Dear Editor: We Can't Lose Head Start

Dear Director, Policy Members, and Board Members of Rocky Mountain Head Start, (and Ledger Editor),

My name is Melissa Einboden, and I am writing to you today not only as a mother, but as someone whose life-and whose family-has been deeply impacted by the Head Start program. I hope you'll take a moment to read our story, because it speaks to how truly powerful and essential this program is for families like mine.

When my youngest son, Ryder, was a baby, I was working a demanding, high-stress job. Though I was providing for my family, I wasn't present the way I wanted to be. For nearly the first year and a half of his life, I felt like I was always working-and that I was missing the moments that matter most. It's something I still carry with me.

I also became a stepmom to two wonderful children, Rylee and Robert, when they were in second and third grade. I didn't get those early childhood years with them either, but I jumped in headfirst-supporting their education, daily routines, and everything in between.

When Ryder began talking, it was clear he was on the cusp of a speech delay. As any worried parent would, I enrolled him in speech therapy. But the commute from Whitehall to Butte, along with the co-pays and work demands, quickly became unmanageable. I wanted so badly to give him what he needed, but the toll-financially and emotionally-was too heavy. I did what I could from home, but I knew it wasn't enough.

In summer/fall of 2024, Ryder enrolled in Head Start for Pre-K. After assessments, his speech delay was confirmed, and the team created a plan for services. I braced myself and asked how much it would cost-and when they told me it would be completely free, I cried. Real tears of relief. In that moment, I felt seen, heard, and supported.

That same winter, vehicle issues forced me to leave my full-time job at Montana Tech. I transitioned to working part-time weekends to stay afloat. While it was a difficult shift, it allowed me something I didn't expect-the chance to be more present. I began volunteering in Ryder's classroom, and the experience has been nothing short of transformative.

Watching him learn, grow, and thrive has been healing for me. I've learned just as much as he has-from songs and teaching strategies to behavior tools and parenting techniques. This program has enriched our lives in ways I could never have imagined.

The staff at Head Start are not just educators-they are mentors, cheerleaders, and pillars in this community. They've lifted me up in ways they don't even realize. The value of this program goes far beyond academics-it uplifts whole families, and by extension, our entire community.

When programs like this are supported, we don't just invest in children-we invest in parents, in futures, in compassion and resilience. Without Head Start, I don't know where we would be. But because of it, I know exactly where we're headed-forward, with strength and hope.

Thank you for your time, your leadership, and for supporting families like mine. This program has forever changed our lives.

With heartfelt gratitude,

MELISSA EINBODEN

Whitehall, Montana