Home » Kentucky Head Start Association board selects new executive director

Kentucky Head Start Association board selects new executive director

(L-R) April Mullins-Datko, Erin Walker, Cindy Graves, Kristy Lewis, John Rhoden, Sharon Price, Melissa Tibbs, Tara Neimeister, and John Mountjoy

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Executive Team of the Board of Directors for the Kentucky Head Start Association (KHSA) has announced that it has selected John Mountjoy to serve as the new executive director for the state’s leading membership organization for Head Start grantees. Head Start programs are federally-funded child development programs that ensure children—birth through age five—from families with low income receive comprehensive school readiness, health, social and family support services, including services to pregnant women.

“John’s experience will be an asset for the Head Start community and the more than 30 grantees across the state,” said Kristy Lewis, president of the KHSA Board of Directors. “This is an exciting time for Head Start grantees as, collectively, we are increasing our supports to families by offering a two-generation approach to moving families out of poverty and into self-sufficiency.”

“The Executive Committee is confident in John’s ability to ensure that Kentucky’s Head Start programs continue to be upheld as high-quality programs of excellence at the state and national levels,” said Sharon Price, vice president of KHSA’s Board of Directors and the Head Start director for Community Action Council for Lexington-Fayette, Bourbon, Harrison and Nicholas Counties, Inc. “We are excited to have an ally in Frankfort who will be working every day to communicate the goals and outcomes of our Head Start programs to our state representatives and the community at large.”

“There are few early-education programs that are as impactful as Head Start. As policy priorities in Frankfort and Washington, DC evolve, we must make sure that KHSA is a sought-after voice for the Head Start community, and the children and families these programs serve,” said John Mountjoy. “It is inspiring to see the passion that teachers, administrators, parents and families have for Head Start. I’m excited to be a part of this mission – to tell the story of Head Start’s success in Kentucky and to ensure that we are serving the largest number of children possible.

The Kentucky Head Start Association was founded in 1983 to enhance outcomes for Kentucky’s Head Start children and families. Each year Kentucky’s Head Start programs employ over 4,300 teachers and staff to work alongside more than 16,000 children and families. KHSA supports high-quality early childhood education and services for Kentucky’s most vulnerable families to ensure that children have the best opportunity to become school-, college- and career-ready. KHSA accomplishes this through professional and leadership development; outreach and advocacy; education, training and the sharing of best practices; and the creation of partnerships with key stakeholders across the Commonwealth and the around the country.