Here & Now Anytime Head Start programs prepare to close as shutdown continues
Oct 23, 2025
Daryl James, director at the Capital Area Community Action Agency, discusses the looming crisis faced by Head Start programs due to funding cuts and the dire impact on families. Jill Marie Dougherty, a Russia scholar, shares insights on the implications of U.S. sanctions targeting Russian oil and whether these will pressure Putin to change course. Chris Sidoti, a lawyer and U.N. commission member, outlines findings that allege genocide in Gaza, emphasizing the importance of accountability despite disputes from Israel.
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Teacher Keeps Working Without Pay
- Shannon Perkins, a Head Start lead teacher in Tallahassee, keeps working despite not being paid to care for the children.
- She shows up each day driven by faith and commitment even as her family faces financial uncertainty.
Director Describes Widespread Strain
- Daryl James describes 21 classrooms and dozens of staff facing the same unpaid situation as Shannon.
- He warns many similar stories exist across their Head Start program and staff are struggling.
Shutdown Multiplies Family Hardships
- Closing Head Start jeopardizes parents' ability to work, study, or rely on grandparents for childcare.
- Loss of school meals compounds hardship because SNAP benefits may also lapse, creating layered impacts.
