Leadership Initiative Events

The Western New York and Finger Lakes Leadership Initiative invite you to a panel discussion with early childhood advocacy organizations. Join us to learn how these organizations support young children, families, and the early childhood field and how you can get involved.

Studies indicate that preschool students face expulsion at rates more than three times higher than K-12 students. How can we address this concerning statistic? Join us for a Leaders Café to examine expulsion and suspension practices in early childhood education.

This is a two-session virtual event.

The Leadership Initiative welcomes Susan MacDonald as our speaker.

A culture of appreciation happens when everyone feels valued, respected, and seen for their unique strengths. This presentation will inspire you to incorporate easy-to-implement strategies for building positive relationships and bringing a renewed sense of joy to your school community!

This engaging session will explore positive communication techniques, the Appreciative Inquiry model, impactful frameworks, reflective exercises, and a team assessment form.

You will leave with a clear path to creating resilient relationships and a positive, supportive, respectful environment for children and adults. Participants will also receive a reflection guide with actionable tips, strategies, and resources to help you create a culture of appreciation!

This is a virtual event, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The Early Childhood Leadership Initiative is excited to introduce a new professional learning opportunity — the Leaders Café! We’ll engage with videos, podcasts, TED Talks and other multimedia to explore a range of topics relevant to the early childhood community. We’ll provide you with resources and materials for discussion!

Join the Finger Lakes Leadership Initiative’s first Leaders Café. This Leaders Café will be a time to reflect and explore bravery in leadership. We’ll discuss how we accept our mistakes, take risks, support our team, and build a culture of not being perfect.

This is a two-session virtual event.

Join the Leadership Initiative and the Advocacy Institute for a special virtual conversation about advocacy. If you ever wondered about the policies that impact you, your team, and children and families in New York State, this is a great chance to learn more.

This event is for all those in Early Childhood Education who are interested in learning more about Early Head Start, and how to potentially start their own program/relationship. Prepare to hear from experienced individuals who are advocating and supporting children and families across New York State.

An important role of any leader is growing and nurturing the development of up-and-coming leaders within the field.

Leaders with innovative succession planning practices cultivate a new generation of leaders by strategically creating opportunities for employees to explore leadership responsibilities.

Hear from a panel of experienced early childhood leaders on how to: 

• Plan leadership development for the next generation
• Establish a strategic process for succession planning
• Leverage succession planning as a staff retention tool 
• Explore the technical and adaptive challenges of succession planning

The Leadership Initiative is pleased to bring you a valuable opportunity to develop your core business practices. Join Erica Chase-Gregory​, Regional Director of the Small Business Development Center at Farmingdale, as she leads a 3-part professional learning community where you will:  

• Build a strong business foundation
• Evaluate how legal structures and tax rules impact your business
• Calculate the true cost of care for each child in your program 
• Analyze market rate and what it means for your business
• Create a record keeping and budgeting system
• Identify community resources to support next steps in making informed business decisions 

Please note this event has a limited number of seats and is exclusive for family child care and group family child care Leadership Initiative members. 

Join us for the next Finger Lakes Leadership Initiative Book Group to discuss the book:

Leading for Change in Early Care and Education: Cultivating Leadership from Within by Anne L. Douglass. Douglass’s book examines an important and timely, yet often overlooked, challenge facing the early care and education profession: a leadership development gap. A gap which interferes with the ability to enact meaningful, systemic change. Having worked directly with children and families in various settings for almost 20 years before entering higher education, Douglass recognizes the valuable expertise of early educators in addressing the unique challenges of early care and education. In this book she boldly calls for a re-envisioning of access to leadership in the field.

This two-session book group will meet virtually on 3/7/24 and 3/28/24. Those who register will be provided with a copy of the book. Registration will be capped at 15, and a waitlist will be made available. Due to a limited number of books available, please only register if you can commit to attending and participating in both dates fully.

Join the Council for Professional Recognition for a virtual information session to learn more about becoming a Child Development Associate (CDA) Professional Development Specialist. 

