Head Start teacher Edwina Tillman helps Neveah, 5, color a picture.
When Neveah began in Head Start, says her teacher, she only knew 12 letters of the alphabet. In just over a month, she was up to 23.
“She’s going to be excellent,” says Edwina. “She has great communication skills. She tries and tries and if she doesn’t get it, she asks for help.”
In 2014, Save the Children began providing service in Neveah’s county in Mississippi. Now, they currently serve 538 children through Head Start and Early Head Start classes and family services across six centers in the county.
Nevaeh’s dad says, “She loves school, period. She loves the teaching and she loves the students. She’s meeting every challenge we’ve put before her. This morning she was singing the song she learned in class. She’s a quick learner. She’s always repeating things she learned in school.”
Despite his daughter’s progress, Neveah’s dad expressed concern for other children who are still left out. “They’re home every day and not getting what they need to get ahead. In our community, it is so badly needed. We have to make sure they have opportunities early.”