Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  Challenges You Face As A Director

    Posted 04-23-2019 12:14 PM
    ​​Hello! Ever have one of those Tuesdays that likes to dress up like a Monday?  As I just met with my team about some of our daily "opportunities for growth" aka "challenges", I thought I'd hop on and see what everyone else is grappling with as they lead their childcare center in providing high quality program services for children and families. What season is your center currently going through? We all know those particular times of the year that may be more energetic than others: summer camp, transitions, fall enrollment, professional development, center culture & community etc. Or maybe it's a smaller bucket item like...meal service, parent conferences, environments, special events etc. For me on this beautiful sunny Tuesday afternoon, I have been doubly blessed and have two things: a parent who let me know that a beloved shirt passed down through sons and worn on picture day got washable paint that is not so washable on it! Whaddya gonna do? I also received the resignation of a staff member who is definitely a positive asset to my kitchen and meal service. She would like to change careers. So tell me, how do you move through your day and support these moments in your center?

    Look forward to hearing from anyone who would like to share and maybe we can help each other out!


    ------------------------------
    Rosalind Johnson
    Regional Manager
    Bright Horizons
    Atlanta, GA
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Challenges You Face As A Director

    Posted 04-24-2019 07:57 AM
    I love this conversation!  I don't think there is enough out there to support directors as we move through these daily challenges, because they do happen daily!  I try very hard to maintain optimism even when it feels like the sky is falling, which can be extremely emotionally taxing.  I have a great team of educators, but things happen.  Parents get angry, staff quit...but I truly feel that seeing problems as opportunities makes a difference.  I try to communicate often with my staff.  I'm super jealous that you have a chance to huddle every day... I would love to make that a practice but with our current schedule it's difficult.  We work very hard to cultivate reflective practices in our program.  So when we encounter an obstacle we think about all of the possibilities.  We have recently taken up the practice of using The Thinking Lens after some work we did with Deb Curtis.  This is a great tool to help us reflect on things that happen and make decisions. 

    You are definitely not alone!  This is totally the nature of being a director!

    Alissa Mwenelupembe, MAE

    Director of Early Learning

    (812) 424-4780, ext. 290

    (812) 425-2502 Fax

    www.stvincentcenterforchildren.org

     


    Mission:

    Founded on the values of the Daughters of Charity, St. Vincent's is an accredited early childhood education and care center that starts all children on a pathway to lifetime success and coordinates programs and services to help their families thrive.

     

    Confidentiality Notice:

    This email message and any accompanying data or files is confidential and may contain privileged information intended only for the named recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient(s), you are hereby notified that the dissemination, distribution, and or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you receive this message in error, or are not the named recipient(s), please notify the sender at the email address above, delete this email from your computer, and destroy any copies in any form immediately. Receipt by anyone other than the named recipient(s) is not a waiver of any attorney-client, work product, or other applicable privilege.

     







  • 3.  RE: Challenges You Face As A Director

    Posted 04-25-2019 10:01 AM
    I agree with the amount of support out there. I have found that some days it isn't the big items that get to you..staff quit/ short staffed and people or their children get sick and you are struggling to cover them AND get your own list done.  Some days it is the smallest issue that can derail you from your goals. I have found that your amount of self-care is what keeps you productive.. taking time to just unwind.. not as easy as it sounds.. but SOOO important.

    ------------------------------
    Amber Bowers
    Bristol IN
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: Challenges You Face As A Director

    Posted 04-25-2019 02:24 PM
    The Mondayest Tuesday ever! That is a saying in our office. I really like how you title challenges as opportunities for growth. I am a strengths based person and I like this way of thinking. The way that I have learned to work through parent concerns is to 1) listen, 2) acknowledge the parents feelings, 3) Make a plan for the future, and if possible 4) research ways to get paint out of clothing;). I have had this conversation with a parent before. It is always hard when you have a staff member leave your program. Often the responsibility for covering falls to you as the Director which means you now have another job and less time to get your own tasks completed. This is the challenge of Directors/ Principal/ Supervisors. I hope this will be an opportunity to recruit a great employee for you. I also hope it is quickly. If you don't have time to take a full break, at least take 3 minutes to deep breath and visit your happy place in your mind. If possible see if any of your other employees are willing to help with tasks that don't necessarily have to be done by you. I hope this helps. I really appreciate you posting to start this discussion.

    ------------------------------
    Crystal Balback
    Head Start of North Idaho
    Post Falls ID
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Challenges You Face As A Director

    Posted 04-26-2019 09:47 PM
    Im not a director, but I am an assistant director of sorts. How do you get people to rise to what you need them to do? No one wants to be that guy, but I feel that sometimes I become that guy. You have to come back from breaks on time. You have to call if your not coming. The challenge when you are in charge, but your title does not say you are in charge. This is little stuff, not budget, but it is the little stuff.

