U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona toured CACS Head Start preschool as a part of his Return-To-School road trip to spotlight safe return to in-person learning on Thursday, Sept. 23. Secretary Cardona and Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten met with CACS Executive Director Miguel Rodriguez, CACS Director of Early Childhood Programs Dr. Nolana Nobles, CACS Head Start Education Manager and Compliance Specialist Bethany Griffin, and CACS Head Start Curriculum Specialist Mandi Woodward, along with other leaders of the Lansing community.

During the meeting, Dr. Nobles discussed how CACS Head Start has used the funds so far from the American Rescue Plan to safely bring children back to school full time. Deputy Secretary Marten said she was impressed by the work CACS Head Start has accomplished in order to put education into the hands of children and families during the pandemic, such as STEM kits for at-home hands-on learning. STEM kits were a collaboration between generous donors in the community and the local children’s science museum.

“With programs like yours that are so successful, and leaders like you that understand, and district and state leaders that understand we need embrace better early childhood education then I’m confident we are going to move forward in this county,” Cardona said about CACS Head Start.

Cardona said he believes all children will be able to return to school safely if educational leaders follow mitigation strategies. He said CACS Head Start is a shining example of that future.

When it comes to early education and giving children and families a head start to success, Cardona said CACS Head Start could write the book on how to do it well.