MAceo Dillard

When Pastor Maceo Dillard Jr. of Restoration Missionary Baptist Church enters the Compton Head Start Center, he hears excited chants of "Pastor, Pastor!" throughout the hallways. Dillard has been an official volunteer at the Compton Center for two years and from the moment he stepped on campus he was a positive, encouraging role model for students. 

Giving back to the community is in Dillard's nature, but he has a special connection to the Compton Center and Head Start. Before Dillard began Kindergarten in 1970, he was taught for three years by the Compton Community Center namesake, Esther Compton. 

"Esther Compton inspired us to learn," said Dillard. "When I started elementary school I felt I was ahead of my classmates and was always willing to help my peers. It is the foundation on which I am still standing today"

Dillard has become a staple at the Compton Center and volunteers in a vareity of ways. He reads to the students once as month as part of the SuperMENtors program, a male-mentoring readinf program, but visits the center at least once a week. He supports teachers in their classrooms, helps with field days and other events, or simply visits with students to uplift and encourage them. 

"Having a positive male figure at the center is important for our students," said Compton Center Manager Merevonna Ross. "It Provides a well-balnced and structured environment in the classroom and community."

In addition to his experience with Esther Compton, Dillard's mother was a Head Start Center director for more than 14 years. These connections and first-hand experiences with Head Start led him to send his four children to Head Start. 

"Head Start is the foundation that my children's education and life skills are built on," explained Dillard. "They all graduated school in the top five percent of their class, and it all began with Head Start."

Like many parents, volunteers and community members, Dillard has seen the benefits Head Start provides Harris County Children. He hopes that others will continue to invest in the future by supporting Head Start services, just as Esther Compton invested in him as a child.