The Head Start Policy Council plays an important role in establishing policy and direction for the Appalachian Council Head Start program.  Per the Head Start Act of 2007, the Policy Council is “. . . responsible for the direction of the Head Start program, including program design and operation, and long- and short-term planning goals and objectives, taking into account the annual communitywide strategic planning and needs assessment and self-assessment.” 

The management staff at the Appalachian Council Head Start program works closely with the Policy Council to ensure that the voices of families and community members are fully represented in the policy council, per requirements from the Head Start Act of 2007. 

Below are the guidelines for the Policy Council:

• The policy council shall be elected by the parents of children who are currently enrolled in the Head Start program of the Head Start agency.
  • The policy council shall be composed of--
    • parents of children who are currently enrolled in the Head Start program of the Head Start agency (including any delegate agency), who shall constitute a majority of the members of the policy council; and
    • members at large of the community served by the Head Start agency (including any delegate agency), who may include parents of children who were formerly enrolled in the Head Start program of the agency.

If you are interested in working with the Head Start Policy Council or becoming a member, please contact the Head Start Director, Lori Hedrick-Litteral—lhedrick-litteral@appcouncil.org

2018 Policy Council Members

Brittany Snead, Chairperson—Putnam County

Natasha Middleton, Vice Chairperson—Putnam County

Maria Paluso, Secretary—Putnam County

Jessica Mitchell, Treasurer—Boone County

Keisha Abbott, Parliamentarian—Wood County

Loretta Hayes, Assistant Secretary—Jackson County

Amanda Mitchell, Member—Wood County

Ashley Bell, Member—Wood County

Rachel Hanshaw, Member—Jackson County

Sarah Roush, Member—Jackson County

Natasha McCumbers, Member—Calhoun County

Eve Parsons Reed, Member—Calhoun County