Head Start Classes Standouts in Region

Superintendent Anna Shepherd announces that the Big Sandy Head Start Grantee Office has recognized Floyd County Schools’ Head Start Program for multiple honors. 


“Thirteen of Floyd County Schools’ 16 Head Start and Preschool classrooms have been recognized as being in the Top 22 for our region! Two of our classrooms tied for the #1 spot! Congratulations Amber Shepherd, Kellie Yates, Jennifer Woods and Jessica Kiser from Allen (AES) and Ashley Fite, Johna Pack, Jessica Kiser, and Jennifer Woods from May Valley (MVE) on this recognition! We are so proud of you!”


Shepherd continued saying that in addition to securing one of the top spots, the classroom at Allen, Amber Shepherd and Kelli Yates, has been in the top 20 for seven consecutive years. Stacy Paige and Krista Brown at Duff-Allen Central (DACE) have been in the top 20 for four consecutive years and Misty Howell and Amanda Sturgill from Stumbo Elementary (JMS) have been in the top 20 for three consecutive years. Five other classrooms have been in the top 20 for 2 consecutive years. 


The Big Sandy Community Action Program (BSACAP) Head Start Grantee Office conducts an annual review of child records from each classroom as one of the ways to help ensure the program is providing quality services. They randomly sample records from each classroom and review for accuracy. Classroom teams consist of the classroom teacher, instructional assistant, family advocate, education consultant, and special education consultant. Each of these people maintain these records. Any issues are considered “findings”.


Other classrooms recognized are:


Tying for 4th place: Barb Harris, Dedra Johnson, Rhonda Newman, and Jessica Kiser from Prestonsburg Elementary (PES). Also from PES are Beth Martin, Amanda Calhoun, Rhonda Newman, and Jessica Kiser. Mary Bentley, Jessica Partin, Tammy Gearheart, and Jessica Kiser from AES made up our three-way tie for 4th place.


Coming in at 7th place is Carlene Johnson, Jessica Tackett, Tammy Gearheart and Jessica Kiser from Betsy Layne Elementary (BLE). Eleventh place from Stumbo Elementary (JMS) is Misty Howell, Amanda Sturgill, Beverly Bush, and Jessica Kiser.  Liz Isaac, Tina Flannery, Jessica Kiser, and Amanda Burke from South Floyd (SFE) came in at 14th place and tying at 16th place is Stacy Paige, Krista Brown, Rhonda Newman, and Jessica Kiser from DACE and  Connie Hall, Anastacia Kiser, Amanda Burke, Jessica Kiser from SFE. The 19th spot goes to Misty Daniels, Bethany Hamilton, Tammy Gearheart, and Jessica Kiser from DACE; Stephanie Slone, Michelle Newsome, Beverly Bush, and Jessica Kiser from JMS and Jessi Williams, Rhonda Newman, and Jessica Kiser from PES.


Shepherd concluded saying, “Overall, we have a 4.3 average in findings which is the best record in the region, making Floyd County Schools’ program named as the Top Performing Program! This is the foundation of formal education for our kids and we are excited to see their tremendous success. We are proud of these amazing teams and our Chief of Early Childhood Education Kim Grubb. She has served this department for many years but this is her first year in leading the department and she has been wonderful!”


* Rhonda Begley’s classroom at MVE was excluded from record review due to not meeting criteria.