Orange County Head Start, Early Head Start, and Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) Programs
200 Dailey Drive, Orange, VA 22960
About
Orange County Head Start, Early Head Start, and Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) Programs include federally funded Head Start and Early Head Start and the state-funded Virginia Preschool Initiative. Registration for Head Start, Early Head Start, and VPI is available for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old, on or before September 30th. Head Start and VPI classrooms use substitutes and offer volunteer opportunities.
• Ages: 6 weeks–5 years old
• Schedule: Part-day classes five days a week, with class times from 8:00 am–1:00 pm or 8:00 am–2:30 pm
Orange County Head Start & VPI Programs are a central point of entry for several different pre-kindergarten options, including federally funded Head Start and Early Head Start and the state-funded Virginia Preschool Initiative, which serves four-year-olds only who will be attending kindergarten the following school year. Full day classes are given first to families with a work schedule. Children are accepted under the USDA Poverty Guidelines, and 10% of the program can be “over income.” Head Start uses a point system to rank applications based on specific criteria, prioritizing families with the highest need, and available spots are filled based on a ranked list, with remaining applicants placed on a waiting list. Children are accepted midyear if space is available.
The leadership team includes Heidi Lohr, Director; Charde Ferguson, Education Specialist; Keisha Gourdine-Arnold, Family Systems Specialist Enrollment Coordinator; Emily May, Health & Nutrition Compliance Manager; Cary King, Bookkeeper; Kirsten Shanks, Family Advocate; Susan Satterfield, Family Advocate; Kimberly Sweet, Family Advocate; and Daniel P. Hornick, Ed.D., Superintendent. The Policy Council and VPI Stakeholders Board typically meet on the third Monday of each month at 4:15 PM virtually.
Orange County Head Start and VPI announces the sponsorship of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and participates in CACFP as a non-pricing Child and Adult Day Care Center. The same meals are available at no separate charge to all participants at each CACFP facility without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. The program’s website is supported by Grant Number 03CH012297 from the Office of Head Start within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Last updated July 24, 2026.
• Ages: 6 weeks–5 years old
• Schedule: Part-day classes five days a week, with class times from 8:00 am–1:00 pm or 8:00 am–2:30 pm
Orange County Head Start & VPI Programs are a central point of entry for several different pre-kindergarten options, including federally funded Head Start and Early Head Start and the state-funded Virginia Preschool Initiative, which serves four-year-olds only who will be attending kindergarten the following school year. Full day classes are given first to families with a work schedule. Children are accepted under the USDA Poverty Guidelines, and 10% of the program can be “over income.” Head Start uses a point system to rank applications based on specific criteria, prioritizing families with the highest need, and available spots are filled based on a ranked list, with remaining applicants placed on a waiting list. Children are accepted midyear if space is available.
The leadership team includes Heidi Lohr, Director; Charde Ferguson, Education Specialist; Keisha Gourdine-Arnold, Family Systems Specialist Enrollment Coordinator; Emily May, Health & Nutrition Compliance Manager; Cary King, Bookkeeper; Kirsten Shanks, Family Advocate; Susan Satterfield, Family Advocate; Kimberly Sweet, Family Advocate; and Daniel P. Hornick, Ed.D., Superintendent. The Policy Council and VPI Stakeholders Board typically meet on the third Monday of each month at 4:15 PM virtually.
Orange County Head Start and VPI announces the sponsorship of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and participates in CACFP as a non-pricing Child and Adult Day Care Center. The same meals are available at no separate charge to all participants at each CACFP facility without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. The program’s website is supported by Grant Number 03CH012297 from the Office of Head Start within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Last updated July 24, 2026.
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