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Liz Gaffney: Staying with early childhood ed.
One of the most important lessons city Head Start Director Liz Gaffney learned in New Haven, she learned while riding a bus.
Gaffney reflected on the two years she spent in the position as she prepares to move on to a higher-level position in Milford Public Schools.
“I’ve learned all those things that I get to take with me to Milford. I’ve enjoyed my time here, but everything comes full circle,” Gaffney said.
Gaffney started in New Haven as a Head Start teacher in 2010. Her classroom helped pilot play-based learning in the program, an approach she’s excited to work on in Milford as coordinator of early childhood programming.
In 2015, she switched to New Britain as an instructional coach. She returned to New Haven four years later to direct New Haven Public Schools’ Head Start program.
As director of the income-based, pre-kindergarten program, Gaffney learned more about the importance of attendance and medical health in academic success, or caring for the “whole child” in education lingo.
Christopher Peak File Photo
Safety is part of that holistic approach, so Gaffney and her team decided to introduce a policy where families had to sign out their children as they got off the bus.
“It was an extra step of security for the kids. If we don’t release kids without a signature at school, why would we do something different when they got off the bus?” Gaffney said.
Gaffney started riding the bus once a month to advertise and support the policy. The bus rides allowed Gaffney to hear parent feedback — usually gratitude for the safety measure — and allowed her to get to know the preschoolers in the program.
Gaffney particularly remembers one little girl whom she’d met twice before the bus ride. Gaffney had met with the parents when they were considering the program. She was impressed that the little girl remembered that during one of Gaffney’s classroom visits.
The 3‑year-old was wearing a purple jacket and sitting in her car seat on the bus, as the Head Start students do. When the bus neared her stop, the little girl told Gaffney that she wanted her to sign her out instead of the bus monitor.
Gaffney turned to her and asked, “Well, what’s it to you?”
“Five dollars,” the little girl said.
Gaffney was stunned that a 3‑year-old could have such a grown-up exchange.
“I really believe in oral language skills. It tells a bigger story about comprehension. I thought, ‘You’re going to go places. You’re already putting together these quick-witted comebacks,’” Gaffney said.
“Our kids are absolutely amazing. So are our teachers.”
The New Haven Board of Education signed off on Gaffney’s resignation last week. At the meeting, Superintendent Iline Tracey and two board members lauded Gaffney for her work in the district.
Matt Wilcox, who chairs the board’s Head Start committee, noted that Gaffney helped the program through a federal investigation process.
“I wish Liz best wishes. I’ve known her for a very long time. I feel badly that she’s leaving but would like to congratulate her on her next chapter,” said board member Tamiko Jackson-McArthur.
The Head Start Subcommittee will meet next on Thursday. Wilcox said that the meeting will cover hiring Gaffney’s replacement.
Gaffney lives in Burlington, Connecticut, and plans to stay there until her youngest son finishes high school in two years. She commuted to New Haven and will commute to Milford.
“My advice for the next person is to take one day at a time. Ask a lot of questions. [The federal Head Start grant] is a large grant, but it is all doable,” Gaffney said.
The number to enroll in Head Start is (475) 220‑1462. There are still open seats left.
