Leading with Heart: Why Empathy is the Key to Stronger Early Childhood Leadership

McCormick Institute for Early Childhood

BY Paula Steffen, M.A. | March 12, 2025

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

Let’s talk about something that doesn’t always get the spotlight in leadership discussions—empathy. Often overlooked and categorized as a “soft skill,” empathy is rarely listed as a top leadership quality, yet it plays a crucial role in success. If you are a center director, coach, or leader in early childhood education, your role goes beyond keeping schedules on track and ensuring compliance with licensing and various funding streams –it’s about people. Your teachers, children, and their families rely on you. Empathy is the glue that holds it all together.


Looking at key leadership frameworks and research, we see that empathy isn’t just a complementary trait; it’s a fundamental strength that can transform your leadership effectiveness. Effective early childhood leadership requires the integration of administrative leadership, pedagogical leadership, and leadership essentials. Examples of how empathy strengthens each of these domains are listed below:


Administrative Leadership:


  • Creating schedules that consider staff’s personal obligations
  • Developing policies that balance program needs with staff wellbeing
  • Managing resources in ways that show you understand classroom challenges


Pedagogical Leadership:


  • Supporting teachers’ professional growth with sensitivity to their learning styles
  • Providing feedback that acknowledges both strengths and areas for growth
  • Understanding and accounting for different teaching philosophies


Leadership Essentials:


  • Building trust through consistent empathetic responses
  • Making decisions that demonstrate care for all stakeholders
  • Fostering a culture where emotional intelligence is valued


WHAT MAKES EMPATHY A LEADERSHIP STRENGTH?


We hear a lot about qualities like confidence, organization, and decision-making in leadership. But what about the ability to truly understand and connect with those around you? That’s where empathy shines. According to Strength-Based Leadership, the best leaders don’t try to be good at everything—they lean into their natural strengths. If empathy is one of yours, you have an incredible tool to build relationships, boost morale, and create a culture where people thrive. Research shows empathetic leaders:


  • Recognize and meet their team’s needs. When teachers feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or unsupported, you notice—and you step in with understanding and solutions.
  • Create a culture of trust. When people feel heard, they feel valued, and that leads to a team that’s more engaged and invested.
  • Foster collaboration. Empathy helps you navigate conflicts and create an environment where teamwork flourishes.
  • Make better decisions. Considering different perspectives leads to solutions that truly work for your staff, children, and families.
  • Reduce burnout. When educators feel seen and supported, they’re more likely to stay in the field and continue making a difference.


FIVE WAYS TO CULTIVATE EMPATHY IN LEADERSHIP


If empathy isn’t one of your strongest traits but you’d like to strengthen this skill, here are some steps to help you develop it.


  1. Listen—really listen. Put down the to-do list and be present in conversations.
  2. Try perspective-taking. Before making a decision, ask yourself how it impacts your teachers and families.
  3. Be open about your own challenges. Vulnerability builds trust and connection.
  4. Support staff well-being. Encourage breaks, check in on emotional health, and offer resources.
  5. Model empathy daily. Your team follows your lead—set the tone with compassion and understanding.


EXAMPLES OF APPLICATION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD SETTINGS


Empathetic qualities can be applied in early childhood programs in the following ways:


Daily Leadership Practices


  • Start meetings with genuine check-ins
  • Practice active listening without immediately problem-solving
  • Take regular walks through classrooms to sense the emotional climate
  • Keep a reflection journal about team dynamics


Program Development


  • Create mentorship programs that emphasize emotional intelligence
  • Develop professional learning communities that support emotional growth
  • Establish feedback systems that honor all perspectives


Staff Support


  • Implement regular one-on-one check-ins
  • Create safe spaces for sharing concerns
  • Develop emotional intelligence training opportunities
  • Recognize and celebrate emotional competence


Empathy is not just a leadership trait; it is a transformative strength that enriches early childhood centers. When leaders cultivate empathy, they create an environment where educators, children, and families thrive. By embedding empathy into leadership practices, early childhood directors and coaches can build resilient teams, foster emotional intelligence, and ultimately enhance the quality of early childhood education.


As you reflect on your own leadership journey, consider: How can you use empathy to strengthen your impact today?


REFERENCES


Rath, T., & Conchie, B. (2013). Strengths based leadership: Great leaders, teams, and why people follow. Gallup Press.


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


Sipe, J. W., Frick, D. M. (2009). Seven pillars of servant leadership: Practicing the wisdom of leading by serving. Paulist Press.

Paula Steffen, M.A., is the Manager of Quality Supports and Evaluation for the Center for Early Childhood Leadership in the McCormick Institute for Early Childhood at National Louis University. In this role, she serves as a National Anchor for the Program Administration Scale (PAS) and Business Administration Scale for Family Child Care (BAS). Previously she served as a State Assessor conducting assessments using the PAS, BAS, Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS), and Environment Rating Scale (ERS) tools for ExceleRate – Illinois’ Early Childhood Quality Rating and Improvement System. In addition, she was the Illinois State Assessor Anchor for the PAS, BAS, and Infant Toddler Rating Scale (ITERS). Prior to joining McCormick in 2007, Paula was the Professional Development Manager for Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, co-owned a child care center, and worked as a director and professional development advisor in both Head Start and community college-based programs. Paula holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in family and consumer sciences from Iowa State University and a Masters of Education in early childhood administration from National Louis University.