If you enjoy mentoring, meeting new people, and observing educational environments, becoming a PD Specialist may be for you! PD Specialists use their expertise in early childhood education to assess CDA candidates' competencies and facilitate reflective conversations with candidates. PD Specialists receive an honorarium from the Council for each Verification Visit they conduct.

Join us to learn more! 

The Finger Lakes Leadership Initiative invites you to join our monthly virtual networking meetings. Our meetings create a space for us all to connect, to share ideas and learn from each other’s experiences in a community setting.

Members who are supporting or directly leading early childhood learning spaces are all welcome.

These virtual conversations are held via Zoom on the third Tuesday of every month. One session is held in the afternoon and another in the evening.

We are proud to welcome you to a follow up event with Imani Missouri on biases in early childhood. This event is intended as an opportunity to continue our conversation from our October event and deepen connections with others in the community.

At our October event, Imani led us in deepening our understanding of what unconscious bias is (and isn’t!) with an interactive session. We spoke in breakout rooms and as a large group about our experiences and ways to both identify and interrupt biases when we notice them happening. This space may have also included moments of discomfort and stretching ourselves with new ideas.

Our follow up event is by invitation only to members who attended our October Speaker Series event. We welcome you to join us to continue our conversations from October and reflect on what has come up since then. This time together will include experiences in small groups with participants from across NYS. Since we’ll have interactions in break out rooms, we encourage you to register if you are interested and able to attend the full event with your camera/microphone. We hope to see you there!

The Early Childhood Leadership Initiative is proud to present the Playmaker Project, facilitated by Ant Toombs Sr. The Playmaker Project provides “play-based, trauma-informed training and support for early childhood professionals.” Playmakers offer a framework that enhances existing priorities and increases social and emotional wellness among kids and staff.

The Leadership Initiative encourages leaders to join with an open heart and mind, learning techniques to bring optimism, joy, and healing to themselves, to staff, and to children.

Optimism matters. An optimistic disposition enables us through everyday and extraordinary struggles  to look for the goodness in ourselves, in others, and in the world around us. For professionals working with young survivors of trauma, optimism isn’t just a critical tool; it’s the pathway to healing for kids in need. This inspiring, interactive presentation helps individuals discover the power of optimism to create safe, joyful, engaging environments where kids can grow, heal, and learn. Using research, humor, and personal stories from 30+ years in the field, Playmaker Project Guides share how optimistic individuals can bring out the best in their students, colleagues, and leaders.

We invite you to our next virtual Finger Lakes Leadership Initiative Book Group featuring "The Waymakers" by Tara Jaye Frank. Tara Jaye uses case studies and storytelling to demonstrate our role as leaders in making equity a meaningful part of our workplace. Tara Jaye gives practical examples of how to facilitate changes for equity beyond written policies in a staff handbook.

Join us if you're ready to reflect on diversity, inclusion, and the opportunities you hold as a change maker and leader in your learning space.

This two-session book group will meet on 11/7/23 and 11/28/23. Those who register will be provided with a copy of the book. Registration will be capped at 15, and a waitlist will be made available. Due to a limited number of books available, please only register if you can commit to attending and participating fully in both dates. Registration will close on 10/20/23.

We welcome early childhood leaders to join us for a time of reflection and self-exploration in this three-part learning community. We'll watch "Reflecting on Anti-Bias Education in Action: The Early Years" and discuss the themes from the film.

This work features vignettes of anti-bias strategies for early childhood classrooms and educators throughout reflecting on their practice. We'll have prompts to support our reflections as leaders in this work. Anti-bias education has many entry points for learners of all ages; the authors have created four anti-bias goals to guide us for these sessions. 

Registration for this online series is available to all Finger Lakes Leadership Initiative members. Registration is limited, and a waitlist will be made available. Please sign up if you're able to join us for all three sessions. If you're not a member, join!

We are proud to welcome you to our next Speaker Series event featuring Imani Missouri. She brings to us an opportunity to deepen our understanding of what unconscious bias is (and isn’t!) in an interactive session. Unconscious Bias is used often in our field, and together with Imani, we’ll talk about the differences between biases and racism. We’ll pause to reflect on our experience with the content and consider ways to attend to ourselves in these moments. This space may have moments where we sit bravely with productive, but transformative, discomfort.

