Congratulations to Kenneth Gilbert: New CEO Head Start of Greater Dallas

Kenneth R. Gilbert, who has served as Head Start of Greater Dallas' chief of operations and a member of the organization's board of

directors for nearly 25 years, was named chief executive Monday by a unanimous vote of the board.

He is the organization's second CEO, succeeding longtime CEO and
founder Wanda M. Smith, who retired. Gilbert joined the organization as chief financial officer in 1988 and was promoted to chief operating officer in 1998.

"Ken has demonstrated consistent leadership in his tenure as COOl,"
said board president Clay Curtis. "He has a passion for early
childhood education and a desire for all of our children to be
school-ready. He consistently meets or exceeds his goals and delivers
a high-quality work product and is always on time and on budget. We
are in good hands with him as our new CEO."

Gilbert will work to increase the organization's brand recognition in
the community, increase fund-raising for the agency, which needs to
raise more than $9 million each year, and ensure that Head Start is
poised to meet increasing demands for federal oversight.

"Kenneth Gilbert will build upon Head Start of Greater Dallas'
well-deserved reputation as one of America's most innovative Head
Start programs," said National Head Start Association board chairman
Rob Herndon.

"I am humbled by the appointment to succeed such a dynamic and iconic leader as Wanda Meshack Smith," Gilbert said. "I look forward to leading this organization and the children and families we serve to
continued success."

Gilbert is a sought-after training and technical assistance
professional for Head Start programs across the nation. He holds
memberships in the National Head Start Association, the Institute of
Management Accountants and the National Association for the Education of Young Children and is a past president and current treasurer of the Texas Head Start Association. He is active in the community at the local and state levels and is a member of the Head Start State Collaboration Office Advisory Board.

Gilbert is a 2004 Leadership Dallas alumnus and a 1991 alumnus of the prestigious Head Start Johnson and Johnson Management Fellows Program at UCLA. He holds a B.A. in accounting from Bishop College and an MBA from Amberton University. He is married with three children.

Head Start of Greater Dallas is a nonprofit organization that provides
children with a foundation of skills and knowledge that they can use
to be successful in school and life. It also fosters self-reliant
families and communities.

The agency serves more than 4,400 children at 46 full-day centers
throughout Dallas County. Head Start depends on community support for approximately $9 million of its funding every year.

Harris County Department of Education Head Start

Two Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) families are on the road to self sufficiency thanks to the agency's longtime sponsor Bates Collision Centers.

Kimberlee Owens, a Fifth Ward parent, and a R.P. Harris parent Laura Hernandez, each received keys to a refurbished car as winners of this year's Bates Responsible Parenting Award & Benevolence Program.

Leila Bates, who with her husband Lee, owns Bates Custom Collision Centers in Baytown and North Channel said Owens and Hernandez were obvious choices.  Bates said the selection process was based on a demonstrated need and at what they had done to help themselves and their families. These two have demonstrated a true desire to be independent.  Owens received a 2005 Dodge Neon and Hernandez received a 2004 Ford Expedition.  Congratulations to Laura Hernandez and Kimberelee Owens!