National Head Start Association

Head Start Community Mourns the Death of a Head Start Pioneer

 

ALEXANDRIA, VA.///November 4, 2010///The National Head Start Association mourns Tuesday's death of Jule Meyer Sugarman, one of Head Start's founders and a creative administrative genius. More than 27 million at-risk children, their families and communities have benefited from Head Start programs since its inception. Commenting on Sugarman's death, Yasmina Vinci, Executive Director of the National Head Start Association, lamented, "We will miss his spirit, his passion, and his commitment to making the world a better place for the most vulnerable children and families.  Jule was tirelessly thinking and working on designing and implementing systems that would do a better job serving them.  Last year, when I visited Head Start colleagues in Washington State, I had the wonderful opportunity to spend a lovely weekend with him and his wife, Candace Sullivan, and to hear amazing stories from Head Start's early days.  NHSA was very proud to recognize Jule Sugarman as one of Head Start's pioneers at our celebration of Head Start's 45^th anniversary in September."

 

Sugarman began his relationship with Head Start when he served as the Executive Secretary of the original 13-member planning committee which conceptualized the program. In this role, Sugarman streamlined the grant application process, and as a major believer in community action and President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society Program, he mobilized volunteers across the country.

 

Sugarman served as the Associate Director to Dr. Julius Richmond, the first Director of the Head Start Program. Dr. Richmond delegated to Sugarman the tremendous job of launching the Head Start program within weeks after President Lyndon B. Johnson announced Head Start's birth at a White House Rose Garden in May 1965. Due to Sugarman's tremendous administrative skills and optimism, Head Start served more than 500,000 at-risk preschoolers in 2,500 communities across the nation during the summer of 1965. Today, Head Start program serves 1.1 million at-risk children and their families in local communities across the country and produced lasting benefits for the children and families served. After Richmond left his Director position due to health reasons, Sugarman administrated the Head Start Program by serving as its Acting Director until 1970.

 

Sugarman held prominent leadership positions in government and nonprofit organizations after leading the Head Start Program. During the Nixon and Ford administrations, he served as New York City's human resources administrator and held a high administrative position with the City of Atlanta.  Sugarman returned to Washington, DC to serve under President Jimmy Carter as the Vice Chairman of the Civil Service Commission and Deputy Director of the Office of Personal Management.  Subsequently, Sugarman was a founding member of OMB Watch, served as Executive Director of Special Olympics International, and served as Secretary of the state of Washington's Department of Social and Health Services. Sugarman also served as President of the Alki Community Council in Seattle, Washington.

 

Sugarman is survived by his wife, Candace Sullivan of Seattle, three children from his first marriage to the late Sheila Shanley Sugarman, and eight grandchildren.

 

Sugarman was born in Cincinnati. He graduated from American University after serving in the Army.

 

ABOUT NHSA

• The National Head Start Association (http://www.nhsa.org) is a not-for-profit membership organization whose mission is to coalesce, inspire and support the Head Start field as a leader in early childhood development and education. The Association's activities and programs are guided by the desired outcomes: one powerful, united Head Start voice; a collegial, collaborative Head Start field, one that is a valuable and valued partner and resource to early childhood education; nonpartisan support of increased Federal commitment to Head Start; and, ultimately healthier, empowered children and families and stronger, more vibrant communities. Currently, it is the voice for more than 1.1 million children, 225,000 staff and 2,800 Head Start programs in the United States.

CONTACT:  Ben Allen, (703) 739-7558 or ballen@nhsa.org.