All are welcome in this space. This time together will include experiences in small groups to learn with participants from across NYS. We aim for each participant to leave with the framework for a personal goal to increase their awareness of biases in their life and leadership role. Since this event includes interactions in small group break out rooms, we encourage you to register if you are interested and able to attend the full event. We hope to see you there!

The Southern Tier and the WNY Leadership Initiative have collaborated to present the upcoming Leadership Panel Discussion “Trauma Informed Supervision”.  Our expert panelist will share information to empower early childhood leaders in creating environments that support their staff and their needs. Our panelists will share their career pathway to their current work, along with understanding the effects of trauma and strategies for leaders to build resilience practices within.

As early childhood leaders and educators, you’ve probably noticed the “generation gap,” or how people born in different generations may think and behave differently — and you may have even experienced generational differences among your colleagues or early childhood educators at work. We invite you to join the Early Childhood Leadership Initiative for an illuminating conversation with Dr. Megan Gerhardt, an expert in intergenerational workplaces and the author of “Gentelligence: The Revolutionary Approach to Leading an Intergenerational Workforce.” Dr. Gerhardt will discuss how to reflect on your own age-based biases, look beyond stereotypes associated with different generations and develop an understanding of why people who grew up in different times may behave in unique — and valuable! — ways. 

We are pleased to welcome our colleagues from NY Works for Children for another informative event to support leaders with the Aspire Registry workforce registry system. This event is a follow up to our July meeting. Several participants from our July meeting shared their interest in a second event with a focus on the professional development section of the Aspire Registry. Our August meeting will focus on this including information on how to create professional developments on the Aspire Registry, how to document professional development, and how to feature trainings on the Aspire Registry website. This is meeting is a statewide opportunity through the Leadership Initiative.

We offer special thanks to members who were able to participate in our July event and surveys. If you were not able to join the July meeting, you are still welcome to join our August session. Please email us if you'd like to see a copy of the recording. We hope to see you there! 

Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators, by Elena Aguilar, is a practical resource for cultivating resilience in educators. The book is based on the author's research in emotional resilience, psychology, systems thinking, and change management and on her decade of testing in schools and offices.

In our professional learning community, you will come together with other leaders in discussion of the habits and dispositions of resilient educators outlined in the book. Habits such as knowing yourself, telling empowering stories, being a learner, and riding the waves of change; dispositions including humor, empowerment, courage, and perseverance; all build resilience in ourselves and in our school communities!

We are pleased to welcome our colleagues from NY Works for Children this July for an informational event to support leaders with the Aspire workforce registration system. This will be an opportunity to learn more about why this system is a valuable tool for our field and how you can use it to support your work. We've designed the content for this session after hearing from Leadership Initiative members about their needs and curiosities. We hope you can join us! 

Our summer Book Group selection features "Don't Look Away: Embracing Anti-Bias Classrooms"  by Iheoma U. Iruka, Stephanie M. Curenton, Tonia R. Durden, and Kerry-Ann Escayg.

How can we dismantle inequities and provide nurturing, responsive care and education to all children?

This book leads early childhood professionals to explore and address issues of bias, equity, low expectations, and family engagement to ensure culturally responsive experiences.

Join us as we explore this book and challenge our perceptions and thought processes.

A motivational and inspiring guide to wholehearted living, rather than just the average self-help book, with this groundbreaking work Brené Brown, Ph.D., bolsters the self-esteem and personal development process through her characteristic heartfelt, honest storytelling. With original research and plenty of encouragement, she explores the psychology of releasing our definitions of an “imperfect” life and embracing living authentically. Brown’s “ten guideposts”  are benchmarks for authenticity that can help anyone establish a practice for a life of honest beauty—a perfectly imperfect life.

Book groups present an opportunity for members to gather to explore and discuss issues in early childhood and in leadership-- deepening the dialogue and considering key messages in their work.

This Book Group will run virtually on March 16th and April 6th from 6:30pm-8:00pm.

Each registered participant will be mailed a copy of the book.

