Sequatchie Valley Head Start Page

08/31/2026

🌟 WEEKLY EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: MISTY MAY 🌟

This week, we are excited to shine the spotlight on someone who has truly worked her way up through the agency — our incredible Director of Finance, Misty May! 💕📊

Misty has been a part of the Sequatchie Valley Head Start family for 10 AMAZING years! 🎉👏

Her journey with SVHS began as a part-time Office Assistant, and through hard work, dedication, and a whole lot of heart, Misty has continued to grow within the agency and now serves as our Director of Finance at the Main Head Start Office!

Misty has always had a passion for the finance world, and her hard work definitely shows! 📈💼 She puts her heart into everything she does and is incredibly dedicated to our agency. Misty is present, dependable, and gives her all in every role and responsibility she takes on. Her commitment over the last 10 years has helped make a lasting impact on SVHS, and we are so thankful for everything she does! ❤️

Now for some fun facts about Misty! 👇💗

🏰 Disney is one of her happy places! Misty absolutely loves making magical memories at Disney with her family! ✨🐭

💗 Her favorite color is PINK! (Which, honestly, just seems very fitting! 😉)

🍴 Misty is a true food connoisseur! And if you ever ask her what she's having for lunch... there is a VERY good chance the answer will involve the local Mexican restaurant! 😂🌮

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 She absolutely loves her family and treasures the time spent making memories with them.

⛪ Misty is active in her church and has another special talent — she can sing! 🎶🎤

📊 And of course, she has always enjoyed the world of finance, which makes her the perfect person for the job!

Misty is someone who truly puts her heart into everything she does. Whether she is working through finances, supporting the agency, spending time with her family, serving in her church, or enjoying a good meal, she is always fully present and gives her very best.

Misty, thank you for 10 incredible years of dedication, hard work, and heart at Sequatchie Valley Head Start! We are so proud of everything you have accomplished!

08/24/2026

🌟 WEEKLY EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: KENDALL POWERS 🌟

This week, we are so excited to shine the spotlight on Kendall Powers, our wonderful Early Head Start Teacher at the Dayton Center! ❤️💙💚

Kendall has been part of the Sequatchie Valley Head Start family for 1 year, and in that short time, she has already made such a positive impact on our children and families! 🥰 She has such a wonderful way with the children, and we are so thankful to have her as part of our Dayton team!

Now for some fun facts about Kendall! 👇✨

👩‍👧‍👦 She is a proud mom of 3 children, and two of her children have actually attended Early Head Start! ❤️

🎓 She is a first-generation college graduate! Kendall recently earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work — and she’s just waiting for that diploma to arrive in the mail! 🎉📬👏 What an incredible accomplishment!

📚 Kendall absolutely loves to read and learn new things, which is something we know makes her an even better educator!

🧸 She has been working with children for 10 years, bringing a decade of experience, compassion, and dedication to the classroom.

❤️ Most importantly, Kendall loves being a mom, wife, friend, and coworker. Her heart for the people around her truly shines through in everything she does!

Kendall, congratulations on your first year with SVHS! 🎉 We are so thankful you chose to be part of our Head Start family. Thank you for the love, patience, and dedication you give our children each day. We can’t wait to see all the wonderful things ahead for you! 💕🌟

08/17/2026

🌟 WEEKLY EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: SUSAN GILLIAM 🌟

This week, we’re giving a BIG shoutout to Susan Gilliam, our wonderful Nutrition Worker at the Altamont Head Start Center! 🍎🥪❤️

Susan has been part of the Sequatchie Valley Head Start family for 8 amazing years! 🎉👏 And if you’ve ever had the pleasure of enjoying one of her meals, you already know… Susan can COOK! 👩‍🍳😋 Her food is always made with care, and we’re pretty sure our kiddos know they’ve got a good thing going in the Altamont kitchen! 💕🍽️

We are so thankful for Susan and the care she puts into making sure our children have delicious, nutritious meals each day. She brings so much heart to what she does! ❤️

Now for a few fun facts about Susan! 👇

👩‍🍳 She loves cooking — which is definitely a perfect hobby for our Nutrition Worker!

👶👧🧒 She loves spending time with her grandchildren and soaking up those precious family moments. ❤️

🏔️ She LOVES going to the Smokies! 🌲⛰️ Whether it’s enjoying the beautiful scenery, relaxing, or making memories with family, the Smokies are one of her favorite places to be!

Susan, thank you for 8 wonderful years of dedication and service to Sequatchie Valley Head Start! We appreciate all the hard work, love, and delicious meals you bring to the Altamont Center each day! 🥰🍎

08/10/2026

🌟 WEEKLY EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: JAMIE MEEKS 🌟

This week, we are excited to shine the spotlight on Jamie Meeks, our wonderful Team Leader at the Tracy City Head Start Center! ❤️💙💚💜

Jamie’s journey with Sequatchie Valley Head Start began in 2015, when our Early Head Start program first began. She started as an EHS Teacher, where she spent 6 years making a difference in the lives of our littlest learners and their families. ❤️

In 2022, Jamie transitioned into her current role as Team Leader/Family Service Worker, where she continues to support our staff, children, and families in so many ways. She is now celebrating her 11th year with Head Start! 🎉👏

We are so thankful for Jamie’s dedication, leadership, and commitment to the children and families we serve. Her years of experience and heart for Head Start make her such an important part of our SVHS family! 💗

Now for some fun facts about Jamie! 😍

🛶 She loves kayaking!

✈️ She enjoys traveling to new places with her family.

🏈⚾ She loves watching her kids play sports!

🛍️ Shopping trips with her girls are a favorite!

