Nicole Blais is the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer for Holyoke Chicopee Springfield (HCS) Head Start, Inc. located in Western Massachusetts. Head Start is a comprehensive early learning program for children from birth to 5 years old. Nicole has over 27 years of experience in the non-profit sector, managing early education and care programs, has served on various community committees, helped to establish strategic community collaborations, and is an advisory member of the Mass Head Start State Collaboration and serves as Treasurer of the Mass Head Start Association Board of Directors. She is also a 2020 Rennie Center Education Policy Fellow. Nicole holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and earned a Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy from Bay Path University.

During this episode, we chat about:

• Nicole’s role at Head Start
• What Head Start offers for infants and toddlers ages 0 to 5
• How Head Start not only supports children but also parents and families
• What sets the Holyoke Chicopee Springfield (HCS) Head Start apart from other Head Start locations
• Nicole’s “full circle” moment of working under the preschool teacher who taught her at Head Start
• The gratification of watching children from the Head Start program live successful lives
• Exciting programs that are happening at Head Start
• What inspired Nicole to work in early education and care programs
• Her advice for any professional looking to get into this nonprofit sector

And more. Tune in to learn all about Nicole and the powerful impact that the Holyoke Chicopee Springfield (HCS) Head Start organization is making on children and families through Western Massachusetts.

Access the full transcript here.

Watch the episode on YouTube here.

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