Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/update-on-director-development-initiatives/5012581/
So you want to become an early childhood leader? If a primary school principalship is what you have in mind, the path is relatively clear, wide, and well marked. Unfortunately, if any other leadership position in the early childhood field is your goal, the paths are neither clear nor obvious.This dire depiction of director development in the United States was made only two years ago by policy analyst Anne Mitchell (Kagan and Bowman, 1997). If you think this characterization is overstated, consider this - today only six states require any form of administrative training for center directors in their licensing requirements. As a result, most states have little to offer directors in leadership training. But as consensus builds behind the notion that the leader is the key to the quality of an early childhood organization, attention to director development has intensified. Throughout the country promising developments are occurring.
Director Credentialing
Many advocates believe that establishing a director's credential is an effective way to spur director development. Twelve states, two national organizations, and 17 foundations agree and have launched credentialing initiatives:
- Eight states (Alabama, Arizona, California, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin) have already established director credentials.
- Four additional states ...