"Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other."
- John F. Kennedy
Get involved

Upcoming Event

Dine & Discuss

The Future of NYC's Early Childhood Agenda: Implications for Leadership

The Early Childhood Leadership Initiative is proud to present the next event in our Dine and Discuss Series. Each session focuses on a different aspect of leadership in Early Childhood Education and features a moderated panel discussion with a diverse group of professionals. Join us for an evening with leaders from the NYC Department of Education, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and Administration for Children's Services. Each city agency will share their vision and mission for early childhood education and its leadership.

Tuesday, October 23rd 2018 | 6:00pm - 8:00pm

New York, NY

About the Leadership Initiative

Learn more and get involved!

Get involved to engage with mentors, receive coaching, and participate in cohort groups.

Contact us to learn more about the initiative or other ways to get involved.

leadershipinitiative@earlychildhoodny.org

(718) 254-7353

The excellence of early childhood programs is reliant on the quality and caliber of the leader. The program leader sets the mission, vision, philosophy, and culture of a program. And yet, too many leaders come to the work with limited knowledge and expertise in early childhood management and leadership. The New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute, in partnership with the NYC Department of Education lead the Leadership Initiative, designed to support the professional development and success of current leaders and prospective leaders in the early childhood field. The Leadership Initiative and this website provides early childhood leaders, as well as those who aspire to leadership roles in the future, with resources and opportunities to engage with their peers around the city and support professional development promoting access to excellence for all young children.

How to get involved

Early childhood leaders, as well as those who aspire to leadership roles in the future, are welcome to participate in the Leadership Initiative in a variety of ways. If you are interested in fuller participation in the Leadership Initiative, we encourage you to apply to become a member of a cohort. You can also always attend Leadership Initiative events

Continue to visit this website for up-to-date leadership information and resources. If you know someone who may benefit from this information, please email us at leadershipinitiative@earlychildhoodny.org and provide his or her contact information.

Book Discussion

This month, our book group is reading:

Leading for Change in Early Care and Education:
Cultivating Leadership from Within
by Anne Douglass


Children's Program Administrator Credential

The Children’s Program Administrator Credential (CPAC) is a state-recognized credential that addresses the components essential for running early childhood and school-age programs. Both new and experienced administrators may choose to obtain the credential, as well as current teachers who aspire to administrative positions. Those individuals without program management experience will need to complete an internship to obtain the credential.

Learn more about the CPAC on our Career Development Services page.


Leadership News and Resources

Leading for Children Innovative Ideas Award

The Leading for Children Innovative Ideas Award is an opportunity to identify the great ideas of early childhood program educators and to share the most promising, nationally, to reach the early learning community and ultimately, more children.

Applications must be received between March 1 and April 24, 2018

Learn More


Listen! Sherry Cleary on Leadership

Sherry Cleary, Executive Director of the New York Early Childhood Institute shared her thoughts about the importance of leadership with HiMama's The Preschool Podcast