Head Start Director

Marina Tharpe is Central Texas 4C's Head Start Director. Marina has an "open door" policy and invites you to please visit anytime.  Her children (now graduated from college) attended the Head Start program and through many hours of volunteering, she became excited about the opportunities the program offers to children and families.  Her professional background as a Registered Nurse practicing in Germany helped her recognize how important it is to receive all the health and nutrition services that Head Start offers. When she attended Head Start Education Advisory Committee meetings and Policy Council meetings, she learned how important Early Childhood Education was in preparing her children for school.  Marina's volunteer time also opened new opportunities for her own professional development.  When she became employed with Head Start as a Teacher Assistant, she was able to return to college and receive her AA degree in Early Childhood Education and more recently a bachelor's degree in Social Work.  She moved from teacher assistant to classroom teacher, then center director, education coordinator, program manager, and finally Head Start Director.

Her strength to lead this program comes from her well-rounded education in many fields of service to all populations.  She also has invaluable knowledge of the dedication it takes from our staff members to provide services to our children's families. She's been there, done that!  In addition, she remembers what it meant to immigrate to a new country, to learn a second language, to only have one car or no transportation at times.  To wonder how to put food on the table and finally, to go back to school while the military husband served in a war zone or was stationed in Korea. Head Start was her support system.