McCormick Institute for Early Childhood

BY Marie Masterson | January 18, 2019

A woman wearing glasses and a suit is smiling in front of a flag.

Sim Loh is a family partnership coordinator at Children’s Village, a nationally-accredited Keystone 4 STARS early learning and school-age enrichment program in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, serving about 350 children. She supports children and families, including non-English speaking families of immigrant status, by ensuring equitable access to education, health, employment, and legal information and resources on a day-to-day basis. She is a member of the Children First Racial Equity Early Childhood Education Provider Council, a community member representative of Philadelphia School District Multilingual Advisory Council, and a board member of Historic Philadelphia.


Sim explains, “I ensure families know their rights and educate them on ways to speak up for themselves and request for interpretation/translation services. I share families’ stories and experiences with legislators and decision-makers so that their needs are understood. Attending Leadership Connections will help me strengthen and grow my skills in all domains by interacting with and hearing from experienced leaders in different positions. With newly acquired skills, I seek to learn about the systems level while paying close attention to the accessibility and barriers of different systems and resources and their impacts on young children and their families.”

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

Essentials are items or attributes absolutely necessary or extremely important to your needs and goals. What are essentials for you? Car keys? Cream in your morning coffee? An umbrella for a rainy day? Time at the gym after work? Essential things have significant impact.


Leadership essentials create positive impact in your program. What qualities motivate and engage staff? How will you respond to a difficult email when someone’s feelings are on the line? How can you mediate a disagreement or resolve a conflict?


When a situation is complex and requires more than a few lines or a decision is at stake, it is always better to meet in person or chat by phone. If video conferencing is an option, that’s a perfect way to establish a connection and brainstorm solutions. When someone’s feelings are on the line, it’s always better to pick up the phone and have a conversation. What you say can be clarified, revised, or explained; whereas, what is written may not come across as intended. Personal communication provides important cues to what is really going on.


With a priority on saving time and responding quickly, you may be tempted to write instead of call. It will pay off to consider the best means of responding. An email works to clarify plans, restate mutual decisions, or share information. When it comes to solving problems, personal connections work best. Successful outcomes are dependent on your ability to inspire growth, cooperation, and commitment in others.  


Leadership essentials cultivate a healthy and productive program. Staff feel safe, understand their value, and work toward shared goals. Traits for effective leadership include self-efficacy, empathy, creativity, authenticity, humility, transparency, adaptability, and ongoing learning. These qualities are strengthened through tools of communication, team-building, awareness of self and others, cultural competence, ethical conduct, intentionality, the ability to motivate others, and a deep knowledge of the profession. Essentials are the foundation blocks for effective leadership practice. This kind of skilled leadership is critical to high-quality practices for child development and early learning.


Making leadership essentials a priority will move you forward to new milestones in your leadership journey. The following action steps will help you apply leadership essentials in practical ways.


  1. Determine your strengths. What areas of your work are a snap and feel enjoyable? List your “snaps” and the reasons you feel good about this area of your work.
  2. Identify at least one challenge. What is it about this situation that is complex? How will applying a leadership essential make a difference?
  3. Create a weekly action step. Purposeful action steps move you from thinking mode to action mode and impact your professional growth. “Today, I will read one chapter of the leadership book I bought a month ago.” “Today, I will connect with a staff member to strengthen our relationship.” “Today, I will practice empathy (or another leadership essential) in my relationships with families.”
  4. Post the leadership essentials. Establish leadership essentials as anchors for your program norms and practices. Invite staff to share their thoughts about these important ingredients of success. Explore the whole leadership framework as a way to clarify your goals, communicate the importance of your work, and help your staff understand their influential contribution to your program.
  5. Find a mentor and be a mentor. Identify a professional colleague with traits you admire. Make a phone call and ask, “May I have coffee with you? I would like to ask about your work.” Set a regular meeting time to learn how they strengthen their work with leadership essentials. Offer to be a mentor to share your strengths with others.


Dream big! Check out new resources for growth at the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership. Today is a great time to give yourself the gift of leadership inspiration by participating in Leadership Academies or eLearning experiences. In addition to changing your own life, you will create a more meaningful community of growth for staff, families, and children. 


Marie Masterson, PhD, is the Director of Quality Assessment at the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership at National Louis University. She is a national speaker, child behavior expert, researcher, and author of multiple books and articles that address high-quality teaching, early care and education, and parenting.

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Building Community Partnerships for Lasting Impact

By Cara Murdoch and Sherry Rocha • December 12, 2025
By Cara Murdoch and Sherry Rocha Community collaborations can strengthen your early childhood program, expand services for families, and increase your visibility and credibility as a trusted resource in the community. But effective partnerships don’t begin with a phone call—they start with a plan. Start with internal planning Before reaching out to community members or organizations, gather insights from your internal team. Hold a brief planning meeting to discuss goals, identify needs, and build a shared vision for collaboration. Consider including: Members of your board of directors or advisory board Program staff members Interested family members and parents of enrolled children. REVISIT your mission and goals A clear, shared understanding of your program’s purpose will guide effective partnerships. Before reaching out to community members or organizations, gather insights from your internal team. Hold a brief planning meeting to discuss goals, identify needs, and build a shared vision for collaboration. Consider including: What is your mission? What strengths and expertise do we bring to the community? What challenges do our enrolled families face? What support or resources would be most helpful? What can we offer potential partners in return? Clarity about these questions will ensure that your outreach to community members and organizations is focused and meaningful. Learn about local resources Begin exploring the services and organizations that exist in your community. These may become valuable referral partners or direct collaborators. Examples include: Early intervention services Family support agencies Mental health providers Multilingual tax-preparation volunteers Knowing these resources helps you connect families with the help they need. share your space and services Your early childhood center may be a valuable asset for other groups. Consider offering your space to other programs or groups to strengthen your role as a community hub. Possibilities include: Scouting America or Girl Scout meetings Parenting workshops or support groups Health screenings or nutrition programs Community committee meetings participate in community events Raising visibility in your community opens doors to partnership. Become involved in: Neighborhood clean-up days Local fairs or festivals Library literacy events Cultural celebrations School district events These types of interactions naturally build trust and relationships. build and expand your network Partnerships often begin with small conversations or shared goals. Stay curious and connected—the more people you meet, the more opportunities arise. Potential collaborators include: Museums Public libraries Human services departments Colleges and universities Local schools Cooperative Extension services Hospitals and clinics Banks and financial advisors Mental health agencies Early intervention programs Remember: partnerships are mutually beneficial Successful collaborations are built on: Clear communication Shared goals Appreciation for each other’s strengths A commitment to supporting families and the community Whether the support you receive is financial, advisory, or educational, strong partnerships help everyone thrive. A final thought Community partnerships don’t happen overnight. With the proper planning, your early childhood program can become a powerful and connected resource in your neighborhood. Start small, stay open to ideas, and let relationships grow.
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