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Traci Norwood - Getting the Most Out of Head Start · Look Who's Talking

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You are listening to Look Who's Talking.
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I am Cameron Minter.
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I am your co-host and the wonderful, marvelous Jessica Coffey is our host.
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What's going on, Jessica?
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Cameron, how are you doing?
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Nothing much, just living life and living life.
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Oh, okay.
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Yeah, yeah.
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I'm doing me.
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I'm doing me.
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Do you, Boo.
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I know that's right.
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I know that's right.
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What's been going on with you?
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Listen, not much.
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What happened?
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I've been in the office stuck writing grants, so I haven't seen daylight.
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Oh my Lord, that is the worst.
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And you know, I got to get out the office today to come here and the sun is shining.
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Make a day of it.
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Make a day of it.
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You know, I'm trying to.
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What else has been up?
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Girl, I just came back.
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I was out yesterday.
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I had some death in the family, but you know, it's a shame that we come together as family
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for death.
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Yeah.
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Just to remember how good family is.
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You know what I'm saying?
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And so that was what I was experiencing and just, you know, getting this.
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I've got a very large family that I don't know.
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Oh really?
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That I don't know.
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Oh wow.
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I have a little girl who is my cousin.
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Oh.
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And I didn't even know it.
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Wow.
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So yeah, yeah.
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What y'all eat?
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I got to do better.
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We just went to Cheddar's.
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Oh, okay.
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Yeah, it was good.
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You know, because when you get together with family, you always have to eat.
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Oh yeah, you got to eat.
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You got to eat.
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And usually on the menu is fried chicken, macaroni, green beans.
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Come on.
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You said green beans.
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Well, yeah.
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Well.
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If you're special, if you're real special, you get green.
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Yeah.
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But everybody get the.
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But see, I know someone always has this person in the family and this person is my mama.
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So.
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You're going to talk about your parents again.
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I'm going to tell them to listen to the show.
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I'm sure going to do it.
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You might need to.
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Because when she cooked, like, you know, we go to the same churches, you know, our family
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members and she'll be like, don't tell your auntie I cooked some greens.
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Don't tell her I cooked some chitlins.
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Because I don't want to share.
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Right, right, right.
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So what do I do when we leave church?
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Aunt Jyvah, you know my mama cooked some chitlins.
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Oh my Lord.
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Oh, I'm coming over.
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My mama would be so mad at me.
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I know, right?
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How you not going to want to show your greens?
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Right, right.
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So they must be really good.
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It took me forever to pick them and clean them and cook them.
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Nobody helped her.
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They were stirring them.
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That's right.
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Nobody helped her.
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They knew what she was doing.
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Yeah.
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And they came over and ate some too.
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You're wrong.
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I know.
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You're wrong.
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That's why they just tolerate you on the first of 15.
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And that's why her discipline of choice, I got a lot of that.
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Every day I didn't miss a day.
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I know that's right.
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You know?
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I know that's right.
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What else has been happening?
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What's happening in, what have you been looking at on the news, TV?
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What's up?
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You know, I've been really busy here lately, so I haven't been up.
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But I have started watching this show called All Rise.
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And, you know, I finished Station 19.
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Oh, okay.
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I was going to say, have you not been up on The Drake and Kendrick Lamar?
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Oh, God, yeah.
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I don't want to.
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No.
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But you know what?
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I'm showing my age.
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I'm an old man.
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So I'm not really understanding the rap, you know what I'm saying?
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And to try to follow, you know, I would love to follow a beef, but I'm not really understanding
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what you're talking about.
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So you're just saying words to me.
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But yeah, it's crazy, isn't it?
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Yeah.
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And, you know, I think it's all really a publicity ploy because...
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I think so, too.
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You know what I'm saying?
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Yeah.
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You know, you're very timely and, you know, you make albums every three years, but all
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of a sudden you're making them daily.
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Come on.
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You're making records daily.
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Yeah.
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Well, I wish we had a...
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Who's winning now in your opinion?
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Oh, Kendrick.
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Yeah, that's what I thought.
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I mean, he's a lyricist.
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Has Drake dropped another?
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It's been 24 hours.
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You know, I don't know.
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I don't know.
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Oh, you're not really keeping up with it.
