The Leadership Initiative Newsletter

In this issue:

• highlight on our January Leadership Panel Discussion
• share upcoming events
• Leadership Mentoring
• spotlight on a leader's journey with her coach
• resources and professional development opportunities 

Happy New Year!
In this edition we review and share our many activities and experiences from the past year. As we look back on 2020 we are ever more energized to continue this work into the new year with so many amazing early childhood professionals in New York City and across the state. This year has brought our field so many challenges, along with a full range of emotions and experiences. The passion, innovation, dedication, creativity, collaboration, and most importantly CARE, that you all demonstrated this year is astonishing. Thank you for your time, thoughts, engagement, and expertise.
We are a diverse, passionate, and talented workforce!

• 2020 NYC Events and Offerings
• 2020 Member Spotlights
• Thoughts and Reflections from Our Members
• Leadership Initiative Expansion
• Children's Program Administrator Credential Courses
• Career Development Center Services

• Past Event Highlight: Virtual Film Screening & Discussion "Resilience: The Biology of Stress & The Science of Hope"
• Upcoming Event: Early Learning Guidelines Professional Learning Session for Leaders
• Upcoming Event: Weekly Networking Meetings
• Upcoming Event: How Full is Your Bucket Book Group
• Reading Corner: Research Release "Quality UPK Teaching in Diverse Settings"
• Leadership Blog Series
• Member Spotlight: Dr. Yessenia Rosario-Adon
• Resources and Professional Development Opportunities

• Past Event Highlight: Survive to Thrive Webinar Chapter 9
• Past Event Highlight: Leadership Panel Discussion "Interdisciplinary Perspectives: Developing a Trauma-Informed Approach to Your Leadership"
• Upcoming Event: Learning Community on Emotional Resilience
• Upcoming Event: Book Group "How Full is Your Bucket"
• Upcoming Event: Networking Meeting Every Wednesday 4pm-5pm
• Member Spotlight: Aimee Rycholowski, Education Director, Maspeth Town Hall Community Center
• Leadership Blog Series: "Lessons in Leadership" A Spotlight on our Leaders
• Reading Corner: "The Teaching Brai"n by Dr. Vanessa Rodriguez
• Reading Corner: "What We Believe: A Black Lives Matter Activity Book" by Lalena Garcia
• Self-Care: Quotes and art from Morgan Harper Nichols
• Resources & Professional Development Opportunities

• Event Highlights: Survive to Thrive Webinar Chapter 9, September 23rd
• Event Highlights: Leadership Panel Discussion Interdisciplinary Perspectives: Developing a Trauma-Informed Approach to Your Leadership, September 29th
• Resource Highlight: Remote Learning Resources and Practice Considerations
• Reading Corner: 2020 Exchange Leaders
• Reading Corner: NY Early Care and Education COVID-19 Survey
• Member Spotlights: Mercedes Flor, Education Director at The Early Childhood Learning Center Programs Inc., LaGuardia Community College
• Member Spotlight: Jeanette Monninger, Educational and Leadership Coach, NY Early Childhood Professional Development Institute

• Event Highlights - Speaker Series: Melodie Baker "Lessons in Leadership, Race, and Gender"
• Event Highlights: Survive to Thrive Webinar Chapter 8, August 12th
• An Opportunity for NYC ECE Leaders: Join the NYC Leadership Initiative Advisory
• Resource Highlight: Considerations for Reopening: Webinar Series for Early Childhood Programs
• Reading Corner: NY Early Care and Education COVID-19 Survey
• Reading Corner: Equity in Action: CUNY Early Childhood Workforce Scholarship
• Reading Corner: Trauma and Young Children: Teaching Strategies to Support and Empower by Sarah Erdman, Laura J. Colker, Elizabeth C. Winter
• Member Spotlights: Denise Fairman, Director at Tender Tots Child Care and Learning Center
• Member Spotlight: Vidya Ragoo, Quality Improvement Specialist at QUALITYstarsNY

• Event Highlights: Speaker Series with Elena Aguilar "Cultivating Emotional Resilience" June 29th 2020
• Upcoming Event: Survive to Thrive Webinar Chapter 7 July 15th
• Upcoming Event: Speaker Series with Melodie Baker "Lessons in Leadership, Race, and Gender: A Conversation with Melodie Baker" August 4th 10am
• Member Spotlight: Sori Palacio, Assistant Director at Borough of Manhattan Community College Early Childhood Center
• New Resources from the Institute: Considerations for Reopening - Webinar Series for Early Childhood Programs
• Member Spotlight: Simone Taylor, Quality Improvement Specialist at QUALITYstarsNY

