Specific Blog Assignment 12

I just wante dto share that I have just completed the NAEYC accreditation process this past school year.  Going through the process as a team always you to look at all of the standards set and see how your are meeting those standards, and recognizing areas that need improvement.  Having the NAEYC Accreditation certificate is more than just a certificate on the wall, but a reflection of the quality, dedication, and on-going process of everyone in the program.
 
In what ways does Roberto inspire you to stronger leadership and empowerment?
 Roberto's approach towards making positive changes is very inspiring.  He used a coaching and community-building perspective to launch his changes that became more of a community project than a managers.  This style of leadership is very inspiring because he focuses on the team, he doesn't use his director title to be authoritative. 

Can you imagine adapting any of his innovative practices?
 Roberto's meetings were very well organized.  He pushed parents and teachers to self-reflect, and become deeper thinkers in the process.  When he asked his teachers in the toddler room to remove their clocks on the wall, it automatically makes sense.  When children are expected to clean up during a very meaningful activity because of the time, it really shuts them down.  We have a clock in our room, but we are very flexible and follow the children's lead.  Some days we may eat lunch at 11:30, sometimes it may be at 11:00.  The children will let us know when they are hungry, when to clean up, etc.  Sometimes they'll decide to stay inside at centers than go outside, even though our written schedule has it the other way around.  When the children have more lead, great things happen.

What are your next steps?
I would love to remove the clock from the walls.  A clock should not dictate how the day goes, and for that alone, it is worth removing.  I will ask my teacher about removing it for a week just to observe what changes will take place with out it.

Specific Blog Assignment 11

Having a connection to the natural environment is a vital aspect of not only our program, but our community.  This connection to the natural environment is a foundation of keeping one grounded to their birth land.  Children at our program enjoy outdoor time, as they are very physically driven.  We have classroom gardens, and are currently re-designing on of the gardens.  The children enjoy getting their hands dirty, finding worms, taking out weeds, and harvesting.  The check the papayas, avocados, and bananas daily, and will let us know if we need to pick them.  Whichever child picks them may take it home, eat it for lunch or give it to a friend.  We also take walks around the park, through nearby businesses, and to one of our two grocery stores.  On these walks, we spend time using all of our senses, listening to birds, smelling and looking at the beautiful flowers, and touching different textures of natural items.  Supporting their connection to the natural environment continues to enhance their responsibilties to the natural world.

I enjoyed reading about her vision, her drive,  and support.  Sarah was able to take an important aspect that she felt children were missing, create committees, use resources, fund raise, and build a long term curriculum that involves children, staff, parents, and community.  I recognize that many children in urban areas lack outdoor play and a connection to the natural environment, so having a director like Sarah can provide many learning opportunities that is life long and important.

Specific Blog Assignment 10

What disposition do you see Michelle bringing to leadership?
 Michelle's character is one of caring, taking risks, listening, ability to self-reflect, supportive, confident, and patient.  She has recognized that changes needed to be made, so she set goals to accomplish for the betterment of the program.  Having an ability so self-reflect is a strength within itself, and actually changing the areas that needs improvement are qualities of a great leader.

How are your dispositions similar to or different from Michelle's?
 As I self-reflect on myself, I notice that I can sometimes be very blunt about things that it may offend people even if it was not my intention.  I am very caring and supportive, but I have found to do things on my own as I have high expectations and I know that things will get done.  Some people have told me that I am a mover and a shaker, and even though it is a strength, it may also be damaging.  I would need to build a positive relationship with all of my staff, so I can trust their abilities and their commitment to change as change is usually for the good.  Like Michelle, I love to self-reflect as I believe it is my best way to be aware of what I can improve on.  I am caring, a risk-taker, and very supportive for the betterment of any program. 

What aspects for her vision appeal to you?
 Her vision of recognizing staff change over and making changes in every aspect to have a quality program.  Her changes included time, finances, support, meaningful trainings, and much more.  After making changes and becoming more of a mentor, she allowed and trusted other teachers to use their strengths and be mentors also. 

