ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues

The role of the director is that the director must be well versed in many areas as it relates to mangaing a successful child care business. The director becomes all things to everyone in his or her care. The director wears many hats therefore, he or she must be knowledgeable of all areas such as creating a team as they work together to enhance children and their families, understanding finanancial management, advocating on behalf of children and their families through participation on various organizations and within the community, participating in professional development planning for all staff members, staying abreast on nutrition and creating a healthy environment for all. The role has changed greatly over the years. Directors can not only be competent in the areas of directing their programs but must also be able to articulate the rationale for running a quality program. The textbook, The Art of Leadership Managing Early Childhood Organizations 7th Edition allows potential directors to explore the many options one would have in running a successful child care program.

Do you not read what is written before it is printed? It is not now 2011? You would think that the reference of just one gender working with children was something from the past. Maybe I am understanding this wrong and you are saying that women as a director do not take responsibility for the decisions which they "she" makes, and that women are unable to communicate their "her" reasons and convictions as to why children's needs are more important than efficiency? Have you not moved into the 21st century thinking? It is time to take off the blinders and notice that this industry is not just a place for women.

Raymond Gifford
Lake Fenton Community Schools
Kids Klub-Kinder Kare-Preschool Kare
Director

I LOVE Exchange Everyday and read it every morning before I start my day. I often foward it to people that I thini would like to see that day's article. Today, I was going along happily reading about personal and meaningful, spontaneous and meaningful care of children and the importance of communication. Check.

THEN (flipping to "he") the prescription for keeping "day care teaching" from becoming monotonous and boring lists a few things that can enrich the work life of teachers but misses the thing that truly gets teachers on fire in the classroom. Responsibility for and autonomy in designing and implementing the curriculum for their children will keep teachers from being "bored out" (not "burned out" and will result in better outcomes for children who will then learn from fully engaged teachers. All the other strategies can support this critical function but are not the goal. Teachers need to be able to be excited about being IN the classroom, not excited about the possibility of being OUT of the classroom to training, observations etc. as valuable as those activities are in supporting the implementation of truly exciting early childhood best practices.