Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  Post your questions for "From Survive to Thrive: A Director's Guide for Leading an Early Childhood Program"

    Posted 04-15-2019 01:49 PM

    Hello folks, 

    I am excited to launch this new discussion on the challenges that directors face in early childhood programs. We'll be using Debbie LeeKeenan and Iris Chin Ponte's book  From Survive to Thrive: A Director's Guide for Leading an Early Childhood Program as a guide, but all questions and comments related to the topic are welcome on this thread. 

    These questions will also be the basis of the interview of Debbie and Iris that will be moderated by NAEYC.


    I am going to start off with the first question:

    What have you found to be the most successful way to keep a healthy budget?


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    Sally Williams
    Director/Education Specialist
    Tempe, Arizona
    Las Vegas, Nevada
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  • 2.  RE: Post your questions for "From Survive to Thrive: A Director's Guide for Leading an Early Childhood Program"

    Posted 04-16-2019 05:21 AM
    I found as a Director some of the following items contributed to a healthy budget:

    • diversification of funding
    • engaging key stakeholders of the organization/business in the development of the budget
    • generating at least 18% profit or reserve funds in the case of an non-profit organization
    • collaborating with the Accountant and/or CFO in the development of the annual operating budget and the year to date budget document
    • using as realistic as possible figures to create the initial budget
    • using past budgets to create the current budget
    • making sure the budget provided evidence the organization/business would always have money to operate.


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    Robert Gundling, Ed.D.
    Better Futures LLC
    Senior Consultant
    Washington, DC
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  • 3.  RE: Post your questions for "From Survive to Thrive: A Director's Guide for Leading an Early Childhood Program"

    Posted 04-19-2019 01:32 AM
    What is the "elevator pitch" of this book and how might this book be of utility to my director's program?

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    James Morales
    Teacher
    Head Start
    Far Rockaway NY
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  • 4.  RE: Post your questions for "From Survive to Thrive: A Director's Guide for Leading an Early Childhood Program"

    Posted 04-19-2019 02:03 PM

    Those are helpful suggestions Robert and James your question about elevator pitch was a good one. Interested in seeing how the authors answer it. 

    As a director I had resistance when I brought in trainers on diversity subjects. No one explicitly said no, but I felt resistance. How do we as directors of small centers break that barrier?



    ------------------------------
    Sally Williams
    Director/Education Specialist
    Tempe, Arizona
    Las Vegas, Nevada
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Post your questions for "From Survive to Thrive: A Director's Guide for Leading an Early Childhood Program"

    Posted 04-20-2019 09:26 AM
    Priscilla wrote:  As a director I had resistance when I brought in trainers on diversity subjects. No one explicitly said no, but I felt resistance. How do we as directors of small centers break that barrier?

    That's such a good question, and I'm sure a common reaction among many staff.  One approach is using scenarios and looking at the scenario at a staff meeting and figuring out the stressors and perspectives of the child, teacher, parent, and administrator.  It avoids looking directly at each staff person's biases--something they may react against and then be unable to listen further--but gets to the heart of them and can help frame the child's perspective in a more compassionate way.  That can lead to a discussion of what adult biases may be at work in the scenario, how teachers and administrators might create a more welcoming environment for children, families, and staff who might be different than the usual center population, and might lead to some changes.

    If there are specific diversity topics that your staff seems to be reacting against let us know and we might come up with some sample scenarios.  I'm all for confronting biases directly and working directly to helping people recognize them and make changes but it's very easy for people to shut down and feel defensive.  The softer approach might needed as a leading-in.

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    Aren Stone
    Child Development Specialist
    The Early Years Project
    Cambridge, MA
    she/her
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  • 6.  RE: Post your questions for "From Survive to Thrive: A Director's Guide for Leading an Early Childhood Program"

    Posted 04-22-2019 06:28 PM
    How do we support anti-bias practices in our programming? Trainings, books, discussions? What are the best methods?

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    Temesha (Ms. Tessie) Ragan
    Family Child Care IF Facilitator
    Perfect Start Learning
    Family Child Care Provider
    Edwards, CA
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  • 7.  RE: Post your questions for "From Survive to Thrive: A Director's Guide for Leading an Early Childhood Program"

    Posted 04-26-2019 01:26 AM
    As a Family Child Care Provider I have found that keeping a Healthy Budget really involves me limiting my spending by focusing on projects instead of small things here and there. For example, I am currently working on creating STEAM kits for my classroom to switch out my STEAM Center. I have made up a list of the Boxes I want, researched the cost of the items and broken them down by affordability. I work on buying the things and work within the set budget I have for each month of new equipment. I have found that having a clear idea of what I need and keeping to allowed spending helps me maintain a healthy budget for my program.

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    Temesha (Ms. Tessie) Ragan
    Family Child Care IF Facilitator
    Perfect Start Learning
    Family Child Care Provider
    Edwards, CA
    ------------------------------