KCAO Celebrates Opening of Newly Rebuilt Clay Center Head Start Site with Ribbon Cutting Event

Kings Community Action Organization celebrated an important milestone with the ribbon cutting of its newly rebuilt Clay Center Head Start site on September 25th.

The event brought together more than 60 attendees, including KCAO staff, community partners, Head Start families, and members of Jeanie Clay’s family. The site is named in honor of Jeanie Clay, a former Head Start employee whose legacy continues to be remembered through the center’s ongoing service to children and families.

During the ribbon cutting, KCAO also unveiled a commemorative plaque honoring everyone who took part in the project as well as Clay’s decades of service and lasting impact. The plaque reads:

“Jeanie Clay was a dedicated member of the KCAO team from 1968-2009. Jeanie's caring smile and infectious laugh touched countless lives across Kings County. Her legacy lives on in the families she served and the hearts she uplifted.”

The Clay Center had previously operated out of aging modular buildings that had reached the end of their useful life. After years of wear and deterioration, KCAO applied for and received a $3 million grant to rebuild the site and create a safer, healthier, and more modern learning environment for the children.

The project included the removal of the old modular units and the construction of two new buildings designed to better support Head Start services. The new site provides updated classroom space, dedicated office areas, and a resource room for staff and families. These improvements will help strengthen communication, increase access to support services, and create a more welcoming environment for families.

The rebuilt Clay Center opened for the 2026-2027 school year and welcomed new Head Start students in August. The ribbon cutting provided an opportunity to celebrate the completed project and recognize the work that made it possible after students and families had already begun using the new space.

For KCAO’s Head Start program, the rebuilt Clay Center represents a major investment in early childhood education for Kings County. The new facility allows the program to better meet the developmental needs of children by creating more classroom space and helping reduce class sizes while continuing to serve local families. The site also includes a toddler classroom, helping expand options for families with younger children and addressing the need for early learning opportunities in Kings County.

The ribbon cutting served as both a celebration of the completed project and a reflection of KCAO’s commitment to children, families, and high-quality early learning environments. The presence of Jeanie Clay’s family and the unveiling of the commemorative plaque made the occasion especially meaningful, connecting the center’s past with its future.

KCAO is grateful to the staff, partners, architects, contractors, and community members who helped bring the project to completion. Their work and dedication helped transform an aging site into a modern space where children can learn, grow, and build a strong foundation for future success.

As the Clay Center begins this new chapter, KCAO looks forward to continuing to serve children and families in a space designed with safety, learning, and opportunity in mind.