The Leadership Initiative is pleased to bring you this opportunity to develop your core business practices. Join Erica Chase-Gregory, Regional Director of the Small Business Development Center at Farmingdale, as she leads a 3-part professional learning community for family and group family providers.

As a member of the Finger Lakes Leadership Initiative you are invited to join our monthly virtual networking meetings. Our meetings create a space for you to connect with leaders throughout the region, learn from one another, share stories, strategies, feelings, and resources. Meeting topics are driven by your questions and needs. This is a time for you to engage with your peers, build relationships, and find inspiration and encouragement as early childhood leaders. 

Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of every month.

NEW THIS YEAR: Afternoon and evening meetings available!

Mark your calendars for our next meeting: Wednesday, January 18th, 2023, 1:00pm - 2:00pm or 6:30pm-7:30 pm

This virtual panel event will present diverse perspectives, experiences, strategies and resources on “Supporting Diverse Learners in Early Childhood Education Settings”.

We recognize that the system for supporting children outside of general education pathways has been insufficient for a long time, while the demands to provide services for children are more complex than ever. There are many systematic obstacles that can feel defeating, making it difficult to see our ability to be part of a solution.   

This panel conversation will provide a space where we can discuss the processes and challenges of the situation. As well as, discuss the resources and strengths we have to address them.

The Finger Lakes Leadership Initiative presents a Learning Community: “Intentional Leadership with Heart”.  Dr. Lynn M. Lubecki will lead the Learning Community in a 3-part series, using the book “Coaching with Powerful Interactions,” by Judy Joblon, Amy Dombro and Shaun Johnson.

These sessions will focus on the Directors role in supporting their teachers in developing Professional Development Plans.  Individualized plans provide a roadmap for building meaningful relationships with children, families and colleagues and for creating nurturing and stimulating environments.  Discussions will focus on: supportive supervision, strength based feedback, goal setting, and mindful mentoring.

Are you interested in being mentored by an experienced early childhood leader?

Are you interested in mentoring a new early childhood leader?

If so, please join us for an information session regarding the Finger Lakes Leadership Initiative's Mentorship Program. This 30 minute session will provide an overview of the program, the qualifications, roles and responsibilities for mentees and mentors,  and information regarding the application process.

Join us! We are honored to host Rhian Evans Allvin for this special state-wide edition of the Leadership Initiative Speaker Series. Come to learn about Rhian's exciting journey as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). She served the NAEYC community for over a decade, supporting an increase in membership and bringing strong leadership to the policy advocacy arm of NAEYC's work. During Rhian's tenure, NAEYC released three position statements on equity in early childhood education and convened the Power to the Profession initiative. We'll have the opportunity to learn more about Rhian's leadership philosophy, lessons learned, and her insight on our field at this event. We hope to see you there!  

The Southern Tier and the Finger Lakes Leadership Initiative is offering a summer speaker series for early childhood directors and leaders on the topic of Leading and Sustaining Inclusive Workplace Cultures.

We would like to welcome our distinguished speaker, Raji Ramanan.  Raji is a SHRM-SCP (Senior Certified Professional in HR) in the US, a Certified Human Resource Executive (CHRE) from Canada and a Global Human Resources Professional (GPHR) designation in HR by HRCI.

Raji will discuss the entire Human Resources 'Lifecycle" from and through the lens of inclusivity.  She will discuss strategies of recruitment, onboarding, policies and professional development to create work environments that support Diversity, Inclusion and Equity for your staff.  

The Finger Lakes and Southern Tier Leadership Initiatives are offering a summer speaker series for early childhood directors and leaders on the topic of Leading and Sustaining Inclusive Workplace Cultures.

We would like to welcome our distinguished speaker, Raji Ramanan.  Raji is a SHRM-SCP (Senior Certified Professional in HR) in the US, a Certified Human Resource Executive (CHRE) from Canada and a Global Human Resources Professional (GPHR) designation in HR by HRCI.

Raji will discuss the entire Human Resources 'Lifecycle" from and through the lens of inclusivity.  She will discuss strategies of recruitment, onboarding, policies and professional development to create work environments that support Diversity, Inclusion and Equity for your staff. 

"Leadership is hard. Convincing others—and yourself—that you are capable of taking charge and achieving more requires insight and courage."  