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So I was keeping up with it, and then it's just lasted so long that I'm like, oh, well,
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I don't have to hear anything to know.
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You have a lyricist, and then you have almost like...
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For me, Drake is more like a pop rapper.
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Right.
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You know, he's...
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Everyone loves him.
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He's famous and all of that.
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But the lyrics, you can't touch Kendrick Lamar.
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They're not there.
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They're not there.
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They're not.
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So maybe we'll have a battle between literacy and science.
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Stop it.
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Literacy and math.
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Like...
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Pop, pop.
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Pop, pop.
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Who knows?
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MC equals...
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Right, right, right.
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You know?
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Okay, okay, okay, okay.
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So I think it's time for a coffee break.
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So for today's coffee break, what I want to share with you is consistency is more important
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than perfection.
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You know, a lot of times we go for being perfect, and that's not necessarily the key to getting
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to the next level.
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How about you be consistent?
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I think about that, Kim, when it comes to losing weight.
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Most people want to lose weight in a week, but it's all about the consistency.
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If you continue to be consistent in your eating or your exercising or whatever the case may
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be, maybe you want to learn how to read better.
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Well, the key to that is being consistent in reading, period.
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You know?
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So...
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That's awesome because that consistency is the thing that teaches.
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You know, I remember when the kids were young and my wife would go, I'm taking out all the
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toys and I'm doing all this stuff and then the next day they'd be back, right?
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Right.
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And I said, but if you say that, you got to follow through.
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Yeah, and even...
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And be consistent with it.
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And even the quote of practice makes perfect.
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Practice doesn't necessarily make perfect, but it can make you better because practice
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is meaning you're being consistent.
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That's right.
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And that is a goal that, in my opinion, is reserved for God.
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So we can always strive to be better, but perfect is off the table.
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Well, and when I do performance evaluations...
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You looking for perfect.
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And people be like, I'm very good.
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Well, are you saying there's no room for improvement?
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Right.
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Right.
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We can improve on here.
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All right.
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Who's on the show?
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What are we talking about today?
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Well, Karen...
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I think our show today, there's a long title, but we're going to give a short title.
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How to Get the Most out of Your Head Start Program.
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Come on.
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Come on.
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Come on now.
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Sounds like a winner right there.
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How to Get the Most out of Your Head Start Program.
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All right.
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Who we got here?
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And we are sitting today with one of our site directors, the site director of the Prep Academy
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at South Lexington, and her name is Tracy Norwood.
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Hey, Tracy.
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Welcome to the show, Tracy.
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Thank you.
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So, and you know, I know this is what radio or not radio, but internet, TV world.
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I don't know.
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Yeah.
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The very location that our studio is in is the same location that Tracy is the site director
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for.
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Absolutely.
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So Tracy, tell us a little bit about you and your role in Head Start.
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So with my position, I've been here since 2017.
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I've been the site director ever since I got here, and I love it.
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Each day is different.
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There's different people I'm going to see, different challenges, and different ways that
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I can help the families.
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So I'm here basically managing the HOPE program at South Lexington, and like I said, it's
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just a joy.
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So you said no day is the same.
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No.
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But take us on one of your days.
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What does your day look like, starting when you walk in the door?
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Well my day actually starts before I walk in the door.
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It starts usually about 5 a.m.
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I'm doing day-to-day operations and the schedule for the day, making sure all of my staff knows
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where they need to be.
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I thought you was going to say it starts at 5 a.m. when people call in.
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That too sometimes.
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Whoa, whoa, whoa.
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What?
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You know, sometimes I'm like, nope, I'm going to put my phone to the side.
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But yeah, it starts in just making sure that we're ready for when the parents come in with
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their kids.
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You know, I'm trying to make sure all of my staffing are where they need to be.
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Everybody has their meals, their supplies for the classrooms, we're ready for the day.
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Lesson plans and items are in place, and that's just at the start.
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And then we're greeting parents in the morning, making sure all the kids are in the right
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place and safe and everything, and we're going through the day.
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You never know what might come up, what fires we might have to put out, but yeah.
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So tell our viewers, you know, you are a parent of two boys who are...
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Three.
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Three boys, but two of them are under the age of six.
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So what would you tell parents to look for in a Head Start location or a child development
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center?
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So the first thing I would look for is safety.
