Aim to Invest in YOU!

This document may be printed, photocopied, and disseminated freely with attribution. All content is the property of the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership.

Over the past several years, the early childhood field has shined a spotlight on the importance of professional development. While the light initially focused on teaching staff, the light is now shining even brighter on the importance of building early childhood program leadership capacity. What does this mean for you? It’s time to “Aim” to invest in you!


The McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership was one of the first organizations to launch professional development initiatives for early childhood leaders. Three decades later, there are multiple opportunities provided and one in particular, Aim4Excellence™, has just been completely revamped, including updated content, a new design, digital enhancements, and alignment with the competencies of the Whole Leadership Framework.


The McCormick Center’s Whole Leadership Framework was designed to clarify leadership in early childhood education at the program level and consists of three domains: Leadership Essentials, Administrative Leadership, and Pedagogical Leadership. This framework applies to individuals working in schools, centers, and homes, serving children birth through age eight and providing a consistent and comprehensive view of early childhood program leadership.


Let’s look a little more closely at the framework in relation to the nine modules provided by the Aim4Excellence program curriculum:


LEADERSHIP ESSENTIALS


Leadership Essentials include foundational skills in reflective practice, communication, and relationship building—critical for all facets of leadership and often expressed in leadership styles and dispositions.

  • Module 1-Leading the Way supports program leaders in understanding the vital role played in creating and sustaining program excellence.
  • Module 3-Promoting Peak Performance assists program leaders to understand the central role they play in supervising staff and building a learning community by guiding teachers to become reflective practitioners.
  • Module 9-Evaluating Program Quality for Continuous Improvement focuses on the critical role that program leaders provide by modeling for staff and demonstrating to families, a program’s commitment to ongoing inquiry and quality improvement.


ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP


Administrative Leadership involves maximizing team capacity to develop and sustain an early childhood organization with both operational and strategic leadership functions to include advocacy and connecting with their communities.

  • Module 2-Recruiting, Selecting, and Orienting Staff increases program leaders’ understanding of and ability to implement effective, ethical, and lawful employment practices.
  • Module 4-Managing Program Operations expands program leaders’ understanding of systems-thinking to evaluate and implement efficient, strategic, and important management systems to alleviate risk within early childhood program settings.
  • Module 5-Building a Sound Business Strategy introduces program leaders to the decisions regarding organizational structure, finances, and the way of caring for existing and prospective customers.


PEDAGOGICAL LEADERSHIP


Pedagogical Leadership addresses the complexity of teaching and learning in settings that serve young children, birth through third grade.

  • Module 6-Designing Indoor and Outdoor Environments strengthens program and leadership capacity to plan, evaluate, and improve indoor and outdoor environments for infants, toddlers, pre-K, and school-age children to create the highest quality setting for children, families, and staff to thrive.
  • Module 7-Supporting Children’s Development and Learning builds capacity to advance children’s development and learning by helping leadership establish and strengthen staff competencies for teaching and caregiving.
  • Module 8-Facilitating Responsive Family Engagement increases leadership’s influence, activates strategies to promote family engagement, and strengthens connections between families, programs, and community resources.


As you can see, each module has been carefully crafted to fit within a professional development solution, covering the competencies necessary for early childhood program leadership to increase the quality of services and to advance the field in support of young children and families.


Aim4Excellence is recognized by state professional development systems that link with quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS) across the country, institutions of higher education, scholarship agencies, and is recognized as an alternative pathway for meeting part of the director qualifications for NAEYC program accreditation. Access this working list to see if your state participates and find more information about college credit options.


Empower and invest in yourself by completing all nine self-paced modules to earn the Aim4Excellence National Director Credential, or select one or more modules to build competence in a specific leadership domain. Maximize your leadership competencies by investing in you!


Learn more at: https://mccormickcenter.nl.edu/services/national-director-credential/


References: 


Abel, M., Talan, T., & Masterson, M. (2017, January/February). Whole leadership: A framework for early childhood programs. Exchange Magazine. 22-25.

Masterson, M., Abel, M., Talan, T., & Bella, J. (2019). Building on whole leadership: Energizing and strengthening your early childhood program. Lewisville, NC: Gryphon House.


Jane Humphries, Ed.D., is the Aim4Excellence Specialist for the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership at National Louis University. She has earned undergraduate degrees in Family and Child Development, a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, and a doctoral degree in Occupational and Adult Education from Oklahoma State University. Her experience in the field of early childhood has included serving as director of an NAEYC accredited program, child and parenting specialist, researcher, program administrator of several government-funded initiatives in Oklahoma, college instructor, and published author.

