Four Head Start/ECEAP Parents Honored by Children's Alliance

We are very proud that four of our former and current WSA Parent Ambassadors are being honored by the Children's Alliance at their 2011 Voices for Children Awards luncheon.

Congratulations to Bianca Bailey, award winner, and Kylee Allen, John McClure, and April Ritter, nominees - you are amazing advocates for children and families!

Bianca Bailey, a parent from Kittitas County Head Start/ECEAP and 2009 WSA Parent Ambassador, will be honored with the Brewster C. Denny Rising Advocate Award.

Bianca, an Ellensburg mother of three, went to the Children's Alliance Advocacy Camp last fall. Since then she has ramped up her work on behalf of kids, speaking with legislators, addressing a rally at Have a Heart for Kids Day, and convening a group of parents dedicated to improving early learning for all kids. Bianca has been an amazing advocate both in Olympia and with her federal representatives, testifying in Olympia and creating links between her program and her local elected officials. Bianca also currently serves as the Head Start Parent representative on our WSA Board of Directors.

Three parents were among the 10 nominees being honored as well:

John McClure is a veteran and ECEAP dad from the Spokane County Head Start/ECEAP/EHS program. John is a 2011 Parent Ambassador, is a leader on his ECEAP policy council, and was a star at this year's Have a Heart for Kids day, organizing a busful of Spokane parents and children to drive over and storm the legislature.

Kylee Allen is a former Head Start parent from Skagit/Islands Head Start and tireless advocate for children, currently works with us at WSA as one of our two Parent Coordinators for the Parent Ambassadors program. Kylee also heads up the Early Learning Action Alliance’s new Parents United Group, which partners with parents to protect and improve early learning opportunities for children.

April Ritter, McCleary WA, has been both an ECEAP and Head Start Parent in the ESD 113 Sound to Harbor program. April is a well-recognized face in Olympia. In addition to serving on the WaKIDS Kindergarten Readiness advisory panel, she has testified many times in the last 3 years, on ECEAP, WaKIDS, Working Connections Child Care funding and improvements, and more. April also works with WSA as a Parent Coordinator,