Perks of Being a Director

03/20/2009

Even when life challenges us, it's a gift beyond all measure.
Parker Palmer, author

At the 2001 annual conference of the Boston Association for the Education of Young Children Gwen Hooper, director of the Arlington Children's Center, shared "the top ten perks of being a director." Given the added stresses imposed by the economy, we think it might be a good time to look back at this tongue-in-cheek list...

10. Having beautiful, young children in your life Monday through Friday, but your evenings and weekends are free.

9. The first to know when the current flu epidemic hits.

8. Your abilities include junior plumbing skills... i.e., you've never met a toilet you couldn't unclog.

7. Having a ready repertoire that includes over 100 children's stories, songs, and fingerplays.

6. Experience in setting up and hosting staff wedding, baby, and good-bye parties in 12 minutes or less.

5. When insomnia strikes, you alone can recite pages of state licensing regulations until you nod off from sheer boredom.

4. If you live near your work, you'll know the future generations of school cheerleaders, newspaper deliverers, Girl Scout Cookie sellers, food cashiers, etc.

3. After retirement, at the nursing home, you will know over 300 craft projects to make from empty toilet tissue rolls.

2. Unlimited snacks and hugs.

1. Knowing you are helping to get the next generation off to a great start.

Top Tools for Directors

Exchange has packaged six of its practical management resources into a Manager’s Tool Kit and is offering the entire set at a 33% discount — separately these resources would cost $175, but we are offering the entire Tool Kit for only $112. Resources in the kit include:

The Art of Leadership: Managing Early Childhood Organizations
Managing Money: A Center Director’s Guidebook
Beginnings Workshops Book #8 — Professionalism
250 Management Success Stories from Child Care Directors
Developing Capable, Creative Teachers CD Book
Leading People in Early Childhood Settings CD Book

PreschoolFirst

Online play-based assessment & curriculum for Infant/toddlers
Variety — choose from 3,200 activities
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For more information about Exchange's magazine, books, and other products pertaining to ECE, go to www.ccie.com.