Teresa Felix (second from left) received the “Plate of Bounty Award” during the National Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Association Conference in Virginia in early March. The national award is given to acknowledge individuals who make significant contributions to migrant and seasonal farm worker families. Felix is the Family and Community Partnership Manager for Otero College Child Development Services’ Head Start and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs. Cleo Rodriguez, Jr. (far right) serves as the NMSHSA Executive Director. Also pictured are additional recipients of this year’s award from throughout the United States.
A local woman recently received a national award for her work with migrant and seasonal farmworkers.
Teresa Felix, of Rocky Ford, received the “Plate of Bounty Award” during the National Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Association Conference in Virginia in early March. The national award is given to acknowledge individuals who make significant contributions to migrant and seasonal farm worker families.
Felix is the Family and Community Partnership Manager for Otero College Child Development Services’ Head Start and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs. Her main office is located in La Junta but she spends time in centers throughout Southeastern Colorado and the San Luis Valley.
Also attending the NMSHSA Conference in Virginia were Tracey Lucero, Otero College CDS Executive Director, who presented the award to Felix; Keri Cook, Otero College CDS Education Manager; Candi Miell, Otero College CDS Business Manager and Tyler Rhodes, Otero College CDS Information Technology Specialist.
The following is the nomination written by her coworker, Candi Miell, and presented by Executive Director Tracey Lucero.
“Ok mija, we’re here now. What’s next?”
Those words spoken to Teresa Felix by her uncle were the catalyst to helping her find a path in life that would honor her heritage and allow her to serve and represent a population she is proud of.
Teresa grew up in agriculture, working the fields, picking tomatoes and filling baskets of chile grown in southeastern Colorado. When she made the move to the western part of Colorado, she found herself picking a new crop – potatoes – and learning different roles. She worked to pick the rocks from the potatoes so they wouldn’t mess up the equipment and then learned to drive the trucks to haul potatoes.
But Teresa knew she wanted more. At the age of 30, with only an eighth-grade education and having been influenced by her mother, Teresa found a new path – one that lead her to Migrant and Seasonal Head Start. Teresa’s mother, who died when Teresa was 21 years old leaving behind three young children, was never afforded the opportunity for education. But she wanted that for her own children, including Teresa. Teresa answered a help wanted ad for a cook aide in a MSHS program and was hired in 1995. Beginning her journey to honor her mother’s wishes.
As she worked in the kitchen, eventually becoming the cook, a co-worker informed Teresa that she would have to obtain a GED to continue in her position. The co-worker told her that in Head Start means education and that meant she needed to obtain a GED. So she started the program and obtained her GED quickly. Shortly after, she moved into the role of Center Manager. Having grown up in poverty, Teresa didn’t really understand poverty until she moved out of the country and saw it through a different lens. She knew early on that she wanted to make a difference in the families who are migrating and children in general.
Her director at the time, Sharon Kolomitz, informed Teresa in order to continue in the position of center manager she would need to enroll in college. Teresa was overwhelmed – a family at home, the center manager position and her basic education. Sharon informed her that “you’re an intelligent woman and I hope that you can see that in yourself because I can see it in you.” Within a few months she registered for college, while continuing to work. It took her 7 years to complete her associate’s degree. She didn’t qualify for financial aid so she looked to community resources to help with scholarships. Her husband worked overtime to help pay for her books.
At her graduation, her maternal uncle, said “Ok mija, we’re here now. What’s next?” And Teresa knew it was her chance to truly make a difference in the lives of Migrant and Seasonal Head Start families and children.
Teresa has enrolled countless children during her 25-plus years and has helped numerous families set and obtain goals. But she also worked as a resource for her peers who were seeking to advance their education. While she worked as center manager, she encouraged all of her teachers to enroll in higher education. It took a lot of encouraging because their primary language was Spanish and they were worried about not understanding. Teresa walked hand-in-hand with many of them and provided translation in their primary language to help them truly learn.
One of her favorite stories to tell is about her work with Policy Council. She encouraged parents to be proactive. One Policy Council member joined and began learning about program. She eventually represented MSHS in the executive director interviews. She would share information with her husband and as her term was nearing it’s end, her husband approached Teresa and said he wanted to learn the same information his wife had learned. He was voted on to Policy Council and eventually served as the council chairperson.
In her role as San Luis Valley Coordinator she created many community connections. She serves on Migrant Coalitions throughout Colorado, the Early Childhood Council board, helps host farmworker appreciation events.
In the last year, she gave up her evenings and weekends distributing the USDA Farm and Food Worker Relief Cards.
Teresa will tell people her whole journey has been to be a server to families and children. She believes that anytime you see a family gain, even the smallest of gains, you know you have tapped into their heart and soul.
Teresa speaks with such passion about the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start program that most people who hear her story don't walk away with a dry eye. She is proud of not only her accomplishments but the accomplishments of the staff and families she has worked with. She has guided many Migrant and Seasonal Head Start children to the National Migrant and Seasonal Head Start internship program. She has worked to connect families with community resources at times when families were so desperate for help. Every day she makes a difference in the life of someone – a coworker, an MSHS family or an MSHS child.
While attending the National Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Association Conference and Region XII Office of Head Start Summit in Virginia in early March, Otero College Child Development Services team members toured the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. Pictured are (left to right) Tyler Rhodes, Information Technology Specialist; Teresa Felix, Family and Community Partnership Manager; Tracey Lucero, Executive Director; Candi Miell, Business Manager and Keri Cook, Education Manager.