LAWRENCE - Maureen Mulcahy measures her 35 years at Head Start by the smiles, tears and successes of the children and their parents who came through the program.

On Friday, it was her turn to smile as the new Head Start center, adjacent to the Boys and Girls Club on Water Street, was dedicated to her.

"This is extremely well-deserved," Phillip Laverriere Sr., executive director and CEO of the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, said as he presented Mulcahy with a plaque that will hang in the building.

"She's a very bright, artistic and a great collaborator who knows how to bring people together," said Chick LoPiano, the agency's assistant executive director.

The honor caught Mulcahy by surprise.

"I was a bit overwhelmed and it was totally unexpected," said the 59-year-old Salisbury resident. "It's gratifying knowing that people want to honor you specially since my heart has been in day care for so long."

Mulcahy began work at GLCAC in 1965 as a clerk. When it opened a Head Start, she became the program's assistant director and later its director. She is now director of planning and program development, a job she's had for seven years. She helps to bring in millions of dollars for early childhood educational programs.

"Working with children is a vocation not a career," Mulcahy said. "The most fun has been the kids. Children are the best teachers. They completely enjoy the moment they're in. They remind us of what's really important."

She considers the new center as one of the program's highlights, she said. Over the years, Head Start has held classes in city schools.

Ana Carrero has worked at Head Start for 16 years. The educational supervisor had nothing but praise for Mulcahy.

"She's fantastic," said Carrero. "She's always been fair, and her compassion to work with the community and our people still continues."

Also on hand for the surprise was Mulcahy's daughter, Erin, 28, who was quick to share her mother's teachings.

"She taught me to love and respect people and be respectful no matter where they came from," she said.

Maureen Mulcahy

Born in Lawrence. Her late father, John O'Neill, was a Lawrence police officer for almost 30 years. Her late mother, Ann, was a homemaker, who became a drapery consultant with an interior designer.

Graduated from Lawrence High School in 1965.

Attended Northern Essex Community College, Haverhill; Wheelock College, Boston; and Merrimack College, North Andover, all while working with Head Start.

Has worked for Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, which sponsors Head Start, for 42 years. She was assistant director and then director of Head Start for 35 years. Mulcahy has been director of planning and program development for Community Action for the past seven years.

Widow of John Mulcahy. She has two children, Tim, 30, who works in the food service department at Head Start, and Erin Mulcahy, 28, administrative assistant at Community Partnership for Children; and a brother, John O'Neill of Methuen.

Hobbies: growing lilies, asters, coreopsis and other perennials.

Favorite book: "Lord of the Rings" trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien

Last movie seen: "The Devil Wears Prada" with Meryl Streep.

About Head Start

Promotes school readiness by teaching early educational and problem solving skills to children 3 or 4 years old.

Provides education, social service, mental health, nutrition and parent involvement opportunities to children and their families.

Service area includes Lawrence, Methuen, Andover and North Andover.

Serves 550 children.

Centers are located at 246 Andover St., 316 Water St., 309 Essex St., all in Lawrence; Central School, 250 Lawrence St., Methuen.

Twenty-five percent of the employees are parents of former students.