FHSA State Leadership Awards

State award recipients compete for Region and National Awards. RIVHSA and NHSA winners are denoted with a * beside their name. 

Congratulations! 

2023 Award Recipients

Parent of the Year, Krystle Dominguez,  Mid Florida Community Services, Inc. 
Father of the Year, Darnellion Brown, Orange County Board of Commission-Orange County Head Start*
Beating the Odds, Leah Jones, Children First, Inc.*
Administrator of the Year, Dr. Maite Riestra-Quintero,  Miami-Dade Community Action and Human Services Department 
Teacher of the Year, Zaida Rojas, Children's Home Society, Orlando 
Staff of the Year, Alisa Thorton,  The Agricultural and Labor Program, Inc. *
Support Staff of the Year, Bryan Ward,  Episcopal Children's Services*
Achievement Award, Jane Shaw Children First, Inc.*
Corporate Award, PNC Bank *
Scholarship Head Start Staff, LaShawn'te LeeChildren First, Inc. 

FHSA National Head Start Award State Finalists:

Edward Zigler Innovation Award,  School Board of Brevard County *
Sargent Shriver Excellence in Community Services Award, Jean Managini Mid-Florida Community Services, Inc.*
Aubrey Pucket Memorial Award, Kathleen Sullivan Children First, Inc.*
Vanessa Rich Leadership Award, Andrea Fraizer, Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners

2022 Award Recipients 

Parent of the Year - Maria Somera, Children's First, Inc. 
Father of the Year- Anthony Ray, Episcopal Children's Services *
Administrator of the Year - Autumn  Tomas, Episcopal Children's Services *
Beating the Odds - Erica Fernandez and Dillion Nations Family, Episcopal Children's Services
Teacher of the Year - Azza Tawadros, Hillsborough County Public Schools Head Start Program *
Staff of the Year - Maria O'Donnell, Episcopal Children's Services *
Support Staff of the Year - Kenneth DavisEpiscopal Children's Services
Corporate Award - Family Health Source, Mid Florida Community Services Inc. Head Start & Early Head Start

The National Head Start Award State Finalists:

Edward Zigler Innovation Award - Miami Dade County HS/EHS & Reach Out and Read Florida *
Sargent Shirver Excellence in Community Service Award- Philip Tavill, Children First, Inc.*
Aubrey Puckett Memorial Award - Shamella Harmon, Orange County Head Start *


2020 Award Recipients

Parent of the Year - Antionette Brown from Episcopal Children's Services, Inc. 
Father of the Year - Joshua Lee Aron* from Hillsborough County BOCC Head Start/Early Head Start
Administrator of the Year - Kathy Thorpe from Community Coordinated Care for Children (4C)
Beating the Odds- Nicole Everage from Episcopal Children's Services, Inc. 
Teacher of the Year - Andrea Mitchell from Hillsborough County BOCC Head Start/Early Head Start
Staff of the Year - Chere' Herring* from Miami-Dade County Community Action & Human Services
Support Staff of the Year - Robin Harris* from Luthern Services Florida. Inc. Duval HS/EHS Program 
Oral Health Award - Orange County Head Start
Humanitarian of the Year Award - Dr. Rebecca Marcon* from Episcopal Children's Services, Inc. 
Achievement Award - Renee Santillo* from Epsicopal Children's Services, Inc. 

The National Head Start Award State Finalists:

Edward Zigler Innovation Award - Miami- Dade Head Start, The Children's Trust, & Miami-Dade Family Learning Partnership*
Ron Herndon Head Start Parent Scholarship - Marian Ibrahim* from Orange County Board of County Commissioners


2019 Award Recipients 

Parent of the Year – Maritza Vasquez* from Orange County Head Start, Orlando
Beating the Odds – Sharlene Singleton* from Episcopal Children’s Services, Jacksonville
Teacher of the Year – Jennine Nolan from Hillsborough County Head Start/Early Head Start, Tampa
Staff of the Year – Indra Font from Polk County Public Schools Head Start, Lakeland
Support Staff of the Year – Parameshwari “Rani” Panchanathan from Miami- Dade Community Action and Human Services Department, Head Start/Early Head Start*, Miami
Corporate Award – Smart City*, Orlando
Scholarship for Head Start/Early Head Start Staff, Higher Education – Princess Ortiz from Orange County Head Start, Orlando

The National Head Start Award State Finalists:

Aubrey Puckett Memorial Award – Sonya L. Hill from Orange County Head Start, Orlando
Edward Zigler Innovation Award – Orange County Head Start*, Orlando
Vanessa Rich Leadership Award – Autumn Tomas from Episcopal Children’s Services, Jacksonville
Ron Herndon Head Start Parent Scholarship – Lara Urdaneta* from Orange County Head Start, Orlando 


2018 Award Recipients

Parent of the Year - Ikeshia Highsmith, Hillsborough County Head Start, Tampa *
Father of the Year - Daniel Grant, Community Coordinated Care for Children, Inc., Orlando *
Administrator of the Year - LaTanya Wynn-Hall, Lutheran Services of Florida, Jacksonville
Teacher of the Year - Loren Herndon, Hillsborough County Public School Head Start, Tampa *
Staff of the Year - Tabatha Hayes, Lutheran Services of Florida, Jacksonville
Support Staff of the Year - Matthew Fullas, Community Coordinated Care for Children, Inc. Orlando *
Oral Health Award - Brevard Public Schools Head Start Program


Dannery Ramon Scholarship for Head Start/Early Head Start Alumni, High School Senior - Orange County Head Start

Cynthia Marshall Scholarship for Head Start/Early Head Start Staff, Higher Education Lutheran Services of Florida- Largo

The National Head Start Award State Finalists:

Brevard Schools Head Start NHSA Edward Zigler Innovation Award
Deborah Jones NHSA Aubrey Puckett Memorial Award Community Coordinated Care for Children, Inc., Orlando


2017 Award Recipients 

Parent of the Year - Katoya Finney-Miller, Lutheran Services of Florida, Palm Beach
Father of the Year - Curtis Click, Lutheran Services Florida, Palm Beach
Beating the Odds - Shanika Preston, Community Coordinated Care for Children, Inc., Orlando
Teacher of the Year - Chantelle Brown, Lutheran Services of Florida, Palm Beach
Staff of the Year - Catherine Penton-Gooch, Lutheran Services of Florida, Jacksonville
Support Staff of the Year - Teresita Boneo-Maligsa, Lutheran Services of Florida, Palm Beach
Humanitarian of the Year - Capurnia Larkins
Oral Health Award - Brevard Public Schools Head Start Program
Corporate Award - Children's Services Council, Palm Beach County