ECED 4325-Early Childhood Program Development & Management I-Leadership Strategies and Staff Development

(Aim4Excellence Modules 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5)

After completing Module One: Leading the Way, you will be able to:

• Identify and describe the skills and competencies required for effective leadership
• Examine the values and beliefs that shape leadership behavior while also determining a compelling program vision and mission statement
• Interpret one’s unique leadership style
• Identify and apply ways to use your influence to empower others
• Recognize ethical dilemmas related to leading others
• Examine and apply one’s own leadership essentials within the framework of Whole Leadership

After completing Module Two: Recruiting, Selecting, and Orienting Staff, you will be able to:

• Recognize issues related to employee recruitment in the field of early care and education
• Develop and implement a model of continuous recruitment
• Review strategies to empower staff by involving them in the hiring process
• Examine strategies when screening, interviewing, and selecting candidates
• Apply fit criteria when selecting the best applicant
• Design and recommend a phased orientation of new employees

After completing Module Three: Promoting Peak Performance, you will be able to:

• Recognize and apply the concepts of motivation theory  
• Apply a developmental approach to supervision which includes the use of coaching/mentoring and individualized professional development plans  
• Use performance appraisals based on observation of practice to support reflective practice
• Promote a positive work environment based on embedded norms of communication, collaboration, and shared leadership 
• Identify strategies for managing conflict and difficult people  
• Describe the importance of a professional learning community to high-performing teams

After completing Module Four: Managing Program Operations, you will be able to:

• Examine the complexity of operational management and leadership, including the application of systems theory to support necessary operating systems   
• Identify stakeholders and manage a strategic planning process
• Investigate quality benchmarks related to program operations within the subscales of the Program Administration Scale (PAS)  
• Use specific tools for managing systems, including standard operating procedures, workflow analysis, calendars, and Gantt charts
• Explore additional health and safety policies and procedures to protect the early childhood program, the children, families, and program staff  
• Identify core elements of a disaster preparedness and emergency evacuation plan
• Review preventative best practices in risk management to avoid potential allegations of child abuse and neglect

After completing Module Five: Building a Sound Business Strategy, you will be able to:

• Identify core values related to business orientation  
  
• Examine legal forms of business ownership common to early childhood programs
• Investigate the quality benchmarks associated with budget planning as identified in the Program Administration Scale (PAS).
  
• Calculate a budget and cash flow projection to plan program finances 
  
• Review best practice use of program management software utilized to support office operations and enhance digital communication
• Identify approaches to grant writing, including responding to funding opportunities to blend or braid funds to support quality programming
• Apply best practices when implementing public relations and marketing strategies to enhance external customer relationships and program reputation

For technical assistance as you move through the modules, contact the McCormick Center HelpDesk via email McCormickCenterHelpdesk@nl.edu or call at 844-378-2464. All questions regarding course content, college credit, transcripts, and scholarships must be directed to the course instructor and/or your academic advisor at the University of Houston at Clear Lake.