True Leaders

True Leaders

Let me start by sharing that I prefer something other than the title director or administrator. For me, there is so much more to the roles and responsibilities of that position than being called a director or administrator. The people responsible for the overall operation of an early childhood program should be called leaders.

After mentoring in a local early childhood program, I started thinking about what makes a program leader someone who truly embraces the title of leader. The outstanding leader in this program really highlighted for me all the essential elements of true leadership.

A leader is an example of what it means to be part of the early childhood profession. They model patience, perseverance, understanding, empathy, flexible thinking, scaffolding, and problem-solving.

True leaders understand child development. They know what developmentally appropriate practice looks like for each age group and can support their teachers without shame or judgment.

True leaders are people who want their teachers to grow more than they want to "catch" them doing something wrong. They value growth over gotta. True leaders are as invested in their teaching staff as the children and families.

True leaders spend more time in the classroom than they do in their office. They step in and step up. They know when their teachers need a mental health break, and they step in to cover for them and step up to assist them when they return to the classroom.

True leaders value their teaching staff's lives outside of school. They don't overburden them, expect them to communicate with families outside their working hours, or normalize "going above and beyond" as the measure for a "good teacher."

True leaders NEVER forget what it feels like to be a classroom teacher. They know that there are no one-size-fits-all solutions. When a teacher is struggling to understand a child's behavior, true leaders are eager to listen, ask questions, observe, and assist the teacher in understanding the child's needs.

True leaders don't rescue or problem-solve for their teaching staff. They provide a listening ear, suggestions, support, and accountability—the skills needed for growth.

True leaders know how to communicate effectively. They know that effective communication is what makes or breaks relationships. They create a positive school culture. They do not tolerate gossip. They work daily to actively support teaching partners as they learn how to have conversations (not confrontations)

If you are in a leadership position or considering one, please understand that this role comes with great responsibility. Remember to work on growing your skills to be a role model for the teachers you support. True leaders will help save our profession…

If you are looking to grow your leadership skills check out the self-paced workshops shared below:

CREATING A POSITIVE SCHOOL CULTURE (LEADERSHIP) ($15 - 1 HOUR)

SUCCESSFUL STAFF MEETINGS (LEADERSHIP) ($22.50 - 1.5 HOURS)