Little Rewards Head State Teacher Finds Joy And Strength In 26 Years With The Program

If she were going to burn out, it would have happened by now.

So when Kathy Lloyd is asked what became of all the other Spokane Head Start teachers who began work back when she did, she can afford to joke. “They’re dead,” she said.

Lloyd, 49, joined the federal program for needy preschoolers in 1970, half her life ago. First she was an aide. Then, after getting her college degree, she became a full-fledged teacher.

She wasn’t some beauty pageant contestant pledging to work with children. She wasn’t one of those well-intentioned but naive people who think that being around kids might be fun and who soon wear a worn-out glazed look.

Lloyd just believed in helping low-income children. Plus, back in 1970, she was a single mother who needed a job.

She found one.

“I don’t really stop and think, ‘Gee, I’ve been doing this for 26 years,’ ” she said. “This is something I do every day. It is something I want to do. I’m very upset if I miss a day for some reason. I want to be with the kids. They are exciting to be around because they are learning so quick.”

Lloyd has worked at several Spokane Head Start sites. But for the last few years her classroom has been in a renovated former supermarket on North Monroe. It’s a continuing education center operated by the community colleges. And Lloyd’s students, children ages 3 to 5, are the kids of adults taking classes there. Many are immigrant families, Russian and Hmong mostly.

So, with the help of a pair of on-site interpreters, much of what Lloyd and fellow teacher Marita Shaffer do is geared toward increasing the children’s English skills.

“This isn’t baby-sitting,” said Lloyd.

One recent morning included hand-washing, teeth-brushing, chewing fluoride tablets, a discussion of words that describe the weather, a sea creatures cut-and-paste exercise, a graphic discussion of water pollution (featuring a big clear bowl of clean water that Lloyd gradually clogged up with seemingly everything from empty cans to cigarette butts), books such as “Where’s My Teddy?” and “Babushka’s Doll,” computer games, discussion of the previous day’s field trip to a fish hatchery and lots of play.

And songs. “Five little monkeys jumping on the bed …”

Head Start, which dates back to 1965, includes health check-ups, meals and family contact with social workers.

“I had a dream about bagels,” said one little boy during a breakfast consisting of bagels and cream cheese, apple slices and milk.

It would take a long, long time to individually examine each and every poster, picture and sign on the walls of the brightly lighted, cheery classroom.

“We walk in our room.”

“We put our toys away.”

But several of the photographs on display are of special significance to Lloyd. They are old pictures of preschoolers who are now young adults.

“I do hear back from people, and I enjoy finding out how they’re doing,” she said.

Lloyd’s boss offered a simple explanation for the teacher’s ability to survive and flourish on the front lines of early childhood education. “She loves her job,” said Uzomba McDowell, a Head Start manager. “She really believes in what she’s doing.”

Lloyd herself is candid when assessing her abilities. “I think I’m great,” she said. “This is the one thing I know I excel in.”

Lloyd’s personal life, which has included a couple of divorces, has had its ups and downs. And she has struggled with low self-esteem, she said.

But there’s always been Head Start. “This is just such a positive program,” she said. “And while it is very demanding, it has been this consistent bright spot in my life. I’ve seen so many wonderful things.”

It’s not an especially lucrative calling. She has to scramble to find jobs in the summer. She has worked at video stores, pizza places, a mortgage company - you name it.

She’s not complaining, though. “My goal is to wind up as a foster grandparent in this program. I think you have to be 62. I’m sure I’ll make it.”

Not far away, a Russian boy on a low wooden scooter bumped into a similar toy being ridden by a Hmong boy. Both smiled. And a third child, all excited, called out “You went right through the stop sign!”

“Kids are fascinating,” said Lloyd. “Never boring.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Color photos