Susan Smith Award
Susan Smith began her Head Start career with the Crow Creek program as a teacher in 1986.  She was instrumental in getting the program restored and operating again.  Susan was involved in everything and was always willing to help someone in need.  She became the Director of the Head Start Program which she continued to do until her health forced her retirement in 2005.  Susan passed away on February 1, 2008 after a fight with cancer. 

The Susan Smith Award, established in 2008 by the South Dakota Head Start Association, honors an individual who has greatly impacted Head Start in South Dakota.  These individuals may be volunteers or professionals in the realm of Head Start.

Nomination
Susan Smith Award Nomination Form- PDF
Susan Smith Award Nomination Form - Word Doc

Complete the above nomination form by Jan 31, 2012 and have it sent or emailed to the address below. If necessary, answer the questions on separate sheet(s) of paper (two typed pages maximum) and submit with the application form.

Congratulations to Current and former Susan Smith Award winners:
Renee Olsen - Hillhead, SD - NESD Head Start
Kay Hammond - Pierre, SD - OCDC

Applications/Questions may be directed to the SDHSA office in Pierre at the following address: 

 

South Dakota Head Start Association

PO Box 1031

Pierre, SD  57501

Phone: (605) 224-4161      Fax:  (605) 224-8813

Email:  sdhsa@sdheadstart.org

If you have stories of photos of Susan that you would like to share, please send them to the above information.  Below is one story from a co-worker and friend of Susan's:

"I have so many fond memories of Susan and the good times we spent together but one memory I will always cherish.

It was 1999 or 2000, I picked up Susan in Chamberlain on our way to Cheyenne River for a Northern Plains Head Start Association meeting, it was probably around 4:00 pm when we got on the road and we both decided we would eat supper in Pierre, South Dakota and drive the rest of the way without trying to stop before it got dark.

For those who knew Susan, Susan was a chatter box, she would go on and on for hours and suddenly stop and apologize for doing all the talking and not letting you get in a word edge-wise, and then start right up again.

We finally made it to Pierre and decided to stop at some restaurant and sit down to eat, after we ate, Susan went to the restroom first and then I went in afterwards.  Susan told me she would wait in the car for me.   At that time I was driving a white ford Torres, as I came out of the restaurant and I looked over towards my car, I didn’t see Susan in the car, about that time someone honked a horn and I turned to look and Susan said to me, “are you lost”?  I told Susan, “no, but you are, you are sitting in the wrong car”.  We laughed so hard we could hardly talk.  Now today, when I see a white ford Torres, I think of Susan and remember how Susan shared her smile and laughter and her passion for life.  Susan was a resourceful, highly motivated, enthusiastic individual with a strong sense of commitment.  Susan had the ability to work with all types of people; she had good common sense and a great sense of humor but the most important quality, she was a true friend."