Nancy Perin 

Executive Director

Oregon Head Start Association

Nancy Perin is the executive director of the Oregon Head Start Association. She leads her organization with integrity, compassion and a vision to develop leadership within the Oregon Head Start programs. This could be directors, mid-managers, or parents who attend a variety of professional development opportunities that the association provides throughout the year. 

Nancy also interacts with the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care and the state legislature to ensure that the needs and funding of the programs are at the forefront of their work.  

Prior to stepping into the executive director position, Nancy was a Head Start/Early Head Start director from 2001-2017. She started her Head Start work in Minnesota with the CAP agency – Minnesota Valley Action Council. She moved to Oregon in 2006 and has been a director for several programs, including a migrant/seasonal one. In addition, from 2007-2013, she served as the chair of the Oregon Head Start Association.  

Nancy wasn’t always involved in Head Start though. Before her journey with Head Start began, she worked for a city government in Washington state providing recreational programs for her community. She has a long history in servant leadership and feels blessed to have had two careers that she claims, “fills her heart and soul”.  

She graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in education.  She also spent years of continuing education in leadership and management, early childhood education and various other courses.