2026. Voting will be April 13-April 17, 2026. Please take this time to honor your staff, parents, and community partners.

The AHSA Best of the Best Awards
give us the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the incredible individuals who make a lasting impact in our Head Start community. These awards highlight the passion, dedication, and heart that shine through in classrooms, programs, and communities. We invite you to take a few moments to nominate a colleague, leader, or team member who embodies the spirit of Head Start and goes above and beyond in service to children and families across Arkansas. The nomination period will end April 10, 2026. and once the nomination period ends we will open voting. Voting will be available from April 13, 2026 to April 17, 2026.
Arkansas Head Start Best of the Best Nomination Form: https://forms.gle/AYtWFQCodTyq1mrg8

02/23/2026

The AHSA Best of the Best Awards
give us the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the incredible individuals who make a lasting impact in our Head Start community. These awards highlight the passion, dedication, and heart that shine through in classrooms, programs, and communities. We invite you to take a few moments to nominate a colleague, leader, or team member who embodies the spirit of Head Start and goes above and beyond in service to children and families across Arkansas. The nomination period will end April 10, 2026. and once the nomination period ends we will open voting. Voting will be available from April 13, 2026 to April 17, 2026.
Arkansas Head Start Best of the Best Nomination Form: https://forms.gle/AYtWFQCodTyq1mrg8

01/30/2026

Office moving sale…All items must go…please call 501.371.0740 for inquiries.

12/17/2025

12/08/2025

📢 UAMS Head Start/Early Head Start Families – We’re Back!

We are pleased to announce that federal funding has been restored, allowing all UAMS Head Start/Early Head Start Centers to reopen on Tuesday, December 9th under normal operating hours. We look forward to welcoming children and families back to our program!

Thank you for your patience and support. We can’t wait to see you tomorrow! 💙

12/02/2025

Join us this Giving Tuesday and make a difference! Your donation will go directly toward supporting the mission of the Arkansas Head Start Association, helping us to promote structured leadership and collaboration on the state and local levels by delivering equitable, innovative and quality services and training, technical assistance, and on-going support to the Head Start community in Arkansas.

Every contribution, big or small, helps us reach our goal and make a lasting impact in our community. Giving is easy—simply choose your donation amount and complete your payment online. Together, we can spread kindness and make this Giving Tuesday one to remember.

We’re a 501(c)(3) organization, so your donation is tax-deductible. Don’t forget to save your receipt for tax purposes! You’ll receive an email confirmation after your donation for your records.

Thank you for being part of something special!

Please use the following link to make donations:

my.cheddarup.com/c/giving-tuesday-27368

You may also mail donations to:

Arkansas Head Start Association

1400 West Markham Street Ste 406

Little Rock, AR 72201

Giving Tuesday - Arkansas Head Start Association - Cheddar Up. Collect online payments for events and fundraisers with Cheddar Up.

10/06/2025

🌟 From Head Start Student to State Leader: Dr. Alferma Giles' Remarkable Journey

In 1965, a young Alferma Giles walked into Carver Elementary School in rural Moro, Arkansas, as part of the very first Head Start class. In a community where preschool programs were virtually nonexistent, that opportunity changed everything.

Today, Dr. Giles serves as Director of the Texas Head Start State Collaboration Office and Assistant Director of Texas School Ready at the UT Health Science Center in Houston, dedicating over 43 years to ensuring that other children receive the same transformative opportunities she did.

Her journey from classroom to leadership exemplifies what we mean when we say Head Start is a launchpad for future leaders. Dr. Giles climbed every rung of the ladder, from classroom teacher to state director, never forgetting the program that gave her that first crucial boost.

"That transformative experience sparked a lifelong passion for early learning," Dr. Giles reflects. Now, she's creating ripple effects that will last for generations — proving that investing in one child can transform entire communities.

Dr. Giles' story is Head Start's story: when we ensure all children have a chance to succeed, we don't just change individual lives — we strengthen our nation's future, one leader at a time.

Thank you, Dr. Giles, for showing us what's possible when opportunity meets determination. Your legacy lives on in every child you've served. 💜