On December 17, 2025, the local nonprofit organization, Community Action Council (the Council), held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its latest Head Start facility, located in Stanton.
The $5.9 million facility was grant-funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with the expectation of providing high-quality early childhood education to children from birth through age five in Powell County for decades to come.
The new Prep Academy at Powell County marks an achievement, not only for the nonprofit but also for the cause of bringing early childhood education to all Kentucky children.
Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman delivered a speech before the ribbon was cut, praising the Council and the state’s network of Community Action Agencies for doing the boots-on-the-ground work in communities that helps Kentuckians reach their goals in life.
She also promoted the “Pre-K for All” movement in the state, stating that “Head Start is the foundation of bringing pre-k to every Kentucky child, no matter their zip code,” noting the family and community-level economic benefits to be gained by keeping parents in the workforce.
The Council’s Executive Director, Sharon Price, announced that the 18,000-square-foot building features 10 classrooms, each outfitted with a teacher observation area, in-room children’s bathrooms, handwashing sinks, and plenty of natural light from the nearly floor-to-ceiling windows.
In addition to the fully-equipped commercial kitchen, laundry room, nurse’s office, and three playground spaces for different age levels, the building features three storm shelters that reach the highest level of above-ground storm resistance, capable of withstanding an EF-5 tornado. Price said the storm shelters are a testament to the agency’s health and safety priorities.
She said, “We have all seen the devastation wrought by tornadoes and flooding in our Kentucky communities. Our first and most important promise to the community is that we will keep your babies safe. The storm shelters, and this facility in general, help us fulfill that promise.”
Head Start Director Jessica Coffie, through tears, expressed her joy that the staff and children of Powell County will have the high-quality “facility they deserve,” where students have safe areas to explore, grow, and learn, and where teachers can uphold the high expectations of that the Council has set for their educators—expectations that have earned the Council national recognition as a “Program of Excellence” from the National Head Start Association.
The new facility will open to students and families in January.