• Event Highlight: Panel Event - "Leadership In A Time of Crisis"
• Upcoming Event: Survive to Thrive Webinar Chapter 6 June 10th
• Ongoing Event: Book Group - Virtual Podcast Edition
• From the Institute: The Early Childhood Employment Network
• From the Institute: The Institute Blog - Teaching, Leading and Caring
• Member Spotlight: Stephanie Honorat, Infant Toddler Master Teacher at FirstStepNYC SCO Family of Services
• Member Spotlight: Emily Marmolejos, Educational Director at La Escuelita
• Member Spotlight: Elizabeth Bala Soto, Quality Improvement Specialist at QUALITYstarsNY

• Upcoming Leadership Initiative Events: Survive to Thrive Webinar Chapter 5 May 6th
• The Institute Blog: Teaching, Leading and Caring
• Staff Update: Jenna Pettinicchi New Leader of the Leadership Initiative
• Member Spotlight: Teresa Bello Pre-Kindergarten Special Education Teacher in a Special Class Integrated Setting (SCIS) P.S. 185 The Locke School of Arts and Engineering

• Event Highlight: Survive to Thrive Webinar Chapter 4 - April 8th
• Reading Corner: Three links to valuable leadership articles
• Reading Corner: Three links to articles dealing with Racial Equity and White Supremacy during COVID-19:
• Member Spotlight: Steve Castar - Early Childhood Coach, New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute
• A Virtual Care Package: Self Care links to help you take care of yourself in these challenging times.
• Resources & Professional Development Opportunities

• Event Highlight: Survive to Thrive Webinar Chapter 3 - March 11th
• Book Group - March 9th: Unconscious Bias in Schools: A Developmental Approach to Exploring Race and Racism by Tracey E. Benson and Sarah E. Fiarman
• Book Corner: Handbook for Early Childhood Administrators: Directing with a Mission by Hilde Reno
• Member Spotlight: Mallory Tompkins Chief Learning & Partnerships Officer 82nd Street Academics
• Early Childhood Events & Trainings
• Professional Development Resources & Opportunities

• Event Highlight - Dine & Discuss: Advancing Equity in Early Childhood
• Book Group - February 24th: Unconscious Bias in Schools: A Developmental Approach to Exploring Race and Racism by Tracey E. Benson and Sarah E. Fiarman
• Member Spotlight: Kataryna (Kasia) Kaim-Goncalves Director Greenpoint Garden Playhouse
• Early Childhood Events & Trainings
• Professional Development Resources & Opportunities

• Our 2019 Year in Review Newsletter. A review of our events, our impact, thoughts from our members, and a round-up of our member spotlights.
• Member Spotlight: Serene Stevens Coach, CUNY PDI Leadership Initiative and Adjunct Professor, Borough of Manhattan Community College
• A Preview of What's to Come in 2020
• The CUNY Workforce Scholarship grant for part-time CUNY students who work in regulated early childhood programs and are studying early childhood education.

• Dine & Discuss - Advancing Equity in Early Childhood: Who is leading and toward what? Thursday December 6
• Book Corner: Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs by Ellen Galinsky
• Book Corner: Courageous Leadership in Early Childhood Education: Taking a Stand for Social Justice by Susi Long, Mariana Souto-Manning, and Vivian Maria Vasquez
• Member Spotlight: Maggie Stein Education Director Brooklyn Preschool of Science - Brooklyn Heights
• Congratulations to our Executive Director The New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute's Executive Director, Sherry Cleary, Named University Dean of Early Childhood Initiatives
• Early Childhood Professional Development Opportunities

• Event Highlight: Early Childhood Director's Conference, October 28th
• Book Group - October Lead from the Outside: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change by Stacey Abrams
• Event Highlight: Dine & Discuss, Implicit Bias - November 12th
• Book Corner: Leading Anti-Bias Early Childhood Programs: A Guide for Change by Louise Derman-Sparks, Debbie LeeKeenan, John Nimmo
• Book Corner: How Toddlers Thrive by Tovah Klein
• Member Spotlight: Kate Tarrant Director of Research and Evaluation, New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute
• Information and Resources from the Field: Featured Blogs, Newsletters, Websites/Publications