📺 And when she gets the chance to slow down, there’s nothing better than a good rainy day spent binge-watching her favorite TV shows! 🌧️🍿

Jamie, thank you for 11 wonderful years of dedication and service to Sequatchie Valley Head Start! We appreciate everything you do for our center, our families, and our agency. We are so lucky to have you on our team! ❤️

08/03/2026

🌟 WEEKLY EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: JENNIFER BUGG/LAND 🌟

This week, we are excited to shine the spotlight on Jennifer Bugg/Land, one of our amazing Mentor Coaches here at Sequatchie Valley Head Start! ❤️💙💚💜

Jennifer is celebrating an incredible 20 YEARS with SVHS! 🎉👏 What an amazing milestone!

Jennifer began her journey with our agency as a Teacher at our Dunlap Center before later moving to the Whitwell Center. Over the years, her experience and dedication have led her to the Central Office, where she now serves our agency as a Mentor Coach! Jennifer is great at what she does and uses her many years of classroom experience to support, encourage, and guide our teaching staff. We are so thankful for the knowledge and dedication she brings to our agency!

Now for a few fun facts about Jennifer! 😊

📚 Her hobbies include reading and napping — we can definitely appreciate a good nap! 😂

⛪ Jennifer is very active in her church, Ewtonville Baptist Church.

🐄 She is married to her husband, Jason, who is a cattle farmer, and they have five children — Skylar, Spencer, Sophie(13), Mason(14), and Hazel(11)! Skylar is a former Marine and now serves as a police officer in Chattanooga, while Spencer works in cybersecurity in California!

❤️ Jennifer has also opened her heart and home to several foster children throughout the years, which says so much about her love for children and families.

🐾 And speaking of a full house... Jennifer's family also includes two cats, Alex and Radio, two dogs, Rosie and Faith, 8 chickens, and over 100 cows! 🐄

Jennifer, 20 years of service is definitely something worth celebrating! 🎊 Thank you for the years of hard work, dedication, knowledge, and heart you have poured into Sequatchie Valley Head Start. From the classroom to the Central Office, you have made a lasting impact on our agency, and we are so thankful to have you on our team! ❤

07/27/2026

🌟 Weekly Employee Spotlight: Jacaleah McDaniel 🌟

This week, we’re shining the spotlight on Jacaleah McDaniel, our amazing Team Leader at the Altamont Center! 💜💚

Jacaleah has been back with our agency for 1 year, but her Head Start story goes back much further! She originally joined our agency in 2013 before taking some time away to focus on her family. We are so happy that life brought her back to us and that she is once again part of the Sequatchie Valley Head Start family! ❤️

Jacaleah is a strong and dependable leader who takes pride in her center and works hard to keep things running smoothly. Her leadership, dedication, and commitment to her staff, children, and families make her such an important part of our team!

✨ A few fun facts about Jacaleah:
🛍️ She loves finding a good thrift-store treasure — you never know what hidden gem she might find!
✈️ She enjoys traveling and making new memories.
🎶 She loves going to concerts and enjoying live music.
🥎 And when she’s not leading the Altamont Center, you may find her on the field playing women’s slow-pitch softball!

Jacaleah, we are so glad to have you back where you belong! Thank you for the leadership, hard work, and heart you bring to Altamont and to our agency. We appreciate you and are so happy to have you on our team! 💜💚

07/24/2026

Come see Mrs. Patience and Mr. Justin at the Annual Give a Child a Chance Day @ Bledsoe County High School from 9AM-12PM!! ❤

07/24/2026

HAPPENING TODAY!!

🚌 NOTICE OF SURPLUS SALE 🚌

Sequatchie Valley Head Start will be holding a Surplus Sale in conjunction with the Sequatchie County Board of Education!

📅 Friday, July 24, 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM CST
📍 219 Fredonia Road, Dunlap, TN 37327

Several Thomas Minotour buses and a 2006 Ford Freestar van will be available for bidding.

👀 Want to view the vehicles before the sale?
Buses will be available for viewing beginning Monday, July 20, from 8:00 AM–1:00 PM, as well as the morning of the sale.

📌 Important Sale Information:
• All bidding must be done in person on the day of the sale.
• Sequatchie Valley Head Start reserves the right to accept or deny any and/or all bids.
• Payment must be made by cash or check payable to Sequatchie Valley Educational Development Agency on the day of the sale.
• Buyers will have five business days to remove purchased items from the property.

07/20/2026

🌟 Employee Spotlight: Amanda Funk 🌟

This week, we're excited to shine the spotlight on Amanda Funk, our wonderful Teacher Assistant at the Dunlap Center! 💜💚

Amanda has been a valued member of the Sequatchie Valley Head Start family for 3 years, and we are so thankful for the kindness, patience, and care she brings to our little learners each day. Her warm smile and nurturing heart make a lasting impact on the children and families she serves.

A few fun facts about Amanda:
🌻 She moved to Tennessee 4 years ago and absolutely loves calling it home!
🚜 When she's not at Head Start, you'll likely find her working alongside her husband with their family business, Ed's Lawn Care, mowing lawns and enjoying the outdoors.
🌼 She loves spending time in her garden and watching everything bloom.
👨‍👩‍👧 Family time is one of her greatest joys, and she cherishes making memories with the people she loves most.
🐾 She also enjoys spending time with her sweet pup, Daisy!

Thank you, Amanda, for your dedication, hard work, and the love you pour into our children every day. We are so grateful to have you as part of the Sequatchie Valley Head Start family! ❤️

07/16/2026

🚨 Health Alert: Stay Safe & Stay Informed! 🚨

Cyclospora is a parasite that has been linked to contaminated fresh produce. Take a moment to review the information below to learn which foods may be affected, the symptoms to watch for, and ways to help protect yourself and your family.

🩺 Knowledge is one of the best ways to stay healthy—please read and share to help spread awareness! 💚