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Celebrating 43 years of service in 2008, Black River
Area Development is grantee for the BRAD Head Start/Early Head Start
program. BRAD is a community action agency serving Clay, Lawrence and
Randolph counties in the northeast corner of Arkansas. The Head
Start/Early Head Start program serves 342 preschool children in Head
Start, 56 in Early Head Start, and 16 in ABC serving infants
and toddlers.
Head Start centers are located in Pocahontas in
Randolph County and in Corning, Piggott, and Rector in Clay County. In
Lawrence County the center is located in Walnut Ridge.
Early Head Start Centers are located in Clay County in
Corning, in Randolph County, two centers in Pocahontas, and in
Lawrence County in Walnut Ridge.
ABC classrooms are in Pocahontas and Corning.
James Jansen has been Executive Director of Black River
Area Development for 42 years. Mr. Jansen is involved in the local
and national community and professional service. He is a member of
the Pocahontas Kiwanis Club, Arkansas Community Action Agency
Association, and is a past member of the Arkansas Interest on Lawyers
Trust Account (IOLTA) Foundation. Mr. Jansen served 15 years as a
member of the Board of Education of the Walnut Ridge Public School, 5
years as a members of the Board of Directors of the National Centers
for Appropriate Technology (NEAT), and is past president of the
Arkansas State University Training and Technical Assistance Board for
Early Childhood Education.
Barbara Sisco is the Head Start/Early Head Start
Director. Mrs. Sisco began working for the program in 1977 as a
teacher’s assistant. She has worked in various positions in the
program before becoming assistant director in 1988 and later becoming
director in 1998. While working for the program, Mrs. Sisco has
obtained a bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Development from the
University of Arkansas. She has served in numerous leadership roles
including President of the Arkansas Head Start Association, President
of the Directors Class of the Arkansas Head Start Association,
President of the Staff Class of the Arkansas Head Start Association, Region VI Head Start
Association Board Treasurer, Consultant for Basic Health Management,
Inc. for Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, and Region VI Consultant
for Federal Review. Professional membership includes: Arkansas Head Start Association, Region
VI Head Start Association, National Head Start Association, National
Association for the Education of the Young Child. Professional
activities include: Master Executive Training School (METS) and Head
Start/Johnson & Johnson Management Fellows Program.
Other staff employment facts include:
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Employs 18 Head Start Teachers, of which more than 89
percent have obtained an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Early
Childhood Education or a related degree. All teachers are working
toward a higher degree.
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Employs 14 Early Head Start Teacher/Caregivers, of
which more than 86 percent have obtained an associate’s or
bachelor’s degree, while more are studying to receive a higher
degree.
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Employs approximately 125 individuals throughout the
program, including administration, content area managers, center
staff, and substitutes.
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The management team, is made up of highly qualified
individuals within their field. The skilled team performs high
quality training and support for center staff. Some manager’s job
duties encompass more than one service area.
BRAD’s governing board is well informed and extremely
involved with the program. The board is made up of 15 members
representing the communities we serve.
The Head Start/Early Head Start Policy Council is
composed of Head Start/Early Head Start parents representing each
center and community representatives from each area that is served by
the program. |
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