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You know, I always tell my staff and also the parents that you are entrusting your most
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prized possession to us every day.
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So we want to make sure that your kids are safe.
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So you want an environment that's going to be safe.
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That's the building, the classroom, the people that are keeping your kids safe.
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Also, definitely a curriculum that is going to allow your child to develop and reach their
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next developmental milestones.
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And that's one thing that I really love about our program.
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We're very focused on meeting each child where they individually stand and helping them to
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reach their next goal.
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Do you have parents say, curriculum?
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I thought y'all was just watching my kids.
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Yeah.
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I don't like that daycare word because you know, we're not daycare.
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We're not.
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And I'm quick to be like, nope, school.
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We're school readiness.
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Yes.
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So what would you tell a parent, we understand, okay, three to five, they get curriculum,
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yes, but what about zero to three?
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I always explain our program as a building blocks.
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Everything is building blocks to ensure not only your child, but your whole family is
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ready for kindergarten success.
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So there are developmental milestones from as early as when they are born that we're
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trying to help them meet.
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And like I said, it's individualized.
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So one child may not be where the other child stands.
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We're setting goals specifically for each child.
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And we also, we want the parents to let us know, what are you working on at home?
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Because we're a partnership and we want to make sure that we're all working together
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for that child.
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Now you've been here since 2017.
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So you've seen a lot, right?
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So you used to be in another location.
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Now you are the site director of the largest child development center that we have.
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Is that correct?
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Yes.
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Okay.
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So tell me about that transition.
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So the transition was a fun one.
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We went from across the street.
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It wasn't really bad.
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Basically, you know, we have a great team.
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You know, there's always a lot of people behind the scene that are always like helping us
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to get things ready and moved and, you know, make sure licensing and everything is in place.
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So it was a pretty smooth transition for us, honestly.
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We've had parents that went from across the street to across over here with us.
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So honestly, it's been pretty smooth, pretty great.
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Yeah.
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So what about your staffing?
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Did you see an increase in staff?
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Yes.
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And children, right?
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Yes, absolutely.
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So right now I have a staff of over 30 plus people.
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We also have a lot of specialists in the building as well.
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So there's a lot of people that I'm responsible for every day.
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So we want to make sure that not only the kids are safe, but, you know, I'm covering
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my staff too.
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I want to make sure that this is a place that they enjoy coming.
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I never want this to be a burden for anybody.
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I want them to enjoy what they do working with the kids and the families.
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And like I said, I want to be here to support my staff.
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Absolutely.
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That's powerful.
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So yeah, I just that was a big change.
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And for those who don't know, we the building that she's in used to be National Academy.
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And there was a lot of changes, a lot of staff, a lot of kids.
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And I was just like, oh, my goodness, because I was here first.
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Let me say that the studio was here first.
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We were down here by ourselves.
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Oh, it was, wasn't it?
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Yeah.
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We was down here by ourselves.
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Stacey said, I hope you enjoy that because the kids are coming.
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They are.
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Yes.
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I forgot about that.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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It's been a minute.
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Yeah.
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And I think we did the transition right in the middle of COVID too.
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Yes.
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So you've seen Head Start before COVID, during COVID and after.
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What are some of the changes that you have noticed, whether about the children, whether
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about the families, staff?
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One thing I would definitely say about the kids, you know, they say that phrase COVID
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children because those children that were born during that time, they were at home.
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They were at home with their parents and then they come here and they really haven't had
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a whole lot of socialization opportunities.
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So when they get here and I always tell parents, sometimes it may be harder on you than it
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is for your child, especially on that first day.
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The second day, it's reality.
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But, you know, really I've seen the, like, that's the biggest challenge because they
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have been with their moms, they've been with their dads at home or their siblings, but
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not around other kids that are their age.
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So when they come in, it's a struggle, I will say for them.
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But you know, our staff is really amazing at making sure that they are comfortable,
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that they know that this is a safe spot for them.
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And I also tell parents, you know what, call as much as you want, because like I said,
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you're entrusting your child to us.
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I want you to feel comfortable as well.
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So if I was a new parent or a parent that this was my first time wanting their child
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to be in a child development center and I come to you, what does that process look like?
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Will I get to see the building?
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Like, take me through the process.
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Yes, of course.
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So you can always schedule a tour with us.