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A Leadership Coaching Model for Impact: Building on Decades of Evidence and Experience at the McCormick Institute for Early Childhood

By Natalia Ambrozek, Wendy Connell, Lisa Downey, Robyn Kelton, Leslie Layman, Erin Cetera • July 23, 2026
Natalia Ambrozek, B.S. , is a Leadership Coach and Training Specialist at the McCormick Institute for Early Childhood at National Louis University. Natalia earned a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in French at DePaul University and has since completed her ESL endorsement. She has served in the McCormick Institute as an Assessor and Quality Assessment Coordinator prior to her role as a Leadership Coach. Previously, Natalia taught for over 10 years in Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms in Chicago and has experience as an Assistant Director. Natalia is also part of the Illinois Southland chapter of NAEYC and an alumnus of the Maria Whelan Leadership Institute. Wendy Connell, M.Ed. , is the Manager of Early Childhood Leadership Coaching at the McCormick Institute for Early Childhood. Wendy has been with the organization since 2017, serving as the IDHS Report and Certification Specialist, then Leadership Coach for the Smart Start Quality Support program. She is also an adjunct professor in ECE at Waubonsee Community College. Throughout her career, Wendy has been a director of early childhood programs, an elementary school teacher, educator, volunteer coordinator, supervisor, and family child care provider. Dr. Lisa Downey is the Executive Director of the McCormick Institute for Early Childhood at National Louis University (NLU), where she oversees all programming and operations. She leads a team of 75 staff dedicated to advancing the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) profession through leadership, applied research, community and policy engagement, and innovative professional preparation. With over 35 years of experience in the field, Dr. Downey’s career includes roles as a toddler classroom teacher, child care center director, Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) resource developer, training coordinator, and Director of Provider Services at Illinois Action for Children, where she managed CCR&R professional development for the Chicago area. She has been a faculty member at NLU for more than 15 years. Today, Dr. Downey focuses on addressing the complex challenges facing the ECEC workforce, creating scalable solutions that support the profession and ensure children, families, and communities thrive now and in the future. Robyn Kelton, M.A. , is the Director of Data and Evaluation for the McCormick Institute for Early Childhood at National Louis University (NLU). In this role, Robyn oversees the McCormick Institute’s research interests regarding evaluation and quality support tools, including Program Administration Scale (PAS) and Business Administration Scale for Family Child Care (BAS), the Early Childhood Work Environment Survey (ECWES), and the Administrator Role Perception Survey (ARPS). Robyn also oversees research related to the evaluation needs of the professional learning initiatives at the Institute as well as the relationship between evaluation tools and program quality, workforce retention, and leadership development. Other research interests include cognitive and developmental psychology, memory development, and learning. Robyn holds a Baccalaureate degree in psychology from the University of Kansas (KU) and a Masters of Arts degree in psychology with an advanced certificate of study in organizational psychology from NLU. Robyn is currently a doctoral candidate in the brain, behavior, and quantitative science Ph.D. psychology program at KU. Prior to joining the McCormick Institute in 2006, Robyn worked as lead teacher in a kindergarten classroom for an after-school program and lead teacher of a 4-5 year old classroom at a child care center. Leslie Layman, M.S. , is the Senior Director of Professional Learning and Innovation at the McCormick Institute for Early Childhood at National Louis University. In this role, she supports professional learning, including training, academies, coaching, and learning design. Prior to joining McCormick, Leslie was the Director of Early Childhood Education Strategic Initiatives at National Louis University, Director-Teaching and Learning Programs at Harry S. Truman College, and had many years of experience in early intervention, home visiting, and supporting children with developmental delays and their families. She holds Baccalaureate degrees in Psychology and Italian from University of Wisconsin, and a Master of Science in Child Development with a specialization in children with special needs from Erikson Institute. Erin Cetera, M.S. , serves as Senior Director of Quality Assessment at the McCormick Institute for Early Childhood at National Louis University (NLU), where she leads a team of nearly 40 professionals who conduct program assessments and deliver quality improvement training throughout Illinois. With more than four decades of experience in early childhood education, Erin has held a wide range of leadership and instructional roles, including preschool teacher, child care center administrator, college demonstration center director, and adjunct faculty member, teaching early childhood education courses for over 20 years. She joined NLU in 2018 as an Assessor and Training Specialist and has since advanced to her current leadership role. Today, Erin is dedicated to highlighting the steady improvements taking place in early childhood programs across Illinois. Guided by a deep commitment to young children, their families, and the professionals who support them, she champions efforts to create high-quality learning environments that foster positive outcomes for all. Let me know if you need anything else.
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