What could you imagine yourself doing that is inspired by this story of Michelle's work?

 I actually really liked interviewing candidates in small groups and having them on a probationary period, and beginning with non-child duties.  What is presented on a resume or job application doesn't provide a clear character of the individual.  What is on paper and how they apply their abilities are all different.  The meaningful trainings are very positive for the workplace; challenging the experienced teachers, and supporting the new ones.  Michelle's story is one of taking risk to making positive changes in the program by being a manager and mentor.

Specific Blog Assignment 9

How did Lettie integrate her leadership work from each side of the triangle?
Lettie had a great balance of utilizing each side of the triangle.  As a manager/overseer, she maintained a vision that guided her in her decisions.  She not only maintained her role as far as paperwork, she reached out for support when she needed to accomplish what needs to be completed.  Her role as the manager helped her with a coaching/mentoring role where she gave support for her staff by providing extra time for communication needs.  For her vision to actually work, she needed to provide needed time and support for her teachers to accomplish different tasks to meet the vision.  With this drive and support, she found creative ways of communicating with her families as she understands the importance of building a strong and positive relationship.  She created books, included family photos and also sent a teacher/child photo home, created a journaling system between the teacher and parent in regards to the child, had group conferences to help families learn about other children, and many other ways to promote and encourage communication. 

If you were to put relationships center stage in your management, coaching, and community-building routines, what routine or system might you want to start revamping?
As a director and teacher, understanding the value of having a positive relationship with families can be a drive to make communication center stage.  Learning of Lettie's creative ways to promote a strong communication base with families wants me to revamp communication on all sides of the triangle.  In my current role, I would love to revamp our current weekly newsletter.  I enjoy what we send home, but I really don't think 75% of our families actually read them.  Having another way to share the same information like having a blog might improve the communication barrier.  I am not a techy person, but having different forms of communication may enhance the relationship.  A weekly communication journal seems very interesting.  As a parent, I would've loved to have a journal as a form of communication.  Utilizing a journal to communicate the child's weekly events in school and at home in a from of a storybook becomes a wonderful treasure.  Would this work currently at my site?  Probably not as I think families view us as a babysitter, but it is definitely worth trying.

How would you describe Lettie's disposition?
Lettie's Building and Supporting Communication side of the triangle pushes her to utilize and balance skills from all sides of the triangle.  Her importance of communication with families can't be done alone, it takes all members of her site to make communication center stage, so she will do what is possible to provide the needed support for her staff. Lettie must be well organized, kind, yet authoritative hen needed.

What disposition do you want to strengthen in yourself to begin your revamping work?
I would really need to dig deep to clear my lens as I work towards revamping communication and building relationships.  Since I have a sense of being a 'babysitter', I think starting from a simple survey would give me a better idea of what could be easier for parents and what they expect from communication.  I wish that parents could do more for their children, but instead of thinking of how to change them, I must think of ways that I can better work with them so it helps them and teaches them along the way.  Revamping my own biases would have to be the first change in strengthening myself.

As a director, how does this statement "employees will spend roughly half their waking hours working and living in the environment you create as a leader" reflect in your managerial style?

As a director, understanding the amount of time employees spend in the environment that I have a role creating allows me to self-reflect and take a deeper look into the environment.  the environment created for the staff should be clean, comfortable, relaxing, with personal touches.  Where I currently work, our staff area is also a storage, but it seems more as a storage.  The clutter adds a negative vibe to what should be a positive place of comfort.  I always believed that if a manager supports and takes care of their employees, this same effort of support and care will then continue in the classroom.  The environment plays a big role in all areas of a center, and the energy executed from the layout can add negative and positive vibes.  As one director shared, he had a "funeral" as he began his role.  This funeral allowed everyone to burn away any negative feeling or thoughts.  By having a funeral, this was able to jump start their change into positive things.