• Event Highlight: Early Childhood Director's Conference with keynote speakers Iris Chin Ponte and Debbie LeeKeenan
• Event Highlight: Dine & Discuss - September 18th Self Care for Early Childhood Providers
• Book Group: September - October Lead from the Outside: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change by Stacey Abrams
• Registration Reminder: Children's Program Administrator Credential (CPAC) Fall Semester
• Book Corner: Unsmiling Faces: How Preschools Can Heal by Lesley Koplow
• Book Corner: Bottom Line for Children's Programs, Revised: What You Need to Know to Manage Your Money by Gwen G. Morgan and Bess R. Emanuel
• Member Spotlight: Gina Pierre-Louise, Family Worker, United Community Centers, Inc.

• Event Highlight: Book Group, "The Art of Possibility"
• Book Corner: Families & Educators Together: Building Great Relationships that Support Young Children, by Derry Koralek, Karen Nemeth, and Kelly Ramsey
• Book Corner: Not Just Small Change: Fund Development for Early Childhood Programs by Roberta L. Bergman
• Member Spotlight: Member Spotlight: Tamara Rowe, Family Child Care Support Manager, Department of Education

• Event Highlight: Networking Meeting, "Changes in Practice as Educational Leaders"
• Book Corner: Supervision in Early Childhood Education: A Developmental Perspective by Joseph J. Caruso and M. Temple Fawcett
• Book Corner: What You Need to Lead An Early Childhood Program: Emotional Intelligence in Practice by Holly Ellis Bruno
• Member Spotlight: Shelley Benvenuti, Education Director, Little Friends School

• Event Highlight: Dine & Discuss, "Transitioning from Public to Private and Private to Public Sector Positions"
• Book Corner: The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander
• Book Corner: Strengths-Based Leadership: Great Leaders, Teams, and Why People Follow by Tom Rath
• Member Spotlight: Our CPAC Graduates! Congratulations to our Leadership Initiative Members: Benjamin Thomas, Annie Mayor, and Wanda Nedderman for completing their Children's Program Administrator Credential this spring.

• Event Highlight: Book Group, Educated: A Memoir
• Book Corner: Start With Why: How Great Leaders Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sineck
• Book Corner: Prove It!: Achieving Quality Recognition for Your Early Childhood Program by Rachel Robertson and Miriam Dressler
• Member Spotlight: Mahwish Dhanpat, Director, Kon Gen International Preschool

• Event Highlight: The NYAEYC Conference
• Are You a Member of NAEYC?
• Event Highlight: Transitioning from Public to Private and Private to Public Sector Positions, 5/9/2019
• Book Group: Educated by Tara Westover
• Member Spotlight: Wanda Nedderman, Owner & Director, Sanctuary Family Child Care

• Event Highlight: Leadership Speaker Series with Anthony Barrows from Ideas42
• Book Corner: The Visionary Director: A Handbook for Dreaming, Organizing, and Improvising in Your Center by Margie Carter & Deb Curtis
• Book Corner: Coaching with Powerful Interactions: A Guide for Partnering with Early Childhood Teachers by Judy Jablon, Amy Laura Dombro, & Shaun Johnsen
• Member Spotlight: Christine Wicks, Pre-K Director, DREAM Charter School

• Event Highlight: Book Group, Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
• Book Corner: Blueprint for Action: Leading Your Team in Continuous Quality Improvement by Paula Jorde Bloom
• Book Corner: Graceful Leadership in Early Childhood Education by Ann McClain Terrell
• Member Spotlight: Eloise Boston, Director, Bedford Stuyvesant Early Childhood Development Center

• Book Corner: Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts by Brené Brown
• Book Corner: From Survive to Thrive: A Director's Guide for Leading an Early Childhood Program by Debbie LeeKeenan and Iris Chin Ponte
• Member Spotlight Ben Thomas, Literacy Coach/Supervisor of K-4 Literacy Instruction, Rosalyn Yalow Charter School

• The first Leadership Initiative Newsletter!
• Book Corner: Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts by Brené Brown
• Book Corner: From Survive to Thrive: A Director's Guide for Leading an Early Childhood Program by Debbie LeeKeenan and Iris Chin Ponte
• Member Spotlight: Jasmin Corniel, Founding Director, Little Scholars Early Development Center