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What I like best about working with preschool age children and their families is watching them grow and their progress that they have made. I love seeing the joy on their faces when they have learned something new or have accomplished something they have worked hard for.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They (preschool children) make you realize and remember how amazing and exciting the world can be.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee Spotlight

Rhonda Newman
Family Advocate
Floyd County

 

1. Tell us about your position with Head Start.

I have been with the Floyd County Head Start Program since 2005. I started out in the classroom as a parent volunteer and classroom assistant. I believe that God has led me to the position I am in now as a Family Advocate. I have always loved working with children and families. I have been blessed to help serve not only the children's needs, but the families' needs as well. This position has been so humbling and rewarding by giving us the opportunity to be able to open new doors for these families that struggle with moving forward with their life. It brings me joy when we are able to provide the families with resources they need, such as assistance with food, clothing, housing, medical care, etc. I am able to build relationships with these families through home visits and parent meetings, and to just let them know we have been where they are. We are all struggling with something in our life, and this is why I feel I relate to a lot of my families. I try to get them the help they need and to help them set a goal for themselves so that they can be proud of themselves for their accomplishments. When my families accomplish their goals this brightens my day because I know how it feels to accomplish something I've worked so hard for.

2. What do you like best about working with preschool age children and their families?

What I like best about working with preschool age children and their families is watching them grow and their progress that they have made. I love seeing the joy on their faces when they have learned something new or have accomplished something they have worked hard for. I love making a difference in their lives and pray that I can always be a part of making that difference. I enjoy working with preschool age children because they say the funniest things and they make the day so fun. They make you realize and remember how amazing and exciting the world can be.

What I like best about working with families is knowing that I can make a difference in their life by encouraging them to further their education, get a new job, or to make them feel like they can do anything they set their mind to. To see them soar from where they were to where they could be, that is worth it all.

3. What's something not many people know about you?

Something that not many people know about me is that I love camping, being outdoors and going to dirt track races with my husband.

4. What makes you laugh most?

The thing that makes me laugh is my husband. He can be so funny at times with the things he does and says around me. Listening to some of the hilarious stories the children tell and some of the things they do in the classroom also makes me laugh.

5. What is your favorite family tradition?

My favorite family tradition is decorating the Christmas tree with my husband and our granddaughters. We can't wait until our granddaughters are old enough to decorate it with us. Another tradition we have started is decorating and carving out pumpkins with our son, his wife and our granddaughters. We also enjoy getting together at Christmas and Thanksgiving with our families. We are excited to start a new tradition with our other son and his soon to be fiance' flying around the world. They are both airplane pilots, which gives us some advantage to make this happen. Now to get my hubby past the fear of flying. LOL

6. What would be your theme song if you had your own show?

My theme song if I had my own show would be "Overcomer" by Mandisa because we are all overcomers. No matter what life may bring, God wants us to be overcomers. He wants us to pick ourselves up, brush ourselves off and move forward when you feel defeated, overwhelmed and disheartened.

7. If you could have tea with a fictional character, who would that be and why?

If I could have tea with a fictional character, it would be Cinderella. I can somewhat relate to Cinderella's story. Cinderella's story is about hope and teaches the morals of kindness toward all, forgiving others doing wrong and never letting bad things ruin her heart. When I was going through hard times, all I could do was have hope that things were going to get better for me and I would be rewarded for enduring and rising above. That day finally came for me when I met my husband, my charming prince. I would let her know as we were sipping tea that she was a big inspiration to me by giving me hope that one day I would find my prince charming. I remember working my full-time job in Head Start, cleaning 4 houses on the side, plus going to school just to try to have food on the table. I remember I was down on my knees scrubbing floors and a chair in a barber shop and thinking, why do I have to work so hard and still can't get ahead. I would think of Cinderella's story because she does not spend her whole story getting waited on, hand and foot by servants. She had to work hard by cleaning, cooking, and playing maintenance man for her household. But she finally got swept up by her Prince Charming and was able to live a happy life.

8. What is your idea of a perfect day?

My idea of a perfect day would be to see everyone saved before I leave this world. Another perfect day would be my family coming together under one roof and spending time together.

9. What is the biggest risk you've ever taken?

The biggest risk I have ever taken was giving my husband a chance. I came into the unknown not knowing what I was getting into, but God reassured me that I was on the right track and blessed me beyond measure.

10. If you could sit down with your 13-year-old self, what would you say?

If I could sit down with my 13-year-old self, I would tell myself to always follow God and to make right choices. I would tell myself to never sell myself short and to always know my worth and value. I would stress to myself to pray for God to clean my plate of what I thought I wanted in my life and for him to fill it with who he knew I needed in my life. I would tell myself to not take life for granted and to cherish every single moment with those I love.

11. What three things do you want to be remembered for?

  • The first thing I want to be remembered for is my love for Christ and how I have shined my light to everyone that has come in contact with me.
  • The second thing I want to be remembered for is my love for my husband, our sons, our grandkids and everyone else, because God is love.
  • The third thing I want to be remembered for is my compassion I have for others, my kindness, and helping others.