Mary Ellen Hafner was born April 2, 1947, to R. Gorman and Edna M. VanAernem. She was the only daughter of five children. Her parents and brothers, Richard, Robert, George, and Thomas, all graduated from Hudson Falls. Mary Ellen graduated in 1964.
Mary Ellen’s career with Head Start began in 1978 as Finance Coordinator for the Washington County Head Start Program, overseeing the financial operations of federally funded grants. In 1989, Mary Ellen was one of the first non-federal employees chosen to review the fiscal and governance regulations in Head Start programs around the country. In 1995, she accepted the position of Executive Director of Warren County Head Start. She has been active in many human service organizations working on behalf of children and families.
Mary Ellen became a “Head Start Fellow” after attending the Head Start – Johnson and Johnson Fellows Program at the UCLA Anderson School of Management in 1996. In 2003, at the annual Region II Conference representing New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, she received the “Nicholas Cordasco Award” recognizing her work with Head Start families. In 2005, she was awarded the prestigious “Helen Taylor Award for Management Excellence” at the National Head Start Annual Conference. In May 2009 Mary Ellen was elected President of the New York State Head Start Association, representing 190 Head Start and Early Head Start Programs that serve over 50,000 children and families.
Mary Ellen and her husband Harry have resided in Hudson Falls their entire lives. They have three children Julie (William), Rich (Kellie), and Erik (Lynda) and five grandchildren Thomas (TJ), Michelle, Shaylyn, Johnny, and Jacob. She has fond memories of her time at Hudson Falls High School and continues the friendships she started there to this day.