staff members. Students also help programs build community partnerships because they are often moving on to other settings for employment after completion of their time at Project Eagle. Past students have assisted Project Eagle in forming relationships and partnerships with other community programs that benefit the children and families we serve. From a human resources perspective, student placements give programs the chance to meet potential future employees. Over the past ten years, Project Eagle has hired twelve staff members who completed their student placements at Project Eagle. Project Eagle’s Assistant Director of Health and Screening Services, Leslie Warlen, MPH, RN, is one of those individuals. “I remember the first time I interacted with Project Eagle. It was 17 years ago, and I was a graduate student completing my Masters in Public Health. During my short four-month internship, my understanding of people and the different paths we all travel in life were expanded far more than they could ever have been in a classroom. At the time, I felt a deep connection to the amazing work accomplished every day by the staff at Project Eagle and feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to become a staff member myself. I have now worked for Project Eagle for over 16 years, and if it were not for the profound learning I experienced so many years ago as a Project Eagle student, it may have taken me much longer to realize where I wanted to direct my professional focus. One of my favorite aspects of Project Eagle is the program’s commitment to being a learning laboratory for students from a wide variety of career fields. Every day, Project Eagle has a positive impact on the lives of children and families in Wyandotte County, and through our work with students, we are able to expand our reach well beyond our program. I am thankful Project Eagle takes the opportunity to have a profound influence on the life of each student who enters our doors, and I know that in some way, which influence will positively affect everyone they interact with in their future careers.” Early education programs like Early Head Start and Head Start work tirelessly to educate the youngest members of our communities to ensure their success in school and life. Children and families in our communities deserve nothing more than to work with competent and caring professionals in a variety of settings. Project Eagle is committed to educating future professionals to influence their careers and ensure nothing but excellence for those they will serve.
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Region VII Head Start Sand BoxTM | Summer 2017
Vikteria Fletcher, former University of Kansas School of Education Intern and current Project Eagle Educare Kansas City Teacher
Caroline Klem, former K-State Family Studies and Human Services Intern and current Project Eagle Educare Kansas City Teacher