October is Head Start Awareness Month, a time to celebrate the many ways Head Start helps children and families build a strong foundation for learning and life. At GLCAP Head Start, that commitment includes making sure every child has the support they need to learn, grow, and thrive no matter their learning style or developmental needs.

Leading this effort is the Head Start Inclusion Coordinator Theresa Towner and a dedicated team of advocates and specialists. They provide hands-on guidance that helps children fully participate in learning while also equipping teachers and families with tools for success.

“The Head Start family is about everyone having a place to belong. My team connects children, families, and staff to needed resources so that children can reach their full developmental potential while they are here,” Towner said.

Partnership is at the heart of this work. The team collaborates with classroom teachers through co-planning, modeling strategies, and reviewing children’s progress together. Families are also closely involved, from setting shared goals to coordinating services with outside providers, ensuring children receive consistent support both at school and at home.

A cornerstone of this effort is Conscious Discipline, the social-emotional framework used across Head Start classrooms. The support team not only trains staff on these practices but also models them with children in the classroom. This might mean guiding teachers through calming strategies during challenging moments or leading reflective team discussions that use Conscious Discipline rituals.

Towner explained, “Conscious Discipline is very much rooted in brain research. The basic principle is that you have to feel safe and loved in order to problem-solve and learn. Our goal is always to ensure that we are in our highest state, and if children are not in that state, we use the skills and structures of Conscious Discipline to help bring them there.”

Training and guidance go beyond one-time sessions. The advocates provide professional development, on-site coaching, and small-group learning throughout the year. Individualized coaching also give teachers hands-on support for weaving strategies into their daily routines.

Through this commitment, GLCAP Head Start continues to create welcoming, supportive learning spaces that celebrate every child’s abilities and potential. Hear more about Conscious Discipline from Towner on YouTube at https://youtu.be/8Yf1u0JevVY and learn more about GLCAP Head Start programs at www.glcap.org/earlychildhood.

Towner (center) and her staff at a staff training in June 2025.