Leader set to retire as Head Start celebrates 60 years

FRANKLIN — Head Start Director Almetra J. Franklin is capping off 2025 by stepping down as its director, after serving 58 of its 60 years.
The Morgan City native said she will be 80 plus soon and will retire on Dec 31.
“I love this work. But the season has come for me to move on and move out. I’ll be around next year as a full time volunteer though, if I’m needed,” she said.
Franklin announced her departure at the agency’s annual proclamation signing, to proclaim the month of October as Head Start Awareness Month.
The agency operates Head Start Programs in St. Mary and Vermilion parishes.
Head Start was born out of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty in 1965. It was designed to help break the cycle of poverty by providing preschool children of low income families with a comprehensive program to meet their emotional, social, health, nutritional and psychological needs.
President Ronald Reagan was the first to proclaim October as Head Start Awareness Month in October 1982. At that time, he said The National Head Start Program had helped over 8 million low-income pre-school children and their families, and so it had earned recognition and support for its success in early childhood education and development.
“We are the flagship of early childhood development in St. Mary Parish. However, out of all of the early childhood movements in the United States, Head Start has stood the test of time,” Franklin said.
St. Mary Parish President Sam Jones hired Franklin as the agency’s Head Start Director when he was Mayor of Franklin.
“What would this place be if she had not answered the call so many years ago? The quality of it, the endurance of it, that’s what makes it so great here,” Jones said.
Berwick Mayor Duval Arthur said the Head Start Program is crucial because of its reading influence to young children.
“Learning how to read is the most rewarding experience of this program,” Arthur said, who admitted he stops in Head Start classes in Berwick from time to time, to read to the children there.
“It’s a rewarding experience for myself. Adults can draw energy from children — they’re like little battery chargers,” he said.
Holden Murray, city of Patterson human resources and economic development director, applauded Franklin for the job she has done as director.
“I am a product of this agency. This program gives comprehensive attention to the children who are enrolled,” he said.
Franklin said Monica Harding, her long-time assistant director, will lead the charge beginning next year.
Calling her an extraordinary woman, Harding said Franklin has been a tower of strength in creating eight Head Start centers in St. Mary Parish as well as four in Vermilion.
The St. Mary Parish Head Start centers boast an enrollment of 417 students. Centers are Winnie the Pooh in Amelia, Baby Bear and Yogi Bear in Morgan City, Tweety Bird in Berwick, Cinderella in Patterson, Snow White in Centerville, Peter Pan in Franklin, and Mickey Mouse in Baldwin.
Harding said she, too, is a product of Head Start, from student to parent, grandparent and assistant director. “I have truly come full circle,” she said.
Franklin said Harding was honored as a Parent of the Year by the National Head Start Council in 1998, from 11 or so states.
Cynthia Prince, who serves as Head Start Director for the Amelia center, said the program provides a blanket of support for parents.
Prince said Franklin has been “the wind beneath the wings of Head Start,” because her leadership has played a huge role in creating opportunities for children and their families.
“I’ve witnessed her influence and the influence of this program in my own family, but more so in others, and as an employee for over 15 years. Her leadership has built many strong foundations for the future.
“And if I might add, working around all the smiling young faces of these children causes you to have many wonderful days.”
Franklin Mayor Eugene Foulcard was formerly the community action’s chief financial officer.
“I cut my teeth under the mentorship and tutelage of Mrs. Franklin’s leadership. I will always be grateful to her for learning how to treat and deal with people from all walks of life.”
Baldwin Mayor Clarence Vappie said Franklin’s influence in St. Mary Parish has been a blessing to all.
“Head Start teaches children the strong basics of learning,” he said, explaining its core foundation gives young minds a better start to learning.
Franklin reinforced that Head Start is not a babysitting service.
She said Head Start teaches children how to interact with others, in addition to providing a curriculum.
“Early childhood development is the spring board for healthy, successful children.”
Franklin oversees an agency that has grown 27 other programs in addition to Head Start, with an annual budget from $627,000 to $11 million.