    ------------------------------
    James Morales
    Teacher
    Head Start
    Far Rockaway NY
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: Challenges You Face As A Director

    Posted 04-28-2019 10:33 AM
    I am one of two directors and I have a hard time with these challenges! People coming back late, not turning in paperwork or doing required webinars...I don't want to be constantly reminding them to do things, but when we have a discussion about what we expect and the next day the staff are back to their old ways it gets very frustrating!! Anyone have ideas to help??

    ------------------------------
    Sarah Disch
    Education Director
    The Goddard School
    Chanhassen MN
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: Challenges You Face As A Director

    Posted 04-29-2019 11:40 AM
    ​Hey Sarah and James,
    You are asking the age old questions we all want to know the answers to but unfortunately must seek, try and seek again! Because what works for one staff member may not necessarily work for another. This is where knowing your staff before the challenges arise comes in handy. Those touch points along the road where interactions with staff show you exactly who they are and give clues as to how they need to be supported. For example; having a more senior staff member who continually says things like "these kids today" or "folks always on their phones and the internet" etc. will be no surprise to you when you find out she hasn't submitted her lesson plan because you now do that electronically, or doesn't update the daily experience sheet because you now do that on an app on an Ipad or is behind on her observations because you use the Teaching Strategies Gold app / online submission. Through those prior touch points you can already have a discussion and a plan in place for that staff member to support her success. What would that look like? Having her write down all of those things and finding that kind technologically savvy staff member who can whip through those apps in a heart beat. She is still putting her knowledge and expertise in it and another staff member is learning the lesson that leaders serve and her service is supporting her growth. For the staff members that are late I have to have a conversation with them that includes the question - How can I support your successful time and attendance at the center? Is it a season you are going through? Are there family obligations that may require a temporary change in your schedule? Do you feel you can be successful with these hours or do we need to look at another schedule? Understanding of course as Directors you must staff to the needs of your center. Have a conversation with someone facing a time and attendance issue at your center in order to see how you can serve them and turn around their performance is not being weak but being a smart leader. Static schedules don't work for everyone because life happens. Look at scheduling alternatives that provide a little more flexibility. Finally, there's no other way around it. Teachers play important, vital roles in the center and we need them to be on time and prepared. When they aren't the impact is felt throughout the center. At your next staff meeting hold a town hall about Time and Attendance and ask them what can be done to turn the tide around? Your role as Director and leader is educating on the expectation and providing consistent response and follow through to time and attendance issues. It may hurt for a minute when you move to this approach but what's the alternative? At my center I moved to non-static schedules. No one works the same schedule all the time. In fact, our staff decide on their schedules within their suite. They choose from 4 shifts with the understanding that all shifts must be covered. This allows flexibility based on whatever season they may be going through. I do realize that it may not be an option for everyone however so I would love to hear other ideas for this common childcare center challenge.

    ------------------------------
    Rosalind Johnson
    Regional Manager
    Bright Horizons
    Atlanta, GA
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: Challenges You Face As A Director

    Posted 04-28-2019 09:16 PM
    Hi, James, your question is a challenging one. I am sure you have heard it said that "Everything comes back to management" and it is so true. A good leader / manager is one who hold high expectation for him or herself and others. That leads by example, and fairly with respect 'Calling one out' when they do not hold to the standards that are set. 
    When one is a strong leader it is easy for others to fall in line under them. A weak manager has staff that has low morale, cuts corner, and are stressed, for they don't feel safe at work. Can you understand that?
    Just like a strong teacher has less disruption in her classroom because the rules are enforced, To the children their fair but strong teacher is some one they can depend on, respect and feel safe with.
    It is not being a hard noise on everything, but being consistent on the "What Matters"
    In any company every one knows who is really in charge. They might not have the title, but they are the go to person when they need advice, something fixed, information on how to handle a parent, understanding etc. When you have a manager that is understanding, is firm and clear on what is expected, is fair, and hard working their 'employees of character' will fall in line under them.

    I hope that helps.


    ------------------------------
    Christine Luna
    Newborn Specialist
    Parenting Coach
    Only Happy Noises
    Painesville. OH
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: Challenges You Face As A Director

    Posted 04-29-2019 11:40 AM
    Hi Rosalind!

    I love that you've started this conversation, because quite frankly, it's one that needs to be had. 

    I've learned a lot from my Director in the last about two years that I've been the Assistant Director-- how she handles challenging situations so gracefully and has faith that everything will work out the way it's supposed to. 

    From big challenges to smaller challenges, we continue to lean on one another and support each other to get through the tough times. We listen, we communicate, we reflect, we move forward. 

    Self-care definitely plays a role in getting through tough times because if you're not taking care of yourself, you're not going to have the strength to handle these opportunities for growth and that's when things begin to fall apart. 

    Also, maybe you and your staff could go out to lunch together or happy hour where you can all take a mental break from work, but also be there to support each other in other aspects- cut loose! We just had happy hour on Friday evening and it was so nice to catch up with one another (of course there was some work talk in there, but it was still nice to be out of our normal work setting)!

    ------------------------------
    Sara Fox
    Assistant Director
    CrossRoads Children's Center
    Simi Valley CA
    ------------------------------