Dad, Advocate and Head Start Graduate

Story by Eugene Curette, Jr.

To me, Head Start is more than an early childhood education program – it’s a legacy.

I come from a family with 30 years of experience as Head Start educators. Early Head Start sparked my kids’ love of learning. Once upon a time, I crossed the Head Start graduation stage myself – and even served as President of Save the Children’s Head Start Policy Council in Louisiana.

Now, I’m a proud Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) Family Engagement advocate.

But first, I was a dad – juggling school drop-offs, making grocery runs and packing lunches for my 4-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son. Advocacy wasn’t on my radar until I met Jasmine at a Head Start health screening in Grand Coteau.

Representing SCAN’s Family Engagement team, she told parents why OUR voices matter.

Head Start allowed my wife and I to work knowing our kids were safe, supported and surrounded by people who see their potential. When my oldest started kindergarten, his teachers were amazed at how quickly he caught on – thanks to the foundation he built in Head Start.

Millions of families never get that opportunity. So, I started volunteering with the Family Engagement team.

Advocacy didn’t always come easy – especially when it came to public speaking. But my confidence grew with every experience, opening doors I never imagined walking through.

Before long, I rallied for Head Start funding, supporting the collection of 450 petition signatures, I spoke on a panel at the Louisiana Summit and I traveled to Washington, D.C., with Jasmine to tell lawmakers why early learning matters.

Looking back, one of my proudest moments was seeing a letter to the editor I authored get published in our local newspaper. Today, I’m taking classes to become a Head Start Family Services Social Worker – in between Dad Duty, volunteering with SCAN and my role as Parent President of the Louisiana Head Start Association.

If advocacy taught me anything, it’s that personal stories are powerful.

Lawmakers listen when we share how Head Start strengthens our families, lifts up our communities and shapes our kids’ futures.

I’ll never stop speaking up for my children – and all the families with low incomes who can’t access early learning.

Because every child deserves an advocate.
 
If you’re a Louisiana parent who’s interested in advocating for kids, contact Jasmine Harris at jharris@savechildren.org.