Cherokee Nation head start boosted with new $40 million building

Cherokee Nation investing $80 million in new Head Start and early childhood education centers across reservation, including new main building in Tahlequah

Tuesday, August 5th 2025, 5:57 pm

By: Emory Bryan

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. -

The Cherokee Nation starts a new school year on Thursday in a new Early Childhood and Head Start Center in Tahlequah. The $40.5 million building is adjacent to the existing Head Start campus, a collection of small buildings, not including several lost in a fire in 2023.

Impact Across Cherokee Reservation

Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said the Nation is building new facilities for childcare, early childhood education, and Head Start in Kenwood, Jay, Nowata, Stillwell, Salina, Pryor, Catoosa and Sallisaw.

Historic Investment

The new Head Start facilities are an $80 million investment, spurred by legislation the Cherokee Council approved and named for Verna Thompson, the long-time Director of the Early Childhood Unit.

Chief Comments on Federal Pullback

Chief Hoskin said while the U.S. Government is re-evaluating and cutting funding to education programs, including Head Start and Job Corps, the Cherokees are continuing to invest in facilities for the programs, which he said have well-documented benefits.

More from Chief Hoskin on that topic in the video below:

Emory Bryan

Emory Bryan is a general assignment reporter for News On 6. He began his news career covering the school board for his hometown radio station and worked on the newspaper staff in college before making the switch to television. Emory joined the News On 6 team in 1994.