Head Start Teachers

Pictured l. to r.,
1st row, Susan Feldman, Robert Nick, John Vasko, Bill Fredson, David Bodfish, Thomas Rulland, Charles Evans, Jacob Simeonoff, Sheldon Segevan, Elena Okaviak, Dora Goodwin, Ester Wallunga, Barbara Jenkins (Fac.);

2nd row, Mary Ann Kopanuk, Hannah Jones, Marian Kinneeveauk, Vera Frankson, Virginia Demmert, Gay Ann White (Vista), Mary Alice Seville (Vista), Maryana Patsy, Margaret Semaken, Connie Griffith (Dir.), Jean Lewis, Sara Seeberger, Mabel Cartier (Fac.), Rena Kingeak, Anecia Ayojiak;

between 2nd and 3rd rows on right, Dora Henry, Lou Mow, Laura Ramoth, Gladys Dart (Fac.), Maxie Andrew, Darlene Billings, Winifred Sipary;

3rd row, Alberta Vent, Madeline Solomon, Nina Flitt, Mary Pritchard, Olga Balluta, Barbara Joe, Viola Sheldon, Vivian Sampson, Katherine Beans, Mary Malchoff, Carmen Ludulak, Rose Wongittilin, Myra Seppilu, Ida Nicori, Betty Westluc (Fac.), Colleen Redman (Fac.), Julia Peele;

absent, Stanley Milligrock, Linda Johnson, Alexan Black, Hannah Adams, Bibbiana Aluska, Jack Bartlet (Fac.), Linda Badten (Fac.), Leslie Salisbury (Fac.), and Bea Faber (Fac.).

49 Native Head Start Teachers Graduate

By Dick Heidorn

Last Thursday, the University of Alaska held a unique graduation exercise. What made it significant was that most of the students did not even have high school diplomas.

Forty-nine people, who had been hand-picked by their respective village councils, had gone through a difficult and concentrated 8-week course of teacher-training to make them eligible to become Head Start teachers in their villages.

After a no-host dinner on the campus, about 100 friends and relatives watched 49 student teachers receive their diplomas. Short addresses were given by six graduating students and to the surprise of many, were very well delivered considering the fact that most of them had never talked before an audience.

The purpose of the Head Start teaching program was to train people from villages to instruct four to five-year-old preschool Native youngsters this winter.

One reason for this is that many Native children of this age have not yet learned the English language. The Head Start teachers, for the most part during their instruction periods, will be able to converse with the youngsters in both their native tongue and also in English.

Six class representatives who gave short speeches were: Catherine Beans of Mountain Village, who spoke on, "The Meaning of Head Start;" Jacob Simeonoff, Akhiok, "What we Have Learned;" Dora Goodwin, Kotzebue, who spoke on, "What I Feel about Head Start;" Robert Nick, Nunapitchuk, on, "The Importance of Head Start;" Virginia Demmert, Angoon, who gave, "Gratitude to Teachers;" and Margaret Semaken, Kaltag, who gave a talk on, "The Future of Head Start."

Dr. William Loyens of the University gave the main address. Father Segundo Llorente, S.J., delivered the invocation. Presentation of Certificates was made by Mrs. Constance Griffith, project director for the Head Start teacher-training program, and Rev. Charles Jenkins, College Presbyterian Church, gave the blessing.

Extracted 06 Jun 2019 by Norma Hass from Tundra Times, Volume IV, Number 32, 05 Aug 1966, page 4.

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