Clackamas Education Service District’s free Head Start to Success preschool program offers comprehensive support to families, thanks in large part to dedicated staff like Health, Safety and Nutrition Specialist Emily Wallace. With a background in public health, Emily plays a key role in promoting Head Start children’s well-being, from ensuring each classroom meets fire, health and sanitation standards to helping teach kids healthy habits like tooth brushing.
Emily coordinates Head Start to Success’s vital health wraparound services, including free in-school dental, vision, hearing, and growth screenings for children. When health concerns are identified, she ensures children are referred to local clinics for free or low-cost follow-up care and prevention.
Emily also manages the program’s nutrition services, another Head Start hallmark that ensures all children receive free, nutritious meals each day that meet their diverse dietary needs.
“Feeding our families is a huge piece of Head Start. If your basic needs are met, you can be successful academically,” Emily explains.
Emily has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership in ensuring that children have access to healthy food, even in challenging circumstances. She played a key role in launching the new Clackamas Early Learning Center earlier this fall, personally overseeing the kitchen in its first week to ensure students received nutritious meals.
Emily’s decades of volunteer work with the Special Olympics and as a firefighter reflect her deep dedication to the community. Her collaborative spirit and passion for service make Emily an invaluable asset to the Head Start program, helping families thrive and setting children up for a healthy and happy life.
“A huge drive for me is serving the community. It’s something I’ve always done, and it’s in my blood,” Emily says.
