By: Yasmine Malone | Aug 5, 2024
Clarksdale, Mississippi – On August 2, 2024, Brenda Miller, the dedicated Director of Aaron E. Henry Head Start Center, hosted an impactful summit at the Coahoma Community College campus. The event was designed to ground the mental and emotional wellbeing of the school’s staff before the official start of the school year, setting a positive tone for the year ahead.
Mrs. Miller has been a steadfast advocate for public education, having served as both a staff teacher and principal at various schools in Clarksdale. Her dedication to education is deeply personal, as she has also experienced the benefits of Head Start education firsthand as a parent. “My children were a product of Head Start,” she shared. “I had a firsthand experience seeing how valuable Head Start was in preparing them with the foundational skills needed to be ready for school. It helps them be more successful in kindergarten and first grade. It’s a smoother transition into public education.”
The theme of the summit was centered on motivating and raising awareness among teachers, enabling them to fully engage with the students they serve. The event was led by Justin Tutt, a youth development expert, who provided the audience with motivational insights on how to trust themselves to incorporate innovation and awareness into their classroom strategies.
The message of the day was not only aimed at teachers but also at coaches, custodians, and other staff members who contribute to the students’ development beyond the classroom. One attendee, Yvoyne Sims, a teacher with over 20 years of experience, spoke about the importance of self-empowerment in the classroom. “My advice is to stay positive, don’t be afraid to study what you do not know and to learn from individuals you work with. Most of us have the intrinsic ability to be teachers, but it takes having confidence in self to actually activate that.”
Mrs. Miller also emphasized her role in creating an uplifting environment for her teachers. “You have to know how to motivate your staff in order to get them to truly identify with the team’s mission and goals. Once they saw my desire and compassion for education, the teachers naturally eased into following my leadership. They can tell it’s from the heart.”
The summit also addressed the current trends in society that are changing the way teachers interact with students, even at the Head Start level. “We are dealing with a more complex level of social and emotional learning than ever before,” Mrs. Miller noted. “We have staff members dedicated to social and emotional wellness for our children, while also ensuring that our individual teachers are aware of these needs as well. We have many students who are already technologically inclined when they get here. So what we have to do is monitor and guide them to know how to use it for the right purpose and at the right time.”
Leading in education is both demanding and rewarding, and Mrs. Miller shared her approach to maintaining internal balance while fulfilling her leadership responsibilities. “It starts with self-care. I seek guidance from God. I start every day with a prayer, and I ask God to help my colleagues understand why we show up. Every day our performance is rooted in love and compassion for our students.”
The summit was a resounding success, reinforcing the importance of teacher wellbeing and setting the stage for a successful school year at Aaron E. Henry Head Start Center.
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