"Success… In Their Own Words"
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It
was a bleak and dreary time for the former Cordell Hull Head Start
employees when their program closed. It was a surprise! The looks
and the tears were real. It was a bad dream. And then — there
was “hope”, a ray of sunshine in that bleak and dreary
time in the name of an interim agency, known as Community Development
Institute.
You have a fear in dealing with strangers. Would they be respectful?
Would they be judgmental? Would you still have a job, insurance…and
the list went on and on with questions and no answers, until they
arrived.
A success story………you better believe it! Staff
morale went from zero to 10 in a short time after the team arrived.
They treated the staff with respect and kindness. They gave the staff
an opportunity to keep their positions with Head Start. Now—that
was an accomplishment!!!!! The transition from CHEOC to CDI was fast
and streamlined. The team wanted staff to be paid immediately, and
assisted all of us in filling out time sheets so we would have a paycheck.
They knew that November wages and December wages for three (3) days
had not been paid and it was only a few days before Christmas. They
really cared about us.
Other successes since CDI HS involvement: Upgrades and new computers
for the central office; new computers have been ordered for the centers;
internet access for centers; central office and center staff morale
has improved; staff have received more training and assistance with
furthering their education which means more qualified staff; utilizing
substitutes more; encouraging them to obtain their CDA and CDLs; “Fish
training” very motivational re: team/self-enhancement for staff;
employee interest for taking better care of ourselves, mentally and
physically; partnerships with parents re: purchase of cots that meet
licensing requirements for ECERS initiative; staff are receiving their
pay checks twice monthly; requested snacks by parents are being provided;
no longer using gas pumps located at centers and central office due
to safety issues for children and staff; and many other center improvements!
— Written by Ann Hall, acting director, Lafayette, TN
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