Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/the-five-commitments-of-optimistic-leaders/5024426/
Asa Hilliard inspired me years ago at a conference of teacher educators when he said, “Relationships matter more than anything else. Human beings need to be nurtured. Our job as educators is to nurture in ways that tap into the genius in each child.”
I believe that hearing Dr. Hilliard that day began a journey that resulted in Leading for Children. Our mission at Leading for Children is to elevate the practitioner, to create an optimistic trajectory for each child’s success in school and life.
I began the non-profit organization, Leading for Children, whose mission is to strengthen early learning systems. I believe that when we promote healthy and productive relationships within and across all roles and settings, educators can thrive. And, in so doing, children can experience the strong nurturing relationships for learning that they need to thrive. Inspired by Asa Hilliard, and so many of you, I have developed a model that I believe can improve how early learning educators engage in their work: The Five Commitments of Optimistic Leadership.
The Foundation for Optimistic Leadership
For years our field has deeply engaged in thinking about how to achieve higher quality early learning programs for children birth to age five, and how to improve ...