"Lead from the Outside discusses candidly what Stacey has learned over the course of her impressive career in politics, business and the nonprofit world: that differences in race, gender, and class provide vital strength, which we can employ to rise to the top and create real and lasting change."

Book groups present an opportunity for members to gather to explore and discuss issues in early childhood and in leadership-- deepening the dialogue and considering key messages in their work.

Book Group will run virtually on August 3rd and August 24th from 6:30pm-8:00pm.

Each registered participant will be mailed a copy of the book.

We invite you to our next virtual Book Group discussion featuring "Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself" by Nedra Glover Tawwab.

Set Boundaries, Find Peace presents simple-yet-powerful ways to establish healthy boundaries in all aspects of life. Join our book discussion group with other early childhood leaders to identify strategies to use for a more productive and balanced school year with healthy communication and established expectations. 

Join our two-session book group. We will be providing those who register with a copy of the book. Upon registration we will contact you to obtain your mailing address to send you the book. Registration will be capped at 15, and a waitlist will be made available. Due to a limited number of books available please only register if you can commit to attending and participating fully in both dates (5/18/22 and 6/8/22).

This virtual panel, “Exploring Leadership Pathways: Voices from the Field," will highlight unique early childhood leadership roles for those considering opportunities outside of programs/schools.

Our panelists represent a Children and Family Services Specialist, Early Childhood Career Advisor, a Childcare Supervisor & Trainer, and a Quality Improvement Specialist. They will each share their career pathways, how their role has an impact on the field, and the skills, credentials, and dispositions that have helped them to be successful in their respective positions.

Over the past few months, there has been an increased focus on investment in early childhood care. With new federal and state investments, Finger Lakes leaders should examine their business practices. We are launching our first learning community focused on calculating the true cost of care.

In these sessions, leaders will examine their program costs by age group and identify the "gap" between program expenses, cost per child, and provider salary. Erica Chase will lead the group to explore trends and discuss ways in which leaders can strengthen their business practices to ensure stability for their programs. Our first meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 5th.

*Please note that this event has a limited number of seats and is exclusive for family and group family child care Leadership Initiative Members.

We invite you to our next virtual Book Group discussion featuring 
"How Full is Your Bucket" by Tom Rath and Donald O. Clifton.  

Organized around a simple metaphor of a dipper and a bucket, How Full Is Your Bucket? shows how even the smallest interactions we have with others every day profoundly affect our relationships, productivity, health and longevity. It will immediately help readers boost the amount of positive emotions in their work and their lives.

Registration will be capped at 15, and a waitlist will be made available. Due to a limited number of books available please only register if you can commit to attending and participating fully. Register no later than January 31, 2022

We welcome Terrance Lee to join us and speak to his work on core leadership principles that can enhance our stance as leaders. He will share thoughtful insights on being identified as an "introvert" and the misconception that this attribute prevents one from becoming an "ideal" leader. Participants will have an opportunity to reflect on their stance as a leader, hear about principles that can enhance their daily practice in a leadership role, and learn about the inner power introverts bring to every team.

As a member of the Finger Lakes Leadership Initiative you are invited to join our monthly virtual networking meetings. Come network with your peers. Meeting topics are driven by your questions and needs. Participants will send questions in advance of the meeting or come to the meetings with questions, strategies and resources to share, or an interest in listening and learning from others' experiences.  This is a space to share stories, strategies, feelings, ideas, resources, and words of encouragement about leading an early childhood program in the Finger Lakes region.

Second Wednesday of every month, 1:00pm-2:00pm, via Zoom

This virtual panel, “Fostering Staff Wellness in Early Childhood Programs”, will offer diverse perspectives, experiences, strategies and resources on cultivating a program climate and culture that supports the wellness of staff. We know that as leaders of early childhood programs you want your staff to feel fulfilled both personally and professionally and yet it can be so hard to figure out a path forward. This panel conversation will discuss considerations for leaders of early childhood programs on fostering a positive climate for staff in the context of all the complexities we are facing today. Attendees will engage in a thoughtful conversation with the panelists. 

