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Leadership & Program Administration
Early childhood leaders have a powerful influence on the experiences of teachers, families, and children every day. We know that when leaders continue to learn, the quality of the early childhood programs they lead thrive. As navigate the complexities and challenges in your leadership role, these resources will support your work and strengthen your leadership skills. Professional learning opportunities are available on this topic by contacting the WYECPLC Learning Specialists.
Featured Articles & Resources
Effective Preschool Leadership and Management Teaching Young Children
Must Read Books
Coaching with Powerful Interactions A Guide for Partnering with Early Childhood Teachers
by Judy Jablon, Amy Dombro, and Shaun Johnsen
From Parents to Partners Building a Family-Centered Early Childhood Program
Second Edition by Janis Keyser
From Survive to Thrive A Director’s Guide for Leading an Early Childhood Program
by Debbie LeeKeenan and Iris Chin Ponte
The Essentials Providing High-Quality Family Child Care
by Marie L. Masterson and Lisa M. Ginet
The Visionary Director: A Handbook for Dreaming, Organizing, and Improvising in your Center
Third Edition by Margie Carter Luz Maria Casio and Deb Curtis
Connections to Wyoming Resources
Wyoming’s Coherent Path to Quality
The Coherent Path to Quality framework defines dimensions of program quality and is designed to support the work of “all the adults in the child’s ecosystem. “ A perfect companion for professional learning, the Coherent Path includes reflection questions, examples of quality, stories from the field, and photos all from Wyoming’s early childhood settings.
Here are some ideas for using the resources in each chapter for learning:
Activate your curiosity and notice and identify the effectiveness of your own practice and the practice of others
Serve as a catalyst for conversations with others to improve the day-to-day experiences for young children and their families.
Nurture your own personal and professional development and growth
Practice using the Wyoming Coherent Path to Quality to guide your decisions and practice.
Wyoming’s Coherent Path to Quality page 3
Wyoming’s Early Learning Standards
As a Wyoming early childhood educator and caregiver, your work matters! When you develop relationships with children, create learning environments, and provide meaningful experiences, you are laying the foundation for their future success. Early learning standards offer a helpful framework to guide the decisions you make with children each day.
Wyoming’s Early Learning Standards page 4
Cowboy Conference Archive
Keynote: Trauma-Responsive Family Engagement Practices in Early Childhood (September 24, 2021)
Speakers: Julie Kurtz and Julie Nicholson, authors and nationally recognized experts on trauma-responsive care and education.
Support Your Business Through Connections
Speakers: Jody Shields, Rob Condie, and Wendy Fanning
A panel from the Wyoming Women’s Business Center, The Wyoming Business Network Center, and the Wyoming Non-profit Network share how their organizations support business owners and directors.
Taking the Leap: Reflections on Communities of Practice
Speakers: Tyler Gonzalez, Hanna Stanek, Susan Peck, and Amanda Schmidtbergen
Advocacy Leadership: Finding Your Story
Speakers: Liz Goddard, Stephanie Rino, and Betsy Carlin
Leaders Embracing Wyoming’s Coherent Path to Quality (September 25, 2021)
Building Relationships and Embracing Change
Learn about opportunities for increased relationships with families of young children in Wyoming.
Speakers: Kelli Dunne, Department of Family Services Licensor
Penny Hotovec Department of Family Services TA Specialist
Tania Trujillo, Department of Family Services Resource and Referral Manager
Jennifer Zook STARS Program Coordinator
Improving New Staff Onboarding for Employee Retention
Wyoming program leaders and directors:
Nicole Philbin, Stephanie Rino and Jennifer Zook
Opening Keynote: Integrating Antibias Education into our Thinking and Practice with Debbie LeeKeenan (September 26, 2020)
Speakers: Debbie LeeKeenan, Lecturer and Co-Author of Leading Anti-bias Early Childhood Programs: A Guide for Change, will discuss steps in creating a more inclusive and welcoming program.
