Head Start

Community Action Organization (CAO) of Erie County
Administrative Head Start Office
70 Harvard Place
Buffalo, New York 14209
p: (716) 881-5150
f: (716) 885-2911
www.caoec.org

CAO Springville Head Start
Preschool Learning Center
393 North Street
Springville, New York 14141
p: (716) 592-2595

On-Site Staff

Liz Baker, Family Partner Coordinator

Lori Spengler, Teacher

Cindy Botts, Teacher

Collaborating PLC Special Education Teachers

Natalie Hernandez, Certified Special Education Teacher

email:

Janice Gawrys, Certified Special Education Teacher

email:

We have two Integrated Classrooms that serve 20 children each. In each classroom there are 11 typically developing children and 9 that have some identified disability. The identified children do not have to meet Head Start eligibility criteria. Each classroom is staffed by a Certified Special Education Teacher, a Head Start Teacher and two classroom aides. Services provided to children and families included education (literacy/numeracy), nutrition, health, mental health, social services, parent involvement and disabilities. Speech therapist, physical and occupational therapist and special education teachers work directly with our children and teachers in the classroom.

This program offers wonderful educational experiences to many of our children who are ready to transition into more typical instructional settings. Parents are key to our program and are encouraged to volunteer in the classroom, form center parent committee's, and be a part of the policy and decision making process for the program. This process often leads to jobs for parents who are unemployed.

Eligibility

Must be low income, at or below the federal designated poverty level. At least 10% of our children must have a diagnosed disability.

Head Start is funded by the United States Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families, and operates under license by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.