Richmond County School System’s Superintendent was recently awarded the Georgia Head Start Association’s Superintendent of the Year Award for his partnership with the CSRA Economic Opportunity Authority (EOA) Inc. Head Start Program.
Provided for eligible children under five years old, Head Start and the Early Head Start programs provide learning and development services freely to qualifying families in order to help children with early learning and development.
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Working with Head Start, Kenneth Bradshaw, first selected to be the county’s superintendent in 2019, was selected for this year’s award based on his dedication to the school system and the effort demonstrated to Head Start through collaboration.
“The Richmond County School System has always had a long-lasting relationship with the local Head Start organization,” Bradshaw said. “It enhances early childhood education opportunities for children, setting a strong foundation for their academics. It also expands and strengthens the partnership to reach more students and families”
By providing students with a solid foundation in early childhood education, Bradshaw said the county has reported improved school readiness among 3 to 5-year-old learners.
“Children who participate in Head Start are better prepared to enter kindergarten, which sets them up for success throughout their academic journey,” he said. “We continue to work closely with the CSRA Economic Opportunity Authority, which collaborates closely with the Head Start Program.”
Continuing to work with the CSRA EOA, which collaborates closely with the Head Start Program, Bradshaw said the future of the partnership could possibly include expanding the program to separate sites in the county to further help set students up for long term success.
“Dr. Bradshaw’s outstanding leadership and commitment to the Head Start and RCSS collaborative partnership are at the epicenter of his vision for students and families in the school district,” said Head Start Director Nedia Belcher.
According to Belcher, Bradshaw’s leadership has allowed the county’s school system to work with the CSRA Head Start program to help expand services to preschool students and families by opening school system-owned facilities to more than 250 Head Start students and staff.
“His standards for ensuring that all students receive quality education are high and should be emulated by those providing educational opportunities for children and their families,” Belcher said.
The partnership with RCSS also supported Head Start’s efforts to provide wrap-around services to more than 220 pre-kindergarten students in elementary schools.
“As the Head Start Program expands to separate sites, there may be opportunities for professional development and training for educators and staff members,” Bradshaw said. “This could include specialized training in early childhood education, trauma-informed care, and strategies for supporting diverse learners and families.”
After winning the award, Bradshaw said he was excitedly surprised to receive such an “incredible honor” and prestigious award.
“It is rewarding to be recognized and considered among my peers for my contributions to early childhood education,” he said. “By emphasizing early education, we not only support the individual development of children but also strengthen families and communities.”
To Bradshaw, when children receive a strong educational foundation early on, they are better equipped to thrive academically, socially and emotionally throughout their lives.
“This period lays the foundation for all future learning, behavior, and health,” he said. “By investing in early education, we can optimize this critical developmental window, setting children up for success later in life.”
Overall, Bradshaw said he believes the ongoing relationship between Richmond County and Head Start holds the promise of expanding access to high-quality early childhood education and fostering collaboration to support young children’s families.
“There may also be opportunities for professional development and training for educators and staff members,” he said. “This could include specialized training in early childhood education, trauma-informed care, and strategies for supporting diverse learners and families.”
Bradshaw will move on to represent the state of Georgia at the Region IV Head Start Association conference in February 2025, where he will join eight southeastern states in the selection process for a regional award.
“It is humbling and motivates me to continue striving for excellence in my role” Bradshaw said. “Overall, it was a deeply gratifying and memorable experience.”
