Getting ready to learn

NEA Today, Nov 1996

Innovator: Laverne Fernandes Moore Job: Moore is a special education teacher temporarily assigned to work as the Head Start collaboration director for the state of Hawaii.

Bright Idea: A few years ago, Moore took a look at Hawaii's Head Start program and didn't like what she saw-especially when it came to preparing poor children for school.

"There was no action plan among federal, state, and local agencies serving low-income families and no comprehensive early childhood development training of preschool and kindergarten teachers," says Moore.

So Moore worked with the state to beef up Head Start programs. She coordinated the efforts of the state Board of Education and several government agencies to identify priorities for Head Start projects. She also started a statewide training program that helps parents become skilled at teaching their own children. "Parents can learn to teach their children colors, numbers, and directions," says Moore, "and to help them express themselves through art."

Moore also developed a statewide literacy program that teaches nonEnglish speaking parents to read and "speak enough English to be able to ask teachers the right questions about their children's progress in school."

And to boost confidence and selfesteem among children, Moore developed a five-part video series, "Art Starts With Head Start." The series shows parents the importance of passing their cultural heritage on to their children.

"Culture is the essence of a child's self-esteem," says Moore, "and selfesteem is critical to learning."

Impact: Social service agencies that work with low-income families in Hawaii are now networking and sharing resources via the Internet. "Parents feel more secure in their parenting skills," Moore says, "and teachers are seeing that children are coming to school better prepared."

For More: Contact Moore at 808n733-4476 or 808/395-6207.