WKU Campus Child Care is proud to welcome our new Head Start/Early Head Start Director, Melody Hedden! Melody officially came onboard May 22 when Amy Hood, our Interim Director over the past year, advanced to become the Executive Director of T/TAS at WKU, which is the umbrella organization that oversees our WKUCCC program. We are extremely grateful for having had Amy professionally and caringly oversee the child care program, staff, and families through the last year as we returned to our pre-COVID routines under her guidance and management. We congratulate Amy on her well-deserved Executive Director position and are happy that she will be able to continue to work with the WKUCCC in her new position along with Melody.

As our staff and Melody have been working together over the summer and getting to know each other, we have had a lot of fun and also put in a lot of teamwork to prepare for our new calendar year. We are excited for what lies ahead with both Amy and Melody overseeing WKUCCC!

While Melody is new to Kentucky she has 24 years’ experience in Head Start. Before accepting the WKUCCC Head Start Director position, she was the Assistant Director of Program Services at Tri-Valley Opportunity Council in Crookston MN (2019-2023). Melody has extensive experience in ERSEA (Eligibility Recruitment Selection Enrollment Attendance) as well as PFCE (Parent Family Community Engagement). Her Head Start Career includes being a Family & Community Services Manager at Tri-Valley (2014-2019), ERSEA Specialist at Macon Program for Progress in Franklin North Carolina (2010-2014) and Family Advocate at Macon Program for Progress (1999-2010).

Melody was a Head Start child herself (1979-1981) and later enrolled her own children into Head Start. She is passionate about facilitating life changing events in the lives of children and families while ensuring program implementation of the Head Start philosophy.

We hope you will welcome Melody as you see her at the center, and say hi!

Melody Hedden: EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

• Masters of Science in Human Services Walden University 2022
• Minnesota Head Start Hero Award MHSA 2020
• Certified Community Action Professional 2019
• Head Start Management Fellows Program University of California, Los Angeles 2018
• Bachelor of Science in Human Services Walden University 2017
• Family Service Credential Trainer Certification Viterbo University 2015
• Family Service Credential Duke University NC 2012
• Associate in Applied Science Degree in Human Services Technology Southwestern Community College 2011
• North Carolina Family Advocate of the Year Award NCHSA 2009
• Partners for a Health Baby Certification Florida State University 2007