The Minnesota Head Start Association sponsors a recognition program each year that honors members of the Minnesota Head Start community who overcame tremendous challenges and achieved personal and family success. These children, families, alumni and staff members have been selected by the MHSA Scholarships and Awards Committee based on compelling, personal testimonies about their Head Start experience and how they were able to transform their lives. The Head Start Heroes epitomize how determination, fortitude and access to early learning and whole-family approaches can pave the way to lifelong success. Laurie Coleman was named as an Honorary Head Start Hero and received special recognition at the event.
Laurie began her career with Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. on May 28, 1996. She has had numerous job positions within the organization. She started as an Assistant Teacher at the Head Start Center in Hillsboro, ND, working with the Migrant Child and Family Services. She then became a Substitute Teacher on June 27, 1996, and on July 28, 1998; she accepted a position as an Infant Teacher at the same center. On August 28, of the same year, Laurie accepted a position as a fulltime Center Director at the Hendrum, MN Head Start Center. She worked in this same position until January 5, 2002, at which time she accepted a position as an Early Childhood Specialist at the Tri-Valley Headquarters in Crookston. Laurie’s determination continued as she advanced yet to another position on June 5, 2003, as an Early Childhood Services Manager. She had one more very important job leap on October 28, 2007. She became Tri-Valley’s Head Start, Child & Family Programs Director. Because of her motivation and performance, her level of responsibility continued to increase, and she proved to be a huge asset to the successes achieved by Tri-Valley Head Start Programs in serving children and their families. Laurie did an outstanding job leading Tri-Valley’s Head Start and Early Childhood Programs during the COVID-19 Pandemic as well. Tri-Valley was singled out time and again for providing services at a level far beyond our peers. Laurie had led her team to accomplish all of this while staying active in the Children’s Cabinet Advisory Council, Parent Aware Advisory Committee, Early Childhood Reform Committee, Minnesota Head Start Association and was also selected to serve on the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Think Tank. We all, at Tri-Valley, are so very thankful for her dedication and service to the success of this Organization.