About Us
Step Up to Quality
Mercer County Head Start is a 3-tiered system child care program. Step up to Quality (SUTQ) is Ohio’s quality rating system for child care programs. The Ohio Department of Children and Youth use a comprehensive, one-to-3-tiered rating system to assess licensed early childhood programs that choose to exceed minimum health and safety standards. Starting in 2020, all child care programs that receive state funding will be required to participate in Step Up to Quality. Ratings are posted online, and parents can use them to choose the program that is best for their child. Mercer County Head Start is a GOLD rated program.
For more information visit education.ohio.gov
A Healthy Child is a Child Ready to Learn
School readiness is measured by skills in the five central domains of the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework. Ages Birth to Five (ELOF): Social-Emotional, Physical (Gross Motor/Fine Motor), Language/Literacy, Cognitive and Mathematics.
History of Head Start
Head Start was founded as part of Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty in 1965. Since then, Head Start has grown from an eight-week demonstration project to include full day/year services and numerous program options. Head Start has served over 30 million children and their families in urban and rural areas in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. territories. Head Start celebrated 59 years of service in 2024.
Head Start Services
Head Start promotes the school readiness of young children from at-risk families through agencies in their local community. Head Start and Early Head Start programs support the comprehensive development of children from birth to age 5, in centers, child care partner locations, and in their own homes. Head Start services include early learning, health, and family well-being.
Mercer County Head Start Leadership
Celina City Schools Board of Education along with Policy Council provide shared governance for the Mercer County Head Start Program. While the Celina City Schools Board of Education is compromised of elected members of the community, the Policy Council consists of Head Start parents elected by their peers as well as other volunteer community service providers. Together, these two entities provide guidance and oversight to the program’s Executive Director.
Administrative Team
Executive Director - Amy Esser
Early Childhood Services Director - Sandy Stammen
Mental Health Manager - Ashley Searight
Health & Safety Manager - Angie Stephenson
Human Resource Manager - Romana Kiete
Policy Council
Parent Representatives
Theresa Burnett
Alexis Turner
Sierra Reese
Clarisse Loughridge
Sharlynn Capelle
Community Representatives
Deb Guingrich
Jodie Grieshop
Beth Guggenbiller
Denise Johnston
Mindy Serr
Board of Education
Mark Huelsman
Carl Huber
Julie Sommer
Adam Schleucher
Jon Clouse
No Wrong Door
NO WRONG DOOR was conceptualized as an event to educate Mercer County service providers about the vast resources available in the area. The premise is that families would be able to gain access or a direct referral to services needed through each provider in the area.