Leadership Essentials for Program Leaders
Speakers: Liz Goddard, PLC Regional Facilitator
Stephanie Rino, PLC Regional Facilitator, Program Owner/Director
Optimistic Leaders and the Alpha Generation
Speakers: Nicole Parks, Associate Director of Programs, Leading for Children
Valora Washington, President, The CAYL Institute; Former CEO of the Council for Professional Recognition
Encouraging Staff Growth/ Improvement Through Quality Professional Learning
Speakers: Lauren Carlisle, PLC Regional Facilitator
Char Norris, PLC Regional Facilitator
Introducing the Wyoming Early Childhood Quality Vision (September 25, 2020)
Speaker: Nicole Parks, Associate Director of Programs
Leading for Children
Coaching with Powerful Interactions
Speakers: Jill Gunderman, Facilitator Leading for Children
Judy Jablon, Executive Director Leading for Children
5 Commitments of Optimistic Leadership
Speakers: Laura Ensler, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Leading for Children
Judy Jabalon, Executive Director, Leading for Children
Optimistic Leadership: Cultivating Self-Awareness to Achieve Quality in Early Learning
Speakers: Laura Ensler, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Leading for Children
Serene Stevens, Facilitator, Leading for Children
Voices From the Village Podcast
The Voices from the Village episodes are hosted by Nikki Baldwin, and provide insight and inspiration for both leaders and educators. STARS credit is available for listening and responding to Voices from the Village.
Listen in on a conversation with Kara Cossel, Liz Goddard, Char Norris, Lauren Carlisle, and host Nikki Baldwin as they celebrate the launch of Wyoming’s vision for quality for all young children.
Voices From Our Village: Season 1 Episode 6 - Voices from our Village
Nicole Philbin, a participant in the Quality Learning Network led by Leading for Children facilitators Nichole Parks and Joelle Wheatley, responds to their Episode 5 interview.
Voices From Our Village: Season 1 Episode 5 - The Power of Collaboration
Nichole Parks and Joelle Wheatley, with the national non-profit Leading for Children, discuss the power of collaborative learning and its impact on early childhood professionals and their programs.
Voices From Our Village: Season 1 Episode 4 - Voices from our Village Leadership Lessons Learned
Stephanie Rino and Maureen Giordano, two Wyoming early childhood program owners and directors, respond to the Episode 3 interview with Debbie LeeKeenan.
Voices From Our Village: Season 1 Episode 3 - Leadership Lessons Learned
Debbie LeeKeenan, a nationally recognized author, presenter, and leader in anti-bias education, shares lessons she learned as a program director and in her work with leaders nationwide.
WYECPLC Blog Posts
Reflections on the NAEYC Professional Learning Institute (July 21, 2022)
Liz Goddard, PLC Regional Facilitator
Kelce Eckhardt, PLC Regional Facilitator
Why Cowboy State Kids and Teachers Still Need Anti-bias Learning Opportunities (July 14, 2022)
Tyler Gonzales, PLC Regional Facilitator
Reflecting Inward is Hard Work (February 11, 2022)
Tyler Gonzales, PLC Regional Facilitator
Doors and Windows (January 20, 2021)
Tyler Gonzales, PLC Regional Facilitator
In Their Own Way and On Their Own Day (August 4, 2020)
Kara Cossel, PLC Regional Facilitator
Embracing Differences (June 28, 2020)
Kara Cossel, PLC Regional Facilitator
Explore More
Articles
Leading Through Inquiry Voices of Practitioners
by Megina Baker, Stephanie Cox Suarez, Brenda Acero, Peggy Martalock, Denise Nelson, Jenny Hanseul Park, Annalisa Hawkinson Richie, Natacha Shillingford
QRIS: Empowering Family Child Care Providers as Leaders
by Jennifer Cortes and Rena A. Hallam
The Five Commitments of Optimistic Leadership
by Judy Jabalon