By Barb Volpe July 14, 2025
by barb volpe This summer, as I dove into Mindset : The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck, I found myself reflecting on the books that have shaped how I think, lead, coach, and grow—not just as a professional, but as a person. These books have informed how I show up in my work: how I support others, design and facilitate professional learning, and continue to learn myself. So, I thought I’d share what’s on my shelf—the books I’ve read and returned to, and the ones I’m looking forward to next. Maybe one will speak to you, too. Books I’ve Read (or Reread) This Year (These have sparked recent insights or support current work.) The PD book: 7 Habits that Transform Professional Development by Elena Aguilar and Lori Cohen . I love a book that is a perfect blend of the “why” and “how to” for designing transformational professional development. I am a big fan of Elena Aguilar’s books, and this is one of my favorites. Lose the Lecture: Engaging Approaches to Early Childhood Professional Learning by Teresa A. Byington . Another great book with lots of tips and strategies to engage early childhood adult learners. This book is great for those who facilitate (coaches, mentors, early childhood directors, and trainers). It gave me new tools for designing interactive sessions. Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard by Chip Heath and Dan Heath . A go-to resource on leading change, packed with memorable stories and practical strategies. The ideas of “directing the rider, motivating the elephant, and shaping the path” stuck with me. The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever by Michael Bungay Stanier . This book is approachable, concise, and surprisingly powerful—it offers a way to ask key questions for coaching in your regular routine. Onward: Cultivating the Emotional Resilience in Educators by Elena Aguilar . I found myself returning to this throughout the year. It’s not just a book—it’s a companion through the ups and downs of working in education. Books I Return to Again and Again (These books live close by. They are grounding, uplifting, and continue to offer new insights no matter how many times I read them.) Learning to Listen, Learning to Teach: The Power of Dialogue in Educating Adults by Jane Vella . Every time I revisit this book, I’m reminded of the power of listening and true dialogue in adult learning. A must-read for anyone who facilitates learning. Circle of the Nine Muses: A Storytelling Field Guide for Innovators and Meaning Makers by David Hutchens . A playful and powerful guide to using storytelling in professional settings. I return to it when I want to bring more heart and creativity into facilitation. Inspiring Peak Performance: Competence, Commitment, and Collaboration by Paula Jorde Bloom, Ann Hentschel, and Jill Bella . An excellent guide for leaders aiming to build strong teams. It offers frameworks that feel grounded in real early childhood contexts. Reflecting in Communities of Practice: A Workbook for Early Childhood Educators by Deb Curtis, Debbie Lebo, Wendy C.M. Cividanes, Margie Carter . A hands-on, thoughtful workbook that helps teams go deeper together. The reflection prompts are gold for peer learning teams and coaching. The Art of Awareness: How Observation Can Transform Your Teaching by Deb Curtis and Margie Carter . Reading this feels like an invitation to slow down and truly see children. A beautiful reminder of why observation matters. Leading with Heart and Soul by Toni Christie . A heartfelt book on leadership that blends personal reflection with professional purpose. It speaks to the soul of early childhood leadership. I simply love this book; it brings me back to my “why”. Graceful Leadership in Early Childhood Education by Ann McClain Terrell . This book models leadership that is dignified, values-driven, and relationship-based. It’s like a wise mentor in book form. The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander . This book helps me reframe challenges and step into possibility. It’s equal parts philosophical and practical—a favorite when I need inspiration. Books Waiting for Me (On my “to-be-read” list, each is chosen with curiosity and intention. I’m looking forward to what they will teach me!) Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact by Dan Heath and Chip Heath Joy, Inc.: How We Built a Workplace People Love by Richard Sheridan Small Teaching: Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning by James M. Lang Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor Respect: An Exploration by Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot Exit: The Endings That Set Us Free by Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot These books have informed how I lead, learn, and reflect. I share this list not as a prescription, but as an invitation. I’d love to hear what’s on your bookshelf! Here are a few questions to get you thinking: What is a book that shaped your thinking or affirmed your values? Which titles do you return to again and again—and why? What kind of learning or growth are you seeking right now? Is there a book that might support that journey? What book would you recommend to someone stepping into leadership for the first time? Is there a story or quote from a book that has stayed with you? Each time I finish a good book, I feel like something in me has shifted—even if just a little. The stories, ideas, and questions stay with me and often show up in unexpected ways in my work and life. As Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. said, “The mind, once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions.” I share this list not because I have all the answers, but because these books have helped stretch my thinking—and maybe one or two of them will do the same for you.
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