Head Starts Ashley Caris named Employee of the Month

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August 22, 2022

Maui Economic Opportunity’s Employee of the Month Ashley Caris offered insight and empathy for workers and clients as Head Start preschool made decisions amid the uncertainties of the pandemic.

“This empathy has been useful in many instances, such as the logistics of how to incorporate all the changes due to COVID,” said Dee Wilson, who nominated Caris for the award.

No one really knew how the situation would play out or for how long but the program had to act quickly. “There was definitely a coordinated effort … but my nominee really needed to jump in feet first,” Dee said.

The pandemic initially forced the preschool program, offered at no cost to low income families on Maui and Moloka‘i, to close and then move to distance learning. Head Start reopened earlier this month for the new school year with in-person instruction.

Ashley is the Head Start Health Manager and has been with MEO for nine years. She also won the award in 2016.

For being named Employee of the Month for June, Ashley earned a $150 check and an extra vacation day. Dee received $50 as the nominator.

Ashley Caris, Head Start Health Manager, was named Maui Economic Opportunity Employee of the Month for June.

Ashley Caris (middle) was presented with her Employee of the Month certificate by (from left) COO Gay Sibonga, CEO Debbie Cabebe, Early Childhood Services Director Debbi Amaral and Chief Human Resources Officer Cliff Caesar.

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