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So the tour, you're going to be able to see the classrooms.
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In our center, we have a lot of windows that you can look into the classroom.
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So we don't want to interrupt instruction time, but you're always going to be able to
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see the classrooms to see the environment that your child is going to be in.
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So immediately, we can usually schedule either same day or schedule an appointment for you
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with our pathway specialist.
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They're going to walk you through that process for enrollment.
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You're going to fill out applications, you're going to turn in health documentation.
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And then, you know, we have a couple things we have to do.
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And then you're going to get to meet with me.
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And we're going to do orientation.
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And I'm going to be able to answer some of those hot burning questions you may have.
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Yeah.
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Just about our program, the education parts, about our teachers.
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Because like I said, some of these parents have never had their kids anywhere.
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So I'm there to answer any questions that you may have to make you feel comfortable
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about leaving your children with us.
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We're going to go, we're going to take a quick break and we're going to get some tips from
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Tracy on what you should expect and how you can get the best out of our Head Start program.
16:01
You're listening to Look Who's Talking.
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Head Start offers high quality early childhood education for qualifying families with children
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Spaces are limited and filling up quickly.
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So to help ensure your child receives the Head Start advantage this year, start your
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button or by calling 859-300-6960.
18:22
And you are listening to Look Who's Talking and we are here with Tracy Norwood who is
18:38
the site director at one of our Head Start locations, the Prep Academy at South Lexington.
18:44
Hi Tracy.
18:45
Hi.
18:46
So before the break, you know, you were just talking about, you know, if a new parent was
18:52
coming in and, you know, taking a tour and what they would get and you mentioned they
18:58
would do an orientation with you.
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I want to talk a little bit about that.
19:02
You know, that's a time for the parents to be able to ask questions.
19:07
But what is your expectation of the parents who, you know, enroll their children into
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this, your program?
19:15
So one of the first things I always tell parents is our program is school readiness.
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So like I said, we're not only preparing your child, we're preparing your whole family.
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So I start talking to them about our drop off times and cut offs because when you go
19:28
to Fayette County, you can't just drop off anytime.
19:31
So we do have cut off times and we do set that expectation because like I said, we want
19:36
to prepare you and your child.
19:39
Also we talk about family engagement events.
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So we host family engagement events every month and we want our parents to be involved.
19:45
We want them to come out to our events and, you know, really engage with us.
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So we ask that our parents at least come to one activity per month.
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We had one today, Muffins with Mom.
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We got, you know, Princess Storytime coming up.
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So we have things for them to be involved.
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And we also we love volunteers in the classroom.
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So that's one thing we give them opportunities that they can come in our program and help
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as well.
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Got you.
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What are some of the other?
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I know that you have different family engagement events and you've had some that incorporated
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fathers as well.
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Can you talk a little bit about those?
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Yes.
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So we have a monthly fatherhood group.
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It's called Chop It Up.
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So basically it is a space just for fathers or father figures to really come and just
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they have breakfast, they meet and they have a topic of the month.
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And we have a guest facilitator that comes in to facilitate conversations.
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But in talking to my husband, I really learned that men don't have a space.
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You know, they are society looks at them and, you know, they're supposed to protect and
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provide and they have a lot on their shoulders.
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But when do they ever really have an opportunity to just sit down with like minded individuals
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and just talk and just really learn from one another, grow, really talk about the challenges
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that they're facing and in order to to learn how to improve and grow.
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So that's a space that we have here for our fathers.
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And that's one of the things that I absolutely love because our own Cameron is a part of
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that.
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So the great thing that I've been seeing these last couple of months is, you know, the men
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that work in our program, they want to be involved with the children and they want to
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be involved with the development.
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And when I say with the children, that might not mean one on one with the children, but
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that might mean with their fathers, which directly affects the child.
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So I love that that's under other duties as a side.
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Exactly.
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And I love it, too.
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Tracy asked if I would be like the host facilitator here.
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And I was kind of reluctant at first, but it's something that I look forward to every
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month because like like she said, there's not that space and we are building that space.
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You know, making men feel comfortable in talking.
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I mean, we've got a lot to say, but we got to make sure the environment is OK for us
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to do that.
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And our head start director let me go on a fatherhood conference.
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Isn't she so nice?
