Growing and Guiding Early Childhood Education Leadership Barb Merrill, Executive Director, Iowa AEYC 1

Welcome Why does our field need leaders? 2

What are the current challenges for our field? 3

Ready or Not: Leadership choices in Early Care and Education Stacie G. Goffin and Valora Washington Teachers College Press,

Those of us in the field resist doing what our knowledge base says is necessary for achieving good results for children. We are willing to tolerate poor performance by our colleagues. We hesitate to improve ourselves and our programs if doing so involves too much effort or cost. We postpone change and thus defer its benefits to future generations. 5

I was invited…. What is the first leadership responsibility you accepted in our field? What role (class, job, position) were you in when you first took on the leadership role? Who first invited you to take a leadership role, and why did you respond? 6

How have you (and those you work with) already practiced and demonstrated leadership? Even before adulthood – Leading a school project, a club, a committee, taking adult roles within families In your first job – Someone identified the things you excelled at, and pointed you towards other opportunities Everyday leadership opportunities – Learn something new, join a committee, write a newsletter article, help a parent find resources he might need, get active in a professional association or club, teach someone who you work with something that is new to them, do a presentation, write a letter to the editor or to an elected official, become an expert on something 7

My EC leadership role models My parentsRole models for taking responsibility Encouragement – “you are capable, you can do it” Expectations – such as “you will go to college” A college professorPassion for this field My first center directorUnflinching commitment to DAP and best practices A supervisor (1980s)Cheerleader, offered me new and different opportunities, challenges, and responsibilities A work colleagueModeled her vision to us – Tireless advocate on behalf of young children & those working in field A supervisor (1990s)High expectations - never settled for anything less. Delegated things outside my comfort zone to me. A national leaderModels passion and priorities we need to address A work colleagueHelps me create the picture of what could be the ideal, sets high expectations for my work but appreciates my accomplishments My spouseSounding board, encourages and supports, but also gives me space and time to grow 8

Pedagogical Administrative Advocacy Community Conceptual Five Kinds of Leadership needed in the ECE field 9

Leadership in Early Care and Education Sharon L. Kagan and Barbara T. Bowman, Editors NAEYC,

Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail. Emerson 11

What traits make a leader? 12

Leaders….. Help organizations clarify and affirm values Set goals and vision, and chart a course of action to achieve the vision Like an artist, a leader paints a picture of what the organization could be A leader creates a healthy tension between current reality and the imagined ideal. 13

What traits does a leader possess? PersonalProfessional Character Passion Optimism Drive Integrity Courage Takes risks Motivates and inspires Flexibility Openness Unwavering commitment Can articulate vision and direction Professional knowledge Formal education Strong track record Sets organizational culture Shares the credit If running an agency, also needs skills in fiscal and personnel management 14

Do one thing every day that scares you. Eleanor Roosevelt 15

You’ve got to jump off cliffs all the time, and build your wings on the way down. Ray Bradbury 16

What do we need to do to support leaders? Within our programs Within our field Within our Associations 17

Re-think what we are looking for See – Feel – Change rather than Analyze – Think – Change It’s all about relationships! 18

Are you a manager or a leader? How do you tackle a problem? How do you handle a task? 19

Within our programs Director competencies and credentials Specialized education Mentors and others who can help Resources for training – where do you go Handouts - Manager vs. Leader and Traditional vs. Facilitative Leadership 20

What must we do? How to strengthen your own leadership skills, and those of others Develop a message for which you have passion and real knowledge Practice delivering it and refining it Add data, research, and real life stories Carefully consider what you do well Really reflect on your own personal preparation, share what worked for you with those who train others. Consider it your responsibility to mentor others and pass on your knowledge and experience 21

Advocate that education and professional development programs (both in higher ed and in training/in-service) for emerging leaders include administration, advocacy, and leadership courses Find ways to give teachers and providers opportunities to practice their leadership Recognize and reward emerging leaders Build mentoring skills in new leaders Strengthen best practices in early childhood education throughout our field Strategize how to engage diverse leadership 22

Professionalism in Early Childhood Education: Doing Our Best for Young Children Stephanie Feeney Pearson,

Leaders are not born….people learn to lead. 24

Learning as a way of Leading Stephen Preskill and Stephen D. Brookfield John Wiley & Sons, 2009 Learning …. To be open to the contributions of others Critical reflection To support the growth of others Collective leadership Analyze experience To question Democracy To sustain hope in the face of struggle To create community 25

One person can make a difference, and everyone should try. John F. Kennedy 26

The role of AEYC in supporting leadership for our field Leadership projects of Iowa AEYC Leadership themed quarterly newsletter Leadership track at conference Local chapter leadership opportunities State governing board recruitment and board development/training Leadership Fellowship NAEYC Innovation Grant Involvement by staff and board members at state and national levels 27

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world. Harriet Tubman Thank you for being here today, and everything that you do every day, as together we lead our field to where it needs to be. 28