(Washington, D.C.) - Acting Assistant Secretary for Children and Families Steven Wagner has announced the appointment of Dr. Deborah Bergeron as the new director of the Office of Head Start (OHS). Dr. Bergeron has served as both a teacher and an elementary school principal and has worked in school systems in Washington, D.C., and Virginia.
"Head Start is a one-of-a-kind program - one that provides vital services to children and their families to ensure their success in school and in life," said National Head Start Association Executive Director Yasmina Vinci. "We know that we need a strong OHS team in order to support the Head Start community and we look forward to working closely with Dr. Bergeron to ensure a bright future for all of Head Start children and families."
A media statement by the NHSA noted:
“The National Head Start Association welcomes Dr. Bergeron to the Head Start community. As Assistant Secretary Steven Wagner has said, there is no better-run government program than Head Start, and that is because of the commitment and dedication of both program staff across the country and the public servants in the Office of Head Start.
"NHSA looks forward to partnering with Dr. Bergeron as we work together to strengthen Head Start and continue the 53-year legacy of transforming the life trajectory of our nation’s most vulnerable children and families.”
Besides congratulating Dr. Bergeron, Vinci at the NHSA also extended gratitude to Ann Linehan for her forward-leaning leadership as acting director of OHS for the past 16 months. "We are grateful that she will continue to contribute her talents to the Head Start community as deputy director of the Office of Head Start," she said.
Vinci added: "Please join me in welcoming Dr. Bergeron as we work together to strengthen Head Start and continue the 53-year legacy of transforming the life trajectory of the nation’s most vulnerable children and families."