Alabama Council on Human Relations, Inc.
Auburn, Alabama would like to recognize Karen Lusk, (ACHR’s Training Coordinator) for being named a HighScope Hero.
Karen Lusk is a HighScope Hero with a distinguished career in early childhood education, both in the classroom and as an administrator. For some 32 years, Karen has worked with our program. ACHR is noted for its unique child-centered Head Start program, which is based on the HighScope Curriculum approach.
Karen provides professional development for ACHR’s Head Start, Early Head Start, and early childhood educators in the HighScope approach.
Joining ACHR marked Karen’s introduction to the HighScope philosophy. At the time, ACHR was looking to expand the number of HighScope certified trainers within the organization and sent Karen to HighScope headquarters in Michigan for training. She remembers, “The training experience was intense, organized and challenging, and it was a time of great professional and personal development around my favorite topic—child development.”
During the training, Karen was pregnant with her son, Ian. “Today, I still call him my HighScope certified baby!”
In addition to training early childhood teachers, she is responsible for purchasing educational resources for more than thirty Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms practicing HighScope within the ACHR program, which spans two counties in Alabama. She wears many hats and also writes grants, policies, and procedures for ACHR.
“HighScope has made a big impact on my life, personally and professionally,” says Karen. “Every time I go to a HighScope conference, I feel like I’m coming home to the mother ship!”