Early Learning Community Analysis

Achieving a school district’s mission and vision requires the commitment of its stakeholders. In order to involve them in the process, it is necessary for educational leaders to “motivate staff, parents, students, board and community members” (Educational Leadership Constituencies Council, 2002, p. 4). The transformational leadership theory emphasizes the importance of educational leaders acting as role-models in order to motivate and inspire the school community. This approach has the potential to involve all stakeholders, leading to increased student success (Bush, 2007). The Assistant Director of Special Education in Northwest ISD directly supervised the school district’s assessment staff. Her education, experience, and passion set an example for her subordinates, stimulating them to achieve more, leading to her promotion to Executive Director of Student Services.

Preparing to teach young children is an intense process, Tal agrees when he says “Leading the classroom proactively while remaining alert to various people, behaviors, and others factors necessitates thoughtful and complex planning” (145).

Leadership is a sociocultural construct underpinned by the beliefs and values of a society (Waniganayake, Cheeseman, Fenech, Hadley, & Shepherd, 2012). Leadership in early childhood have shifted the focus from one designated leader into a more collective approach – distributed leadership, which is not about delegating. As Cheeseman (2012) states, in early childhood settings, attention is often directed at administrative and management leadership (Waniganayake et al., 2012); however it is important to have a designated leader in the areas of development and implementation of curriculum and pedagogy – being the educational leader as a requirement of the National Quality Framework – whilst at the same time see educational leadership as a

As an early childhood educator I believe each child is an exceptional unique individual that needs to be provided a secure and loving environment in which they are able to grow emotionally, physically, socially and intellectually. My longing is to help each and every one of my students explore their creativity, understand their emotions and learn self-regulation along with social skills and the best of academics that I can possibly provide. The role I have as an educator is to guide my students while allowing them to explore their curiosities about the world around them and academics to blossom while teaching respect and caring for others.

According to former Indiana state superintendent of schools Dr. Suellen Reed, “We know from our research that there’s no turnaround school without a turnaround principal” (as cited in Gammil, 2007, para. 2), further supporting the fact that “school leaders have an essential role in cultivating a positive school culture in public schools” (Peterson and Deal, 2002, p.30). However, it is imperative to improve our understanding as to how principal leadership impacts the school culture in high poverty schools to ensure that all children receive a quality education, regardless of zip code, in an environment conducive to learning. The six measured factors are as follows:

Literature states that leadership is displayed as a persistent and positive activity (Fitzgerald and Gunter, 2008 cited in Siraj-Blachford and Hallet, 2014, pg.9). According to Rodd (2006), early childhood practitioners need to be effective leaders to make sure their roles and responsibilities are carried out effectively. Although leadership can be learned or developed, it is important that all individual gains access to professional training and opportunities to practice, refined and broadened (Rodd, 2006). Therefore, the importance of leadership and implementation to the setting is recognized by all Early Years Leaders. Leadership can be displayed as a process in which one person, usually it is the leaders role and responsibility to set the purpose or direction for one or more other persons. Then later on gets them to move along together with him or her and with each other in that direction with competence and fill commitment. (Jacques and Clement, 1994, cited in Briggs and Briggs, 2009). Siraj-Blatchford and Hallet (2014) adds that leadership is also known as a process for personal and professional learning and development; organizational change and improvement. Rodd (2013) defines leaders working in early childhood sector as people who are able to influence the behaviours of others to achieve a certain goal or planned outcome. Similarly, leadership in the early childhood sector appears to be more of a result to groups of people who work together to influence and inspire

My philosophy of Early childhood education is based on research that indicates that a child’s growth is developmental. Every child is unique in terms of life experiences, developmental readiness, and cultural heritage. A high quality early childhood program that provides a safe and nurturing environment, which promotes physical, social, emotional, language and cognitive development will ensure a positive continuation of the child’s education process

The second area is, “Creating improved better connected education for preschool and elementary children.” This section addresses the fact that preschools are required to work with public schools to prepare students for the standards taught in kindergarten. This also helps students when they get to third grade and take state assessments. For teachers, the pressure is increasing for

The purpose of Response to Intervention is early detection and identification of learning concerns of students and the development of an individualized plan that addresses the appropriate prescription for resolving the students’ academic or behavioral issue. In our twenty-first century learning communities, students are required to participate and are engaged in educational activities that may challenge their ability to grasp the concept in manners conducive to their learning styles. Schools are challenged to examine their methods of instruction to meet the needs of all children making them successful in all areas of academic content. “A quality school is a place where students learn to think and apply knowledge to new situations, where students are involved in and excited about their learning, where students make individual gains in process and knowledge, where adults know they care about individual students,

Early childhood education must always be changing and evolving to meet the needs of the children and families that we serve. In the short term for this school, the plan is to implement a new curriculum for students 2 and under. The plan is to re-train teachers and add new equipment to the classrooms when expansion becomes available. Long term, the plan is to open a second school.

During my freshman year, I also took part in an organization called “Inspiring minds” that is supported by the Providence College Education club. “Inspiring Minds” is an organization that places people into Providence inner-city classrooms to work with a group or a single student as a mentor to help them with their schooling as well as act as role models. From October until May, I worked in a Kindergarten ELL classroom with a diversity of children and challenges. Although I greatly enjoyed being welcomed every week by thirty adorable six year olds smiling and running to give you a hug, I despised the way the classroom was ran. Based off both my intuition and the lessons the professors at PC have engraved in my memory, the classroom was not well managed, lacked community and procedures, and the teachers did not act appropriately. My experience in

Community based learning is the optimal learning experience for students. This is when practice can be put into action. Students can go to the store and practice finding their hygiene supplies where they are in located in the store. Also, students can go to the dentist. The dentist or the dental hygienist can have a lesson for the students on proper oral healthcare and explore different models of teeth. Another place for students to visit could be a beauty salon. There the students could learn the best basic skin care, basic learning of how to apply different makeup looks, and hair care routines. Students can learn to go to a department store and learn about the layout of the store and have them decide which department they need to shop in for their age. Then have them try on clothes, in the fitting room to ensure privacy, that are

Through careful interpretations, and observations at my community based learning site, I was able to observe and distinguish real-life situations outside the books we read and use in class. This has aided me understand more about kids and how to help them build a strong foundation for their future. My community based learning (CBL) site is a model, which has opened my eyes to comprehend more about life and different life stories for me to become a better person in the future. For instance, a picture on the wall at the ascension after school program building which says, “Treat people the way you want to be treated”, has made me realize the fact that if I want to be treated with respect, then I must treat others with respect. This has helped

The interview on educational leadership was with a principal of a high school, Nancy Johnson, who is in charge of about two hundred students. Out of the two hundred students, about sixty-eight percent of the students are Caucasian, thirty-five are economically disadvantaged, twenty-seven percent are Native Americans, and four percent have disabilities. Due to the high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, the district also receives federal funds to aide in supporting the academic interventions in the district. In this paper, issues, both highlights and challenges, about the leadership role within a school of this nature will be spotlighted.

School improvement is transformation. It is one of the most important actions of a school. It is a process that schools must use with fidelity to ensure that at all students are given the opportunity to perform and achieve at exemplary levels. School improvement is vital to schools and it is a process that cannot be done in isolation. It requires team work, collaboration, and constant analysis of data and setting of goals. School improvement goals focus on how to meet the needs of students. Addressing the educational needs, funding, and achievement gaps between subgroups is collaborative effort involves everyone that has a vested interest in the schools. These basic measures set the foundation for improvement. And so, if it is the