The program also helped Lee learn life skills that will help her family continue to succeed in school, career and life.

“I didn’t know what a goal was, but everything in Head Start is very goal oriented,” Lee explained. “Now I always have goals.”

And, possibly the most important thing, Head Start helped Lee believe in herself.

“I didn’t know how to turn on a computer when I started,” Lee said. “But they believed in me…they gave me the tools…they made me believe in myself. Now I work for the whole agency, troubleshooting computers and servers, setting up e-mail accounts, training staff and building databases.”

Lee has taken a number of college classes and would like to obtain her associate degree in computer technology. She will be one of four parents testifying for the Iowa Head Start Association this year in Washington D.C. at Congressional hearings related Head Start funding.

“It’s a great program,” Lee said. “I can’t even imagine what life would be like for me without Head Start,”


"I can't even imagine what life would be like for me without Head Start."