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"I am in the world to change the world." - Muriel Rukeyser

Does Your Director Have a Vision?

In her Exchange article (November 2000), "What Do Teachers Need Most From Their Directors?," Exchange columnist Margie Carter discusses the value of a director with a vision:

"It's striking to hear teachers describe the contrast between directors who work with a vision and those who settle for how things are. The word 'vision' isn't always used, but they excitedly describe how their director really inspired them to work at the center, how 'she's usually got a twinkle in her eye,' is always 'showing us pictures or little quotes to expand our thinking,' or 'keeps her eye on the prize even when our budget comes up short.'  Perhaps some of this is related to the dimension [Paula Jorde] Bloom calls 'innovation' or 'goal consensus.' Teachers can sense when directors are moving their program forward toward a bigger dream, even as they are thwarted by the crisis of the week. The climate is quite different than one limited to following the rules and regulations or resigning the program to the limitations of the moment.

"Teachers acknowledge that directors with big dreams can sometimes overlook the trees for the forest. They can get caught up in grant writing, meetings in the community, or calls and visits to their legislators and neglect a child, parent, or teacher requiring immediate attention, film waiting to be developed, or a promised professional training opportunity. Most teachers don't just want to be kept informed of where the director is heading; they want a role in shaping a vision for the program. When they are offered this involvement, their energy and talents can be tapped and their commitment to the program grows. This is a very different experience for staff than merely delegating responsibility for some tasks the director can't get to. Teachers not only want to work with visionary directors, they want to dream and plan along with them."

The entire article, "What Do Teachers Need Most From Their Directors?" appears on the home page of our web site at, www.ChildCareExchange.com.  In addition, it is included along with 19 other classic Exchange articles on the Exchange Articles on CD collection, "Supervising Staff."  This week "Supervising Staff" and all other Exchange Articles on CD collections are on sale at a 20% discount.  To learn more about these collections and to take advantage of this sale, go to http://mail.ccie.com/go/eed/0594

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