Brigette Davis, Associate Head Start and Early Head Start Director at Children First in Sarasota, has been elected to the Florida Head Start Association (FHSA) Board of Directors. As a FHSA board member, she plays a key role in representing Sarasota County and fulfilling FHSA’s work across the state to deliver high-quality early childhood education services for children and wraparound support for families in need.
Ms. Davis has worked for Children First since 2014 where she began as a Regional Manager before earning a promotion to become the Director of Training and Quality Assurance the following year. She was named Associate Head Start and Early Head Start Director in 2019. In this role, she provides oversight of the Programs and Human Resources operations, including training and professional development, coaching, volunteer services, staff qualifications and credentialing. She also helps to maintain the agency’s position as a four-time designated Program of Excellence through her oversight of quality assurance, annual self-assessment, and compliance with the Head Start Program Performance Standards.
Ms. Davis is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in non-profit human services, specific to early childhood education and workforce development, and holds a Master’s degree in Workforce Development & Training from DePaul University.
She began her career in the Head Start community as an Assistant Teacher, working in almost every service area. Ms. Davis’ more than three decades of experience have well-prepared her for this opportunity.
“I am proud to be appointed to the FHSA Board of Directors. It is an honor to serve with this esteemed group of leaders who are passionate and committed to early childhood education, specifically Head Start and Early Head Start and the high-quality comprehensive services they provide. I look forward to serving my community and our broader statewide community by working to ensure the provision of these services for those most vulnerable: pregnant women, children birth to school age and their families,” says Ms. Davis.
The FHSA enhances and supports the capability of local Head Start programs by advocating for the development of policies and service delivery systems that address the needs of low-income families with young children and the provision of a statewide forum for the continual enhancement of the status of birth to school age children and their families.
About Children First:
Founded in 1961 and ranked in the top 1% out of over 1,800 Head Starts nationwide, Children First strengthens children and families by improving the quality of their lives through a comprehensive approach to development, education, health, and well-being. At 15 sites throughout Sarasota County, Children First offers full-day preschool, infant and toddler care, and nutrition and health care assistance to children ages birth to five years old from low-income families. Through Children First, the children receive the social, emotional, and cognitive skills needed to enter kindergarten and elementary school on track. For more information, call (941) 953-3877 or go to childrenfirst.net.
About FHSA:
The Florida Head Start Association is a nonprofit organization working on behalf of the 43,000 children and families Head Start Programs serve in Florida. FHSA has been the voice for Florida’s most vulnerable children and families since 1999. It is committed to enhancing and supporting the capability of local Head Start programs in the delivery of high-quality services for our children and families.