Forward Futures: Meet Terricha
- amcclain41
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Terricha has built her life around education, and it shows in the success of her three children and in the career that she has carved out as a journalist and business owner.
The value she places on learning traces back to her childhood, when her parents checked her homework, asked about her classes and encouraged her to explore extracurricular activities. That foundation propelled her through two college degrees in her 20s and into a profession centered on storytelling and community connection.
Now she’s passing that same focus on to her children.
When her oldest was a toddler during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, much of his pre-K experience happened online. For her two younger children, Terricha wanted something different: a classroom environment where they could build social and emotional skills face-to-face.
She enrolled them in Step Forward’s Head Start program, confident that passionate, qualified teachers would prepare her children for kindergarten and beyond.
The results were immediate.
“She knew numbers, colors, letters. She perfected handwriting, knowing her name. She was definitely ready for kindergarten,” Terricha said of her second child, now in elementary school.
Head Start also gave Terricha and her husband the peace of mind to focus on running their business during the day, knowing their children were safe, supported and learning.
“Working parents need Head Start. Education is the benchmark. It’s the backbone of anyone’s life,” she said.
Even with a full schedule as a reporter and entrepreneur, Terricha stays active in her youngest daughter’s classroom, joining field trips and speaking on career day. “An engaged, involved parent is a successful parent,” she said.
For families like Terricha’s, Head Start is more than early education. It’s a pathway for children and parents to thrive.
“Head Start is a lifeline for any family, regardless of socioeconomic status,” she said.