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She is.
22:24
Isn't she?
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And I met some wonderful other men that are doing the same things that we're trying to
22:28
implement here.
22:29
And it's just been powerful.
22:31
But yeah, that kudos.
22:33
That's one of those that that's a wonderful program that we're doing here.
22:38
So I think it's great.
22:40
I do, too.
22:41
So I don't know.
22:43
We're just doing so many different things.
22:45
What do you think, though?
22:47
Now I do remember once we talked about attendance and how attendance is more important for our
22:57
little ones.
22:58
Why?
22:59
What is going on with attendance?
23:00
What?
23:01
Tell me about attendance.
23:02
So if you're not here, you're not able to get those socializations.
23:06
You're not able to work with your peers.
23:08
You're not able to work on your goals as well.
23:11
So and like I said, we're preparing you for kindergarten.
23:14
At kindergarten, they expect you to be present every day.
23:17
You don't want to be Truman.
23:19
So we are instilling those values now.
23:22
We want to see you here every single day.
23:23
And that's what I lead with during orientation.
23:26
So we want to see you here every day, 100 percent of the time.
23:29
But Tracy, they just kids.
23:31
They just don't know nothing.
23:32
They just just come around playing.
23:35
And they are playing.
23:36
But you know what?
23:37
With our program, it's great because they're learning through play.
23:39
That's right.
23:41
Learning and having conversations.
23:43
If you go in one of our classrooms, I promise you I have the most magical, imaginative conversations
23:52
with the kids.
23:54
And that's ways for them to learn and learn new vocabulary.
24:00
And it's all about imagination, too.
24:03
It's kind of like they lead their learning.
24:06
It reminds me of Montessori in a way, because it's not strict to the point where sit down.
24:13
This is what we're learning today.
24:14
And it goes.
24:15
Chapter three.
24:16
Right, right.
24:17
It's not like that.
24:18
It's more like you do learn through play.
24:22
And our teachers don't just let them play and sit back and watch.
24:27
It's no, they're interacting with them.
24:30
So you might see teachers in the, I don't know, housekeeping.
24:36
And the child is the mom.
24:38
And the child is able to tell the teacher, this is what I want you to do.
24:44
I love the transformation because the things that the kids are being taught, the parents
24:51
aren't really expecting.
24:53
And then when they come home, and one of our guests said, what's photosynthesis?
24:59
You know what I'm saying?
25:00
These type of things that they're actually learning.
25:03
How to pour milk in a cup.
25:06
These are things that they are learning to be not self-sufficient, but trying to help
25:13
them gain some skills.
25:15
You know what I'm saying?
25:16
And also to develop their independence.
25:18
So you know me.
25:21
I've been like this since I was small.
25:23
It's because I was able, my parents allowed me to really go through my imagination.
25:32
Really I think it's because my sister wouldn't play with me.
25:34
But that's another topic for another day.
25:36
But just allowing children the creativity, even if say we've talked about them pouring
25:44
their milk.
25:45
A spill is a learning opportunity.
25:47
It is.
25:48
You know?
25:49
It is.
25:50
Just, you know, we're getting to the end of the show and I know you want to change the
25:56
placement of your hit start highlight word of the day.
26:01
So the highlight word of the day is?
26:06
Preparation.
26:07
Preparation.
26:08
You heard it here first.
26:12
Preparation is the hit start highlight word of the day.
26:14
Yes.
26:15
You know what to do with it.
26:16
Let's get back to Tracy.
26:17
So Tracy, let's talk about preparation.
26:22
How can a parent prepare themselves, their child, for this next journey of preschool,
26:30
child development?
26:31
You know, if they're thinking about, man, I really want to get my child in a program.
26:38
What is the preparation process that they might need to think about?
26:42
They really need to start collecting those health documents.
26:44
That's going to be key because we have to have, you know, everything to be able to enroll
26:48
them.
26:49
I would also start having those conversations because you never want to just take your child
26:53
somewhere and just drop them off.
26:55
So I think conversations is key.
26:57
That communication, letting them know that, hey, you know, we're going to start going
27:01
to school soon.
27:02
And those tours are really important because those kids are able to see the place that
27:06
they're going to be coming every day.
27:09
So I think that's really important.
27:11
So if someone was like, why do I need to bring all these health documents?
