Administration
Content Area Directors and Coordinators
Directors
Manuela Rendon
manuela.rendon@ninosinc.org
Lusila Ortega, Assistant Head Start Director
lusi.ortega@ninosinc.org
Jose Noé Diaz, Director of Operations
jose.diaz@ninosinc.org
Jose Luis Carrizales, Director of Personnel°
jose.carrizales@ninosinc.org
Erendira Tejada, Director of Children Services and Early Head Start
erie.tejada@ninosinc.org
David Kowalski, Director of MIS °
david.kowalski@ninosinc.org
Tracy Torres, Director of Finance
tracy.torres@ninosinc.org
Coordinators
Esperanza Gonzales, Disabilities Coordinator °
esperanza.gonzales@ninosinc.org
Lupita Castañeda, Health/Safety Coordinator°
lupita.castaneda@ninosinc.org
Janie Hernandez, Education Coordinator
janie.hernandez@ninosinc.org
Susie Sanchez, Transition Coordinator
susie.sanchez@ninosinc.org
Elva Gonzalez, Education Coordinator
elva.gonzalez@ninosinc.org
Debbie Ramirez, Family Services Coordinator
debbie.ramirez@ninosinc.org
Cathy Mendoza, Early Head Start Coordinator
cathy.mendoza@ninosinc.org
Lora Lee Marquez, Parent Involvement Coordinator
lora.marquez@ninosinc.org
Esmeralda Rodriguez, Parent Involvement Coordinator
esmeralda.rodriguez@ninosinc.org
Disabilities Services
Early intervention is highly important in the development
of young children. The Disability Department has the vital task of securing services for children with disabilities.
Head Start provides a rich setting for growth and development through education, social skills, nutrition, health,
mental health and parent involvement. Head Start is also an excellent setting for language acquisition. The program
prioritizes services to low income families and disabled children. The Disabilities Department oversees the Head Start
centers to meet Federal Guidelines and requirements. One of the requirements is to provide at least a minimum of
10 % of enrollment opportunities for children with disabilities. The department aggressively seeks children with
disabilities through the help of Family Services. Once enrolled, the disabilities department collaborates services
with the public schools and existing agencies in the community to meet the children’s needs. The Disability Department
monitors the Head Start centers to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) as well as the
Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA). Disability works in unison with the Education Content services
to assure that an Individual Education Plan is implemented for each child in order to foster development.
Another responsibility of the Disability Department is to provide training to parents to cultivate understanding
and empowerment in order that they may become more involved with their child’s education.
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Education Content Area
The NINOS Head Start Program ensures that an educational service system is in place.
The system responds to matters affecting total development of children. A prospective approach to early childhood development is implemented
in order to have a positive impact on the future of the children enrolled in the program. This approach takes into account the interrelatedness
of cognitive and intellectual development, physical and mental health, nutritional needs, and other factors that promote a developmental approach
to helping children achieve social competence to be prepared to succeed in the present environment and with later responsibilities in school and life.
The approach places children first and provides them with intentional, outcomes-oriented instructional curriculum to engage groups and individual
children in a variety of challenging, meaningful learning opportunities. It is based on sound child development principles about how children grow
and learn and on the results of the annual self-assessment process, including the program analysis of child outcomes. Staff, parents, and community
stakeholders come together to ensure that the approach is consistent with the Head Start Performance Standards as it applies to the requirements
for curriculum, assessment and individualization. NINOS Head Start continues to be a comprehensive child development program with the ultimate
goals of enhancing social competence and school readiness in preschool children and has actively entered the “era” of increased accountability
and challenges of improving the quality of educational experiences. The program was selected twice to participate in a pilot, state-wide research
project funded by the Texas Education Agency. The grant included training and support from CIRCLE of the University of Texas Health Science Center
mostly recently known as Texas’ State Center for Early Childhood Development. The results of the research project served as the model for the Head
Start Project STEP now being implemented nationally. NINOS has continued the implementation of this research-based model, and is currently in a
state-wide collaboration TEEM project also lead by CIRCLE with the Cameron Works in the lower Cameron County Area and with the Raymondville I.S.D.
for the Willacy and upper Cameron County Area. In this project, Head Start Programs, school districts, and other early childhood programs such
as day care centers collaborate and locally develop models of instruction to align instructional strategies and child outcomes.
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Early Head Start
The NINOS Early Head Start program started providing center-based services in 1999.
The program serves 120 pregnant women, infants, and toddlers at four center sites: Brownsville (Rancho del Cielo EHS); Harlingen
(Texas State Technical College EHS); Los Indios (Los Indios EHS); and San Benito (Kenneth Lake EHS). EHS program utilize multiple
strategies to provide a wide range of services to participants. Children and families enrolled receive comprehensive services in a
center-based setting, supplemented with home visits by the child’s teacher and other EHS staff (a minimum of two home visits a year
to each family). Services include child care and development services, comprehensive health and mental health services, parenting
education, nutrition education, and family support.
