FHSA State Leadership Awards

State award recipients compete for Region and National Awards. RIVHSA winners are denoted with a *, and National winners with a ** beside their name 

Congratulations! 

2024 Award Recipients 

Parent of the Year,  Renee Sensenbrenner, Children First, Inc

Father of the Year Award, Max Jean,  Miami Dade County CAHSD Head Start/Early Head Start

Administrator of the Year, Vicki Wolin,  Pasco County Schools Early Childhood Programs

Teacher of the Year, Janice Smith,  School Board of Brevard County 

Staff of the Year, Michelle Dale,  School Board of Brevard County 

Support Staff of the Year, Robert Simmons,  Episcopal Children's Services

Achievement Award,  Nadeige Laleau, Miami Dade County CAHSD Head Start/Early Head Start

Corporate Award, Orlando Science Center,  Orange County Head Start

FHSA National Head Start Award State Finalists:

Edward Zigler Innovation Award, Hankins Johnson Education Foundation/Orlando Alphas
Sargent Shriver Excellence in Community Service Awards,  VyStar Credit Union
Aubrey Puckett Memorial Award, Lee Ann Vega, You Thrive Florida


 

2023 Award Recipients

Parent of the Year, Krystle Dominguez,  Mid Florida Community Services, Inc. 
Father of the Year, Darnellion Brown, Orange County Board of Commission-Orange County Head Start*
Beating the Odds, Leah Jones, Children First, Inc.*
Administrator of the Year, Dr. Maite Riestra-Quintero,  Miami-Dade Community Action and Human Services Department 
Teacher of the Year, Zaida Rojas, Children's Home Society, Orlando 
Staff of the Year, Alisa Thorton,  The Agricultural and Labor Program, Inc. *
Support Staff of the Year, Bryan Ward,  Episcopal Children's Services*
Achievement Award, Jane Shaw Children First, Inc.*
Corporate Award, PNC Bank *
Scholarship Head Start Staff, LaShawn'te LeeChildren First, Inc. 

FHSA National Head Start Award State Finalists:

Edward Zigler Innovation Award,  School Board of Brevard County **
Sargent Shriver Excellence in Community Services Award, Jean Managini Mid-Florida Community Services, Inc.*
Aubrey Pucket Memorial Award, Kathleen Sullivan Children First, Inc.**
Vanessa Rich Leadership Award, Andrea Fraizer, Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners

 


 

2022 Award Recipients 

Parent of the Year - Maria Somera, Children's First, Inc. 
Father of the Year- Anthony Ray, Episcopal Children's Services *
Administrator of the Year - Autumn  Tomas, Episcopal Children's Services *
Beating the Odds - Erica Fernandez and Dillion Nations Family, Episcopal Children's Services
Teacher of the Year - Azza Tawadros, Hillsborough County Public Schools Head Start Program *
Staff of the Year - Maria O'Donnell, Episcopal Children's Services *
Support Staff of the Year - Kenneth DavisEpiscopal Children's Services
Corporate Award - Family Health Source, Mid Florida Community Services Inc. Head Start & Early Head Start

The National Head Start Award State Finalists:

Edward Zigler Innovation Award - Miami Dade County HS/EHS & Reach Out and Read Florida **
Sargent Shirver Excellence in Community Service Award- Philip Tavill, Children First, Inc.**
Aubrey Puckett Memorial Award - Shamella Harmon, Orange County Head Start *


2020 Award Recipients

Parent of the Year - Antionette Brown from Episcopal Children's Services, Inc. 
Father of the Year - Joshua Lee Aron* from Hillsborough County BOCC Head Start/Early Head Start
Administrator of the Year - Kathy Thorpe from Community Coordinated Care for Children (4C)
Beating the Odds- Nicole Everage from Episcopal Children's Services, Inc. 
Teacher of the Year - Andrea Mitchell from Hillsborough County BOCC Head Start/Early Head Start
Staff of the Year - Chere' Herring* from Miami-Dade County Community Action & Human Services
Support Staff of the Year - Robin Harris* from Luthern Services Florida. Inc. Duval HS/EHS Program 
Oral Health Award - Orange County Head Start
Humanitarian of the Year Award - Dr. Rebecca Marcon* from Episcopal Children's Services, Inc. 
Achievement Award - Renee Santillo* from Epsicopal Children's Services, Inc. 

The National Head Start Award State Finalists:

Edward Zigler Innovation Award - Miami- Dade Head Start, The Children's Trust, & Miami-Dade Family Learning Partnership**
Ron Herndon Head Start Parent Scholarship - Marian Ibrahim* from Orange County Board of County Commissioners


2019 Award Recipients 

Parent of the Year – Maritza Vasquez* from Orange County Head Start, Orlando
Beating the Odds – Sharlene Singleton* from Episcopal Children’s Services, Jacksonville
Teacher of the Year – Jennine Nolan from Hillsborough County Head Start/Early Head Start, Tampa
Staff of the Year – Indra Font from Polk County Public Schools Head Start, Lakeland
Support Staff of the Year – Parameshwari “Rani” Panchanathan from Miami- Dade Community Action and Human Services Department, Head Start/Early Head Start*, Miami
Corporate Award – Smart City*, Orlando
Scholarship for Head Start/Early Head Start Staff, Higher Education – Princess Ortiz from Orange County Head Start, Orlando

The National Head Start Award State Finalists:

Aubrey Puckett Memorial Award – Sonya L. Hill from Orange County Head Start, Orlando
Edward Zigler Innovation Award – Orange County Head Start*, Orlando
Vanessa Rich Leadership Award – Autumn Tomas from Episcopal Children’s Services, Jacksonville
Ron Herndon Head Start Parent Scholarship – Lara Urdaneta* from Orange County Head Start, Orlando 


2018 Award Recipients

Parent of the Year - Ikeshia Highsmith, Hillsborough County Head Start, Tampa *
Father of the Year - Daniel Grant, Community Coordinated Care for Children, Inc., Orlando *
Administrator of the Year - LaTanya Wynn-Hall, Lutheran Services of Florida, Jacksonville
Teacher of the Year - Loren Herndon, Hillsborough County Public School Head Start, Tampa *
Staff of the Year - Tabatha Hayes, Lutheran Services of Florida, Jacksonville
Support Staff of the Year - Matthew Fullas, Community Coordinated Care for Children, Inc. Orlando *
Oral Health Award - Brevard Public Schools Head Start Program


Dannery Ramon Scholarship for Head Start/Early Head Start Alumni, High School Senior - Orange County Head Start

Cynthia Marshall Scholarship for Head Start/Early Head Start Staff, Higher Education Lutheran Services of Florida- Largo

The National Head Start Award State Finalists:

Brevard Schools Head Start NHSA Edward Zigler Innovation Award
Deborah Jones NHSA Aubrey Puckett Memorial Award Community Coordinated Care for Children, Inc., Orlando


2017 Award Recipients 

Parent of the Year - Katoya Finney-Miller, Lutheran Services of Florida, Palm Beach
Father of the Year - Curtis Click, Lutheran Services Florida, Palm Beach
Beating the Odds - Shanika Preston, Community Coordinated Care for Children, Inc., Orlando
Teacher of the Year - Chantelle Brown, Lutheran Services of Florida, Palm Beach
Staff of the Year - Catherine Penton-Gooch, Lutheran Services of Florida, Jacksonville
Support Staff of the Year - Teresita Boneo-Maligsa, Lutheran Services of Florida, Palm Beach
Humanitarian of the Year - Capurnia Larkins
Oral Health Award - Brevard Public Schools Head Start Program
Corporate Award - Children's Services Council, Palm Beach County