Enrolled Families - Children First

When a child is enrolled at Children First, parents or other caregivers become part of our family too. If you have a child attending Children First, please refer to this page for important updates and information.

Resources & materials for families

We follow the Sarasota County School District calendar for holidays and school closures, unless otherwise noted. News and announcements are also posted on the Children First Facebook page.

Please click here for the 2021-2022 school calendar.

All parents are asked to review the Parent Handbook, which contains school rules, conduct, expectations and more. If you would like to review the handbook in Spanish, please click here. Together, we can create a positive, peaceful, and happy school environment!

Comprehensive Services Newsletter

Each month, our Comprehensive Services team puts together a newsletter for parents and caregivers with helpful lifestyle information and the latest program updates.

Program Management Team

Directors

Kathleen Sullivan, MACD

Vice President of Programs and Early Head Start/Head Start Director

UCLA Anderson School of Management Head Start Fellow, Florida Office of Early Learning Racial Equity Task Force, Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County Board of Directors; Former Head Start parent

Brigette Davis, M.A.

Early Head Start/Head Start Associate Director

Florida Head Start Association Board of Directors

Dr. Melania Kesoglou, Ed.S., Ph.D.

Director of Education

National Head Start Association Region IV Foster Care Challenge Committee, National Association for the Education of Young Children Early Childhood Education Accreditation Program Reviewer & Higher Education Accreditation Peer Reviewer, DLH Early Head Start/Head Start Program Monitoring Reviewer

Meredith Mitchell, B.A.

Director of Family Services

National Head Start Association Reauthorization Committee Eligibility Workgroup

Wendy T. Harris, M.Ed.

Director of Comprehensive Services

Florida Association for the Education of Young Children Chapter Advisory Council

Comprehensive Services

Arianne Kopacz, M.A., LMHC

Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist

Bonnie Eskell, M.A.

Special Needs Coordinator

Jane Shaw, M.S., SLP

Special Needs Coordinator

Champaigne Spivey, MPH, CPH

Health and Nutrition Services Manager

Melissa Schwartz, B.S.

Nutrition Coordinator

Family Services

Maria Buitrago, B.A., FDLC

Family Advocate Coach

Jennifer Kinney, B.A.

Family Services Coordinator

Laura Peppard, M.A.

Vocational Family Advocate

Diane Cholcher, B.S., WIP

Vocational Family Advocate

Jack Baker, B.S.A.S. in Early Childhood Development

Families First Institute Manager

Proud dad, granddad, and husband

Marlene Rose, A.A.

Families First Institute Coordinator