New Head Start Facility Dedicated to County Executive Jim Mangubat

Wayne County celebrated a major milestone last Monday with the ribbon cutting of the Jim Mangubat Wayne County Head Start/Early Head Start facility, named in honor of County Executive and SCHRA Board Chairman Jim Mangubat. Known for his deep love of children and commitment to the community, Executive Mangubat played a pivotal role in bringing this vision to life.

The project began in 2021, when Mangubat—then SCHRA Vice-Chair—helped lead the approval and submission of an application to the Office of Head Start for funding to purchase and renovate the building. Working closely with then-Executive Director Paul Rosson, the SCHRA Board prioritized infrastructure improvements to replace aging facilities and provide safe, high-quality learning environments—fully in line with the Head Start program’s mission to promote school readiness through comprehensive support for children and families.

“This building is more than bricks and mortar — it’s a promise to the children and families of this community. And it is only fitting that we dedicate it in honor of someone whose leadership and heart for service have made this promise possible — County Executive Jim Mangubat. One only needs to know County Executive Mangubat and his wife, Babs, to know their commitment to advocating for children,” said current Executive Director Sara Brown.

A large crowd of Wayne County community representatives joined the celebration, along with several of Executive Mangubat’s fellow SCHRA Board members who shared a role in the project, including Lincoln County Mayor Bill Newman, Dr. Bill Heath, Lawrence County Executive David Morgan, former Lawrence County Executive TR Williams, Senator Page Walley, and Brittany Montgomery, field representative of Senator Bill Hagerty.

County Executive Mangubat’s wife, Babs, and their three children—Kinsley, Zoey, and Stanlee—were in attendance, along with his mother, Ann, and siblings Rick and Diane, who looked on proudly as he expressed his appreciation for the honor and his passion for serving the children and families of Wayne County.

The new center replaces a single classroom housed in a 30-year-old portable building and now offers a preschool classroom, toddler classroom, gross motor room, parent engagement space, teacher workroom, kitchen, offices, and two playgrounds. Staff are excited to welcome children and families into this modern, expanded space designed for growth and success.