SEVCA Head Start
(Southern Vermont Community Action SEVCA)
Serving Windsor County with centers in Chester and Springfield in Vermont.
SEVCA Head Start is more than a preschool—it’s a full early childhood program supporting children ages 3–5 while also empowering families. Through education, health services, family engagement, and strong community partnerships, we help children thrive and families succeed in a welcoming, supportive environment.
Our SEVCA Head Start Programs and Services:
Preschool Head Start: Center Based Monday-Friday 8:00am-2:30pm with Child Care Hours, Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:30pm
About Our Community
Vermont is a beautiful place as it is but we love our Windsor County area. Windsor County is a wonderful place to live, learn, and grow! Here are a few things that make our community unique:
- Birthplace of Vermont – Windsor is where Vermont’s very first constitution was signed in 1777.
- Beautiful Outdoors – From Mount Ascutney to Quechee Gorge (our “Little Grand Canyon”), families can enjoy hiking, exploring, and taking in the views.
- Fun Events – The Quechee Hot Air Balloon Festival and local fairs bring our communities together with music, food, and family fun.
- Farms & Traditions – Places like Billings Farm & Museum let kids experience Vermont’s farming history up close.
- Wildlife & Nature – With forests, rivers, and trails all around us, Windsor County is full of chances to see wildlife and enjoy the outdoors.
- Small-Town Charm – Towns like Woodstock and Springfield bring together history, art, and local traditions that make our area feel like home.
Windsor County is unique because it combines deep history (birthplace of Vermont), iconic natural beauty (Quechee Gorge, Mt. Ascutney), cultural richness (Woodstock, artisans, festivals), and strong rural traditions while still being connected to innovation and community life. Windsor County is special because it blends history, nature, and community spirit—a place where families can grow and thrive together!
SEVCA Head Start — Ready to Learn More or Apply?
Visit SEVCA’s program website to explore their services and find out how to register your child.
Serving Windsor County in Vermont.
4 Dunham Avenue, Windsor, VT 05089
802-674-8419
Career Openings: sevca.org/careers
What Makes Our Program Special or Unique
SEVCA Head Start isn’t just a preschool; it’s a full-spectrum early childhood program. It offers early education to prepare preschool age children (ages 3–5) for school readiness. We have nutrition services (breakfast, lunch, and snacks through CACFP). We offer health development, including hearing and vision screenings, connections to dental care, and mental health support. Family engagement opportunities are given throughout the program year, including parent groups, leadership roles like Policy Council or the SEVCA Board, and community events all at no cost to income-eligible families.
SEVCA Head Start is grounded in the belief that a child’s success is deeply tied to the well-being of their whole family. The program supports parents in educational, literacy, and employment goals, and invites them to take active leadership roles in shaping the program. The program demonstrates exceptional community responsiveness. We partner with local agencies to support families experiencing challenges. We also seek fun and creative ways to keep us connected by running a pen pal initiative between preschoolers and local kindergartners to ease school transitions.
SEVCA Head Start excels by making high-quality early childhood education accessible to low-income families, tailoring support around real, systemic needs—not just classroom learning, anchoring the community through partnerships and proven best practices, and adapting proactively to challenges to remain sustainable and effective.
A Family Success Story That Reflects the Heart of Head Start
One of the things that makes SEVCA Head Start so special is that many of our parents become part of our staff. One family’s journey truly captures the spirit of our program.
This family first came to us when their oldest daughter was three and ready for preschool. Over the next five years, three more of their children also grew and learned with us. With support not only for their children but for the entire family, they were able to flourish.
During this time, mom completed her college degree, found full-time employment, and the family achieved their dream of buying a home. Today, mom has been a valued SEVCA employee for 14 years—10 of those with Head Start—and her daughter, who once started in our preschool classroom, is now heading off to a four-year college.
This is the true spirit of Head Start: supporting children and families so they can reach their fullest potential, together.