Education Journey
The story of a local Head Start student has come full circle. A young woman who graduated from Fresno EOC Head Start 0 to 5 in Sanger back in the year 2000 is now employed by Head Start in Madera County as an Area Manager.
Evelyn Moctezuma-Cruz received her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Fresno State in May. She created a TikTok video, showcasing her academic path which went viral.
The video shows the recent Fresno State graduate in her cap and gown, walking past the Head Start in Sanger, along with Jefferson Elementary School, Washington Academic Middle School and Sanger High School.
Moctezuma-Cruz says Spanish was her only language when she began attending Head Start, and the program provided a strong foundation for launching her academic journey.
“My educational trajectory as first generation was not self- made,” said Moctezuma-Cruz. “Community programs, like Head Start, provided critical resources for my family and me. Head Start was my first educational experience and it led me to a path of success.”
Moctezuma-Cruz says she started working for the Head Start program in Madera County this summer. She says she is “incredibly honored” to be working for the Fresno and Madera Migrant and Seasonal Head Start through the Community Action Partnership of Madera County.
In her new role, Moctezuma-Cruz says she will help provide high quality support and resources to early childhood education programs designed to meet the needs of low-income children and families in the Central Valley.