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Family Services Department
The Family Services Department key focus is Parental Involvement. Parents take
active roles as decision makers in the program through participation in the Head Start/Early Head Start Policy Council, Parent Committees
at the center level and other means of advocacy. Family Services encourages parents to participate in trainings such as: Trainings for
HS/EHS Policy, Council members and parent committee officers, Parent/Policy Council/Board, Training Institute NHSA Annual Parent Training
Conference, NHSA Advocacy efforts. All Parents are encouraged to volunteer and also promotes higher education by sponsoring 17 Scholarships
to former Head Start students and current and former Head Start parents through financial support from parents, staff and the community.
The department enhances knowledge within our community by offering GED classes, English As a Second Language (ESL), and Project STAR
(Starting Together As Readers). We assist parents in completing Income Tax Returns, 1040 EZ, 1040A and E-Filing and we collaborate
with community agencies to provide services to our families. We continue to work with the youth to promote morals, deter drug use
and end teen pregnancy through the Parent/Youth Mini Conference. The department also supports the Fatherhood/Marriage Enrichment
Initiative through the local trainings and Expanded Nutrition Training.
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Finance Department
The main duties of the Finance Department are Fiscal reporting, In-Kind
reports, purchasing, accounts payable, and payroll processing. Reports are provided to the Head Start / Early Head Start Policy
Council and to the Board of Directors for Head Start / Early Head Start. These reports provide a snapshot look at how current
expenditures compare to budgeted amounts. In-kind donation reports provide information on the status of contributions in the form
of rent waivers, donated labor, and monetary items for all centers. Purchasing duties include assuring compliance with
purchasing policies regarding obtaining quotes, bid management and quality assurances of items obtained. Purchasing reviews
all purchase orders. Payments to utilities, telephone, rents, fuel, health services, mileage reimbursements, travel allowances,
and payments under bulk food purchases do not require a purchase order. Accounts Payable-Pays vendors after the products or
services have been reviewed and accepted by management. All of the programs and grants awarded to NINOS that contain
provisions for personnel are paid on a bi-weekly schedule. Checks and direct deposit vouchers are processed every payroll cycle.
All federal, state and local wage and earnings reports are also processed and submitted as needed. The Finance Department
adheres to the accounting manual approved by the Board of Directors and follows federal regulations regarding non-profit status.
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Health and Safety\Nutrition Departments
Monitor Head Start centers to assure screenings for vision, hearing,
dental, physicals and immunizations are completed. Provide vision and hearing screenings on Head Start children. Contract Mental
Health professionals to make two mental health observations at each center. Works with Health Advisory Committee which advises
on health issues within our community Partners: Vision Service Plan, Dental Program at Texas State Technical College,
Texas Dept. of Health, Valley Health Plans, Valley Baptist Medical Center, Red Cross, Texas Department of Health and Human
Services, American Diabetes Association, Expanded Nutrition Program, Cameron County W.I.C. Purchase first aid and safety
supplies for centers and agency vehicles. The Nutrition content area is an essential aspect of the program. NINOS has
a contract with the Child Care Adult Food Program to provide nutritious well-balanced meals at the Head Start and Early
Head Start Centers. Program contracts a dietitian to review program menus and develop special diet menus. The department
follows the Head Start Performance Standards and serves Family style meals at every center. Centers provide a homemade breakfast,
lunch and a supplemental snack. Staff makes the most out of mealtime by providing a casual relaxed atmosphere by eating
with the children. Focus on Educating, screening and advocating for the health of Head Start & Early Head Start children,
families and community.
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Management Information Systems Department
The main duties of the
MIS department are to administer and manage the local area network (LAN) and the
wide area network (WAN). Manage the Head Start Family Information Systems
database, accounting server, and the tape backup system. The department coordinates with all departments and centers on all
information systems needs. We provide support to all departments with the utilization of Microsoft Office 2003 Suite that
includes Word, Excel, Access and Power Point. The department also maintains a Windows 2000, Symantec Anti-virus, Exchange
and Terminal servers at the Main Office. We administer the firewall and VPN to
all 36 centers.
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Transportation \ Facilities Department
NINOS Inc. Head Start Program provides a physical environment
and transportation responsive to the needs of the children and families served. The Director of Operations ensures that
all regulations are adhered to. Children services are provided in safe and healthy facilities in order to support their
development. This includes the furniture and play structures in which they live, learn and play. The Area Managers and
EHS Lead Teachers are charged with managing the maintenance of the individual center sites. Transportation is a vital
and extremely important aspect of the NINOS Program as required by the regulations under 45 CPR part 1310.10.
The Transportation Officer provides technical assistance and secures all transportation services. NINOS assists
as many families as possible who need transportation in order for their children to attend the program.
In addition, transportation safety education is provided to staff, parents, and children during the year.
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Personnel Department
The main objectives of
NINOS, Inc. Head Start and Early Head Start Personnel Department is to direct
employment activities assuring that properly qualified employees are recruited
and hired in order to better serve our children. The Personnel Department is
designed to employ personnel on the basis of their qualifications and with
assurance of equal opportunity and treatment regardless of race, religion,
color, sex, age or national origin. The Personnel Department also provides
salaries and employee benefits, which are fair and reasonable to the work
performance.
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