27:19
I mean, because I feel like those are questions that we get.
27:23
Absolutely.
27:24
Like, why?
27:25
Right.
27:26
Well, some things are required for us for licensing, such as immunization records.
27:29
That's a licensing requirement for us.
27:32
Things like their health, their physical, that's super important because sometimes it
27:37
lists information like allergies and things like that.
27:40
We need to know that because, like I said, we want to make sure that the kids are safe
27:43
and we have to know what foods that we're providing them with.
27:47
And it also lists things if they need like speech or anything like that.
27:55
That's probably listed on there as well.
27:56
That's related to their development.
27:58
Yes.
27:59
And I think that's important to highlight that, you know, your child isn't just coming
28:04
into a Head Start program and not, you know, we do assess those things so that if there's
28:11
any early intervention that needs to happen, then we make sure that we set the parent up
28:19
with those interventions.
28:20
One of the things that I love is that, and I don't know the process, so I'm shifting
28:25
it over here.
28:26
I think I answered this about identifying learning disabilities or, you know, I don't
28:34
want to use the incorrect word.
28:35
That is something that we do.
28:37
Yes.
28:38
How do we do that and why?
28:41
So within 45 days of the child being in the program, we're going to complete a few different
28:46
screenings.
28:47
So we do the ages and stages screening and we also do the brigands screening.
28:51
We look at those to see if the child passes or not.
28:54
If they do not, we're going to re-screen them.
28:57
If they do not pass again, we're going to do some type of referral, whether that be
29:01
to Fayette County or First Steps.
29:03
And we're going to be here to walk through the parent with them the whole way to help
29:08
them to answer any questions that they may have and to help their child get the early
29:12
intervention that they really need.
29:15
That's awesome.
29:16
And I know it's got to be difficult because we all believe that our child is, and we all
29:22
know, let me say it right.
29:24
We all know that our child is wonderful and we do not necessarily want to hear that there's
29:30
something that they need.
29:33
You know what I'm saying?
29:35
And I really appreciate the program actually doing that, trying to help identify things
29:42
that are going to hinder their learning in the future and just be able to find it zero
29:51
to five is amazing.
29:54
I'm amazed at people who go through their whole life that are dyslexic and never knew
29:58
it, never been diagnosed.
30:01
And even, let's talk about social-emotional.
30:07
Whether you say mental health or whether you say social-emotional, finding ways to be able
30:13
to cope in situations where you might find yourself angry or say if you have a child
30:20
who's the only child at home.
30:22
Like you?
30:23
I actually have had a sister.
30:25
Go!
30:26
However, I just act like one.
30:34
Just trying to find those ways.
30:36
We even have what we call conscious discipline for parents.
30:41
Finding ways because you might have two kids, but one way of disciplining is not the way
30:49
for both of them.
30:50
So we even take that time with our families and with our parents to just, one, get to
30:56
know your children, get to know the differences in them, get to know how do they affect you?
31:03
How do they affect how you interact with them?
31:05
That's really, really important because we want to make sure we are cultivating an environment
31:12
where the child feels safe, the parent feels safe, and they feel like they are a part of
31:17
their child's development.
31:20
So we've been talking about this wonderful program and I just wonder, is it open?
31:25
I mean, what's going on with the program now?
31:28
We are always, always accepting applications.
31:33
Alright.
31:34
Always.
31:35
You can apply for the Head Start program and find out why your child...
31:41
Apply today, hurry up.
31:43
Why your child needs a Head Start.
31:45
Your child needs a Head Start.
31:47
Tracy!
31:48
Thank you for being on the show.
31:50
Thanks for having me.
31:51
You've done a great job.
31:52
Is there any parting words you'd like to say?
31:55
We're accepting applications.
31:56
Oh, my center is the best.
31:57
Uh oh.
31:58
Uh oh.
31:59
Y'all heard it here.
32:00
Say it again.
32:01
Say it again.
32:02
Let me cut it out.
32:03
Say it again.
32:04
Oh, my center is the best.
32:05
Oh, shots fired.
32:06
I knew I had some good...
32:07
Boo boo boo boo.
32:08
Alright, you have been listening to Look Who's Talking.
32:09
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32:13
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32:14
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32:15
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32:16
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32:19
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32:21
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