Co-Founders of the Head Start Program
Lyndon B. Johnson, United States President (1963-1969)
Lyndon B. Johnson became the 36th president of the United
States in November 1963. Upon taking office, Johnson launched an ambitious slate
of progressive reforms aimed at alleviating poverty and creating what he called
a "Great Society" for all Americans. Many of the programs he
introduced including Head Start, made a lasting impact in the
areas of health, education, urban renewal, conservation and civil rights.
Lyndon B. Johnson became the 36th president of the United
States in November 1963. Upon taking office, Johnson launched an ambitious slate
of progressive reforms aimed at alleviating poverty and creating what he called
a "Great Society" for all Americans. Many of the programs he
introduced including Head Start, made a lasting impact in the
areas of health, education, urban renewal, conservation and civil rights.
Robert Sargent Shriver, Jr.
A graduate of Yale University and Yale Law School Robert Shriver served under President John F. Kennedy as the organizer and first director of the Peace Corps. Then, under President Lyndon B. Johnson, Shriver took
on another pioneering role as the first director of the Office of Economic Opportunity, from 1964 to 1968. He was responsible for creating such socially conscious programs as VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), Head Start,
Community Action, Foster Grandparents, Job Corps, Legal Services, Indian and
Migrant Opportunities, and Neighborhood Health Services.
Click here for a video of Robert Sargent Shriver, Jr.
A graduate of Yale University and Yale Law School Robert Shriver served under President John F. Kennedy as the organizer and first director of the Peace Corps. Then, under President Lyndon B. Johnson, Shriver took
on another pioneering role as the first director of the Office of Economic Opportunity, from 1964 to 1968. He was responsible for creating such socially conscious programs as VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), Head Start,
Community Action, Foster Grandparents, Job Corps, Legal Services, Indian and
Migrant Opportunities, and Neighborhood Health Services.
Click here for a video of Robert Sargent Shriver, Jr.
Dr. Robert Cooke, John Hopkins University
In November of 1964, when Lyndon Johnson was elected President, he and Robert
Shriver assembled a committee of academic and civil rights activists. Among those chosen, was Dr. Robert Cooke, who was a pediatrician at John Hopkins University. Dr. Cooke was asked by Mr. Shriver to gather a committee of the best specialists in all fields involving children.
In November of 1964, when Lyndon Johnson was elected President, he and Robert
Shriver assembled a committee of academic and civil rights activists. Among those chosen, was Dr. Robert Cooke, who was a pediatrician at John Hopkins University. Dr. Cooke was asked by Mr. Shriver to gather a committee of the best specialists in all fields involving children.
Dr. Edward Zigler, Yale University
Dr. Edward Zigler, often called "the father of Head Start," is a Yale
psychologist known for his groundbreaking research in child development. In
1964, Zigler was one of a panel of experts enlisted by the White House to come
up with a program to help low-income kids.
Dr. Edward Zigler, often called "the father of Head Start," is a Yale
psychologist known for his groundbreaking research in child development. In
1964, Zigler was one of a panel of experts enlisted by the White House to come
up with a program to help low-income kids.
In January of 1965, an elite committee gathered at the White House led by President Lyndon B. Johnson, Sargent Shriver, and Dr. Robert Cooke. A group of sociologists, psychologists, and pediatricians began discussions of a design that intended to assist children overcome setbacks or obstacles caused by poverty.
The name of this project was tossed around with “Kiddie Corps” and Baby Corps” surfacing (some hoped the word “corps” would entail political activism),
however, the name Head Start was chosen by the committee who understood the achievement gap and that middle class students get ahead of their lower class peers (Kagan, 2002). Thus the summer Head Start pilot program began.
Thirty-seven years later, Head Start's programs have served more than twenty million low-income children and their families, providing education, nutrition, and health care services to two generations of young Americans.
The name of this project was tossed around with “Kiddie Corps” and Baby Corps” surfacing (some hoped the word “corps” would entail political activism),
however, the name Head Start was chosen by the committee who understood the achievement gap and that middle class students get ahead of their lower class peers (Kagan, 2002). Thus the summer Head Start pilot program began.
Thirty-seven years later, Head Start's programs have served more than twenty million low-income children and their families, providing education, nutrition, and health care services to two generations of young Americans.