Marcellus Webb walks into George Forbes Early Learning Center before the sun has risen. He is about to clock in as a nutrition aide at Step Forward.
“I try to get my coffee and see how the day is going,” he laughs.
Webb preps the food, puts it in into the necessary bowls and gets the catering out so that each Early Head Start and Head Start student at the site has a nutritious breakfast. He loves cooking.
“I feel at home when I’m in the kitchen,” he says. “I’m cool, collected and calm.”
His passion for cooking is what led to Webb’s family members telling him to apply for one of Step Forward’s 100 positions. His uncle, Michael Webb, has worked for the agency for nearly nine years and now serves as a Family Service Worker at Louis Stokes Head Start Center.
“He likes what he does, because that’s what he does in his spare time – cooking – so it’s the perfect position for him,” Michael explains.
Michael recruited his nephew before the agency announced it would offer a $500 referral bonus and sign-on bonuses up to $1,000 for new full-time hires in Head Start.
“It was great. It wasn’t expected, so that was great,” Michael laughs.
Marcellus agrees.
“I didn’t know about the sign-on bonus. I signed on because everyone kept telling me this would be a good job for me, and it is,” he says.
Across town, Melissa Gibson smiles as she sits next to her mother, Laquetta Gosha. Gibson recruited Gosha to the agency. Gosha now works as an education aide at Carl B. Stokes Head Start.
“My mom was retired and looking for something part-time,” Gibson says. “I figured she would be great with the children because she watched my daughter every day. She loves people! She is a good people person.”
Gosha is familiar with early childhood education and the services Step Forward offers. Her four grandchildren, Gibson’s children, attended Head Start and at one time, she volunteered in the classroom.
“Getting to interact with the children and help them is very rewarding for me,” she says, smiling. “I’m learning, too, it helps them with things at home like brushing their teeth, setting tables and how to talk to each other. Those are things they’ll need as they grow older.”
Step Forward is hiring! We offer a sign-on bonus up to $1,000, a comprehensive benefits package and paid vacation time for full-time employees, as well as education assistance and professional development opportunities.
To apply, click here.