Cherokee Nation opens State-of-the-Art $12 Million Head Start in Salina

SALINA, Okla. - The Cherokee Nation opened a new $12 Million Head Start Center in Salina on Thursday and already opened at capacity with 66 children.

Cherokee Nation leaders, Head Start teachers and the Salina community gathered to celebrate during a grand opening ceremony. The new 18,300 SF facility will expand Early Head Start and Head Start services to families in Salina.

"There is no better example of the Cherokee Nation being an optimistic Nation, when we invest in our future and early childhood education. Increasing access to education can lead to better success for our young people. We will continue to invest in early education and public education which has always been a priority of our Cherokee people," said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.

The facility marks the sixth completed through the historic Verna D. Thompson Early Childhood Education Act of 2021, which was reauthorized in 2024 by Chief Hoskin and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner.

The legislation doubled the tribe's investment into Head Start construction projects from $40 million to $80 million to replace or rehabilitate the tribe's aging Head Start centers with new, state-of-the-art facilities.

The new Salina Head Start offers six classrooms, a gross motor room, which can operate as a storm shelter, and a commercial kitchen. Four of the six classrooms will operate for Head Start with separate playgrounds and green spaces. Two rooms are dedicated for Early Head Start children, ages six weeks to 3-year-olds and include heated floors for toddlers learning to walk. The playground also features a hanging garden.

The tribe has completed other Head Start facilities in Tahlequah, Jay, Salina, Pryor, Nowata and Kenwood and will complete its seventh and final Head Start in Stilwell in the coming weeks.

"This new center will nurture so many of our children with inviting classroom space to grow their motor, language, cognitive and social skills needed to thrive and prepare for school readiness. It's so encouraging to see all these new facilities across the reservation," said Deputy Secretary of State Canaan Duncan.

District 15 Councilor Danny Callison, a former educator, said the community is proud of the new facility.

"This Head Start has moved four times in Salina and we finally have a new building to represent the incredible workers that will use it for years to come," Councilor Callison said.

Cherokee Nation serves over 900 children through its Head Start programs, which were first started in 1978. Cherokee Nation's Head Start students range from six weeks to 5-year-olds.

The federal Head Start program was established in 1965 and recently celebrated its 60-year anniversary in May 2025. Head Start serves over 40 million children across the U.S., and over half of the Head Starts in the U.S. are located in rural communities.

For more information about Cherokee Nation Head Start:
https://www.cherokee.org/all-services/education-services/early-childhood-unit/