Child Care Center Administrators Tools and Professional Learning



Professional Learning for Child Care Center Administrators

The McCormick Institute’s Center for Early Childhood Leadership offers professional learning, expert guidance, research-based tools, and support for continuous program improvement. Our professional learning opportunities are designed to help child care center administrators collect, analyze, and use data to reach quality improvement goals.


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Why Training is Beneficial

Research consistently finds that high-quality administrative practices are crucial for ensuring beneficial results for children and families.

“To widen your knowledge of effective leadership and management skills, you must take this training. You can't lead or manage effectively if you do not have the tools to communicate openly and honestly with your staff, parents, and teachers.”


Testimonial from a Child Care Center Director who participated in Widening the Lens training.


Different Training Options

Program Administration Scale (PAS) Overview Training












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Miscellaneous Trainings

Change is Good…You Go First!


Whether you're leading a classroom, a team, or an entire school, motivating yourself and others to embrace change is one of the toughest challenges in education—and often a major source of frustration. So, how do you take the first step and inspire others to follow? This session delves into the fascinating science behind how people change and offers practical, proven strategies to overcome common barriers and lead the way with confidence and purpose.


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The Honeycomb and Beyond: Learning to see your program from a systems perspective, developing systems to sustain quality, and understanding how power influences operations


Similar to a honeycomb, early care and education programs are complex systems. Without an understanding of systems thinking, a director is at a disadvantage and less likely to develop and sustain quality practices over time. Through a simulated game, participants will gain an understanding of the interconnectedness of their organization to a larger system. Participants will learn that they can no longer focus on one aspect of a system, such as classroom quality, and expect the organization to make lasting, sustainable change. Instead, a systems approach that considers a variety of components beyond the classroom must be addressed. Power differentials within a child care program will be explored, giving participants the opportunity to identify with structures of power and explore how power is used and viewed among staff. Participants will embark on a journey evaluating the practices that currently exist in their programs and how they can develop and improve upon systems to create more efficiency and effectiveness.


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The individuals listed below successfully completed Assessor Reliability training on the Program Administration Scale (PAS). During the training, they achieved reliability, became Certified PAS Assessors, and maintained that certification.

FAQs or Process for Working With You

  • How do I get started?

    Contact us! We will set up a meeting with you to learn more about your group’s needs and create a customized training program.

  • Are the trainings in-person or online?

    We have live in-person training, live virtual training, and self-paced online learning options. Contact us!

  • Is there a way to customize the training?

    Absolutely! We work with you to customize the package that best suits your group’s needs.

  • Can your trainers travel to where my group is located?

    Yes! Our staff frequently travels to different locations nationwide to deliver these professional learning sessions.

  • Is there any evidence of the impact of this work?

  • What other resources do you have?

    We have a library of eResources which include articles about topics relevant to early childhood administrators. 

The individuals listed below successfully completed Assessor Reliability training on the Program Administration Scale (PAS). During the training, they achieved reliability, became Certified PAS Assessors, and maintained that certification.

History for Training Program

The McCormick Institute’s Center for Early Childhood Leadership has a rich history of developing leadership in early childhood administrators.