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The goal is to never stop learning – that goes for her two small children and herself, said Valerie Elizabeth Young, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start/Early Head Start parent, who won one of the program’s highest state and regional awards. 

Young, SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start Home Based parent, was chosen as the Illinois Head Start Parent of the Year and the Region V Parent of the Year for 2015. Region V consists of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. The recognition is also the first time that a parent from SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start Home Based option has won the awards.

The distinction now makes Young eligible for the 2016 National Head Start Association Parent of the Year.

“There is constant learning going on in this household,” Young said. “As my children are learning, I’m learning, too. Sandy (Biver) has shown me ways to channel my energy and how to be a more effective teacher to my children.” 

Young’s children are 4-year-old Vertruoz, and 5-year-old Sultan, 5. Sandy Biver, SIUE Head Start Home visitor, taught Sultan from the age of 2-5 and began teaching Vertruoz when she was six months old.

“I have had the privilege to work with Ms. Young and her two children for the past three school years in the Home Based Program,” wrote Biver in her letter of recommendation to the state and regional Head Start/Early Head Start award committee. “Ms. Young has done an outstanding job each year with perfect attendance, academic achievement for herself, volunteering and providing leadership for the Parent Committee, and being a success in her Family Partnership Agreements.”

Young said that she values the importance of education in her family’s life. “I treat obtaining an education like I do most things in my life with a strong, healthy work ethic.”

The 33-year-old mother and Army veteran holds four degrees: an associate’s in forensics technology and criminology from ITT, a bachelor’s in both sociology and criminal justice from SIUE, and a master’s in criminal justice administration from Lindenwood University. She works at Arch City Defenders in St. Louis as a legal assistant.   

Her work in Head Start has included currently serving as the chair of the SIUE Head Start Policy Council, former vice chair of the Home Based Parent Committee and she takes an active leadership role in the Home Base Group Socialization sessions.

“But what stands out most in my mind for consideration for Parent of the Year,” Biver wrote, “is the growth that I’ve seen in Ms. Young’s parenting skills. Having spent 10 years in the military including active combat duty, Ms. Young struggles with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This has had a major effect on her parenting style.    

“Sandy has demonstrated positive ways to channel my desire for wanting my children to learn and how to better communicate with them,” Young said.

“Recently at a Home Based Group socialization session, I observed Ms. Young calmly inform her son that it was time to go home,” Biver continued to write in her recommendation letter. “She approached Sultan, got down to his level and calmly talked directly to him and resolved the issue without yelling at him.

“I’m so very proud of her! Parent of the Year does not mean perfection, but it does mean commitment and a great effort to become the best parent one can be for one’s children.”  

“I think she is a great mom,” Sultan said, “and a good teacher.”

“I love mom, because she hugs us and loves us,” said Vertruoz.

The SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start Program is a nationally recognized quality early childhood education program that promotes school readiness for children and self-sufficiency for families. Services are available to St. Clair County expectant parents and families of children ages six weeks to five years old.  The Head Start Program currently provides services to 1,314 children and families and the Early Head Start Program serves 188 children and families. Both programs include children with specialized needs and English as Second Language Learners (ESL).

Photos:

Valerie Elizabeth Young was chosen as the Illinois Head Start Parent of the Year and the Region V Parent of the Year for 2015. She is seen with her five-year-old son, Sultan; and four-year-old daughter, Vertruoz.

SIUE Head Start Home visitor comes to Young’s home weekly to teach Vertruoz. Also shown is Young (right) and Sultan, (left).