Cherokee Nation celebrates opening of Nowata Head Start Center | News

NOWATA, Okla. — The Cherokee Nation celebrated the opening of its new Head Start Center in Nowata, which will offer low-income families with children 3 years old and under with various early childhood resources.

The $7.3 million investment is a 9,300-square-foot facility that will provide early childhood education, health, nutrition and parent-involvement services.

The center also has a storm shelter, kitchen, classrooms and a playground.

“Our work with the federal Head Start program has improved the education, health and general welfare of thousands of Cherokee families across the reservation for decades,” said Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “Since we started the program in 1978, we have received the highest of ratings by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services evaluators. Earlier this year with support from the Council, we reauthorized the historic Verna D. Thompson Early Childhood Education Act to fund modern, state-of-the art learning environments at all our Head Start centers. This investment coupled with our ongoing work to provide more quality, affordable childcare across the reservation helps ensure our youngest of Cherokees who rely on us for early learning have all the tools they need to continue thriving.”

The Verna D. Thompson Early Childhood Education Act funded the new center, which was reauthorized by Hoskin earlier this year with support from the Council of the Cherokee Nation.

This facility is the first replacement project under Hoskin’s initiative.

“The Cherokee Nation Verna D. Thompson Early Childhood Education Act is rightfully named in honor of Head Start Director Verna Thompson, who has worked for the Cherokee Nation and in early childhood education for 40 years,” said Deputy Chief Warner. “Verna has been the cornerstone of these early childhood learning opportunities for decades and we’re excited to see how our Head Start centers take these efforts to the next level in the years to come.”

Eventually Cherokee Nation will replace or rehabilitate all of its Head Start facilities, which serves the communities of Tahlequah, Jay, Stilwell, Salina, Pryor, Nowata and Kenwood.

Cherokee Nation currently serves over 900 children through its Head Start programs.

“I am proud to see the investment that Cherokee Nation continues to make in early childhood education,” said District 11 Councilor Kendra McGeady. “When we invest in early childhood education, we are not only investing in children’s future, but we are investing in their formative years to make sure they have a strong foundation to begin on.”