As a member of the Western New York Leadership Initiative, you are invited to join our networking meetings! Meeting topics are driven by your questions and needs. Participants will send questions in advance of the meeting or come to the meetings with questions, strategies and resources to share and an interest in listening and learning from others' experiences. This is a space to share stories, strategies, feelings, ideas, resources, and words of encouragement about leading an early childhood program in Western NY.
Sessions Available Between Thursday, January 18th 2024 and Thursday, December 19th 2024
Members of the WNY Leadership Initiative are invited to join our networking meetings. Meeting topics are driven by your questions and needs. Participants will send questions in advance of the meeting or come to the meetings with questions, strategies and resources to share or an interest in listening and learning from others' experiences. This is a space to share stories, strategies, feelings, ideas, resources, and words of encouragement about leading an early childhood program in WNY.
Networking in the evening is from 6 to 7 p.m.
Sessions Available Between Thursday, January 18th 2024 and Thursday, December 19th 2024
There are so many pieces to leading a child care program that sometimes we forget the basics and the practices we started with - like policies and procedures, vision, hiring practices, mission and documentation. Please join QUALITYstarsNY and the Western NY Leadership Initiative for this three-part learning community to reflect on those leadership practices. We will discuss policies and procedures, staff retention and documentation.
The learning community is listed 'a la carte, please register for the sessions you are interested in (all 3 or just 1 or 2).
March 13 (virtual): Sherry Phillips will be our guest facilitator and will lead the discussion on program policies and procedures.
April 10 (virtual): We will welcome a group of ECE leaders to guide a discussion on various staff retention strategies and practices.
August 14 (hybrid): Sherry Phillips will be our guest facilitator and lead the discussion of documentation for an early childhood program.
Sessions will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p. m.
Sessions Available
Wednesday, March 13th, 12:30pm - 2:30pm
Wednesday, April 10th, 12:30pm - 2:30pm
Wednesday, August 14th, 12:30pm - 2:30pm
Come join the Resource Fair hosted by the WNY Career Development Center, WNY Leadership Initiative and the Child Care Resource Network. We have invited various local organizations that support the ECE field and/or individuals in the WNY area. This will be a time for you to visit various WNY Resources in one place and learn about their services.
This event is being held at the Child Care Resource Network. 1000 Hertel Ave Buffalo NY 14216
Tuesday, April 9th 2024 5:30pm - 7:30pm
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. Sign up below to start to receiving our periodic newsletter and event announcements!
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The Leadership Initiative serves leaders from all areas of early childhood, including direct services and support services in family/group family homes, centers, schools, shelters, and faith based settings. Non-direct care leadership roles such as system leaders, policy advocates, and promoters of our workforce are also supported by our community.
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 leads 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 provide early childhood leaders, as well as those who aspire to leadership roles in the future, with resources and opportunities to engage with their peers and support professional development promoting access to excellence for all young children.
Our monthly newsletter offers a round-up of the latest Leadership Initiative events, the books we're reading, member spotlights, resources and opportunities. If you signed up as a member, you'll already be getting our next issue!
Read the Latest: February, 2024 Browse our newsletter archiveWe've compiled a list of degrees and credentials that leaders can pursue to advance their careers and enrich their practice. From NYAEYC credentials to Master's degrees for school principals this guide will help you find your next step in your journey.
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.
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