Our Executive Director

 

About Eloise McClinton

McClinton Named National Head Start Director

The executive director of the Institute of Community Services, Inc. (ICS) Project Head Start, Mrs. Eloise McClinton was named President. of NHSA. This announcement was given at the National Head Start meeting in Columbus, Ohio where several staff members were present for the various workshops being held.

McClinton is no stranger to Head Start; she was named Deputy Director of ICS Head Start in 2002 and Executive Director in 2008.   She has gained fame among many being an outstanding leader in her community and other organizations.  This fame is not fame of stardom, but fame which brings joy within anyone’s heart who comes in contact with her.  Mrs. McClinton has worked tirelessly here at the Institute of Community Services, Inc. to make Head Start a model program,

Her professional career is also one to be admired.  It is based on her administrative abilities, leadership qualities, partnership building, and most importantly, her Christian love for helping others. Her love for people is most evident in her employment history.  She was employed as a mental health consultant at Communicare, Inc. in Holly Springs, MS for eleven years.

In August of 1991, she accepted the position of Social Services Director at ICS Head Start in Holly Springs, MS.  By using her strategy of developing, strengthening and implementing strong partnerships with community organizations and businesses, she continues to demonstrate sound management practices.  This strategy, plus her management and leadership abilities, is helping her do what she does best, working with families so they can achieve their ultimate goal(s) in life and pass on the legacy to their children.

Since her employment with ICS, she has had extensive training in the Head Start arena.  She has attended training at local, state, regional and national levels.  Eloise has also served as Head Start monitoring reviewer.  She graduated from the Champions of Excellence Program in 2003; the Johnson and Johnson Management Fellows Program in 2001; and received training in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention from Western Carolina University.  She has presented workshops at the National Head Start Conference, Mississippi Head Start Conference, North Mississippi Child Care Conferences, and the Mississippi Reading Conference.  She is a licensed social worker, with certification in the Provision of Day Treatment Services, State Department of Mental Health, and with certification in Alcohol and Drug Assessment and Treatment Planning. In 2011, Mrs. McClinton earned the credential of being a certified Grants Management Specialist.

In 2002, Eloise was promoted to serve as the Deputy Director of ICS Head Start and in 2008 she was named as the Executive Director for the agency, the first woman in the history of the agency to hold this position.  Eloise is a member of Brown Baptist Church in Southaven, MS, where she serves on various outreach ministries. She has enjoyed walking in the footsteps of her mentor, Mr. Arvern Moore., who also served as President of NHSA.  She is implementing the same sound management practices that have placed ICS in the present spotlight.  ICS’s slogan “Making Small Miracles a Great Success” under her leadership will continue to take this organization to higher heights.

Her passion is empowering and ensuring that preschool children and families obtain quality comprehensive services at the Head Start program and within the community.  Through all of her accomplishments, duties, and obligations, she enjoys being the wife of Minister Alonzo McClinton and playing with her darling grandchildren.  She feels honored to lead the second largest Head Start program in Mississippi.   McClinton has served as President of the Mississippi Head Start Association, presently serving as the vice president, member of Head Region IV, life member of the board, served as National Head Start Vice President, member of Head Start Association and Region IV and numerous other boards.  She is a life member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.

The Institute of Community Services, Inc. (ICS) serves fourteen counties: Benton, Clay, Desoto, Grenada, Lafayette, Lowndes, Marshall, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Panola, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate and Tunica.