Join us on Zoom. 
6:00pm-7:30pm

"Leadership is not about titles, status, and wielding power. A leader is anyone who takes responsibility for recognizing the potential in people and ideas, and has the courage to develop that potential."

"When we dare to lead, we don’t pretend to have the right answers; we stay curious and ask the right questions. We don’t see power as finite and hoard it; we know that power becomes infinite when we share it with others. We don’t avoid difficult conversations and situations; we lean into vulnerability when it’s necessary to do good work."

"But daring leadership in a culture defined by scarcity, fear, and uncertainty requires skill-building around traits that are deeply and uniquely human. The irony is that we’re choosing not to invest in developing the hearts and minds of leaders at the exact same time as we’re scrambling to figure out what we have to offer that machines and AI can’t do better and faster. What can we do better? Empathy, connection, and courage, to start."
 

Book groups present an opportunity for members to gather to explore and discuss issues in early childhood and in leadership-deepening the dialogue and considering key messages in their work.

Please join us for a facilitated discussion of leadership book, "Graceful Leadership in Early Childhood Education" by Ann McClain Terrell.

We welcomed NAEYC President Ann Terrell at our Speaker Series launch event of our Finger Lakes Leadership Initiative!  Ann provided our audience with captivating discussions of the qualities of the contemporary leader in Early Childhood Education.  We began our reflection as leaders and our personal leadership journeys. We will continue these discussions to build a deep understanding of the topics during our two-part Book Group Series.  

Sessions will take place via Zoom on Tuesday, August 31st and Tuesday, September 14th 6:00pm - 7:00pm.
Those who register will be provided with a FREE copy of the book. *This event is only for Leadership Initiative members from the Finger Lakes*

As a member of the Finger Lakes Leadership Initiative you are invited to join our monthly virtual networking meetings. Come network with your peers. Meeting topics are driven by your questions and needs. Participants will send questions in advance of the meeting or come to the meetings with questions, strategies and resources to share, or an interest in listening and learning from others' experiences.  This is a space to share stories, strategies, feelings, ideas, resources, and words of encouragement about leading an early childhood program in the Finger Lakes region.

Third Wednesday of every month, 1:00pm-2:00pm, via Zoom

The Institute is hosting a professional development offering: Introduction to the Revised New York State Early Learning Guidelines: A Child Development Resource for Educators of Children Ages Birth Through Eight. These sessions are designed specifically for Directors and other leaders of early childhood programs. This professional development session will provide an overview of the shifts within this new and improved version of the New York State Early Learning Guidelines. A specific focus will be provided on utilizing this resource as a leader in your program and supporting its use among your staff. 

Choose one of the session dates and times that works for you. 

Join us for our first Leadership Speaker Series event, featuring:

Ann McClain Terrell
Author Graceful Leadership in Early Childhood Education
President, NAEYC Governing Board
and former Executive Director of the Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation Inc.

Admission is free for this virtual event!

Wednesday June 30, 2021 5:30pm-7:00pm
via Zoom

*we will have a capacity of 300 for this event. Waitlist is available. Priority registration given to individuals in the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier regions

Join us for this special two-part Leadership Speaker Series event, featuring Abby Thorman.

"Making Impact: Strengthen Your Voice, Your Message, and Your Story-telling"

As professionals and leaders we have responsibility to use our experience and knowledge to inform and influence others about appropriate practices and the needs of the early childhood field (Core Body of Knowledge 6.6).
Abby will explore and help attendees understand the skills and components of effective storytelling for early childhood advocacy. Part 1 on May 26th will cover crafting effective messages, using those messages for advocacy, and strategies to achieve power in numbers. Join us again on June 3rd in an interactive session with Abby to hone those message-making skills with opportunities for feedback and strategizing.

The Leadership Initiative has officially launched in the Finger Lakes region! Come to one of our virtual information session to learn how the Leadership Initiative can support you in your work as a leader of early childhood programs in our region. All current and aspiring leaders are welcome to attend. Learn about our various professional development opportunities, resources to support you, as well as how to stay connected and become a member. The first 45 individuals to complete a Leadership Initiative profile will receive a free NAEYC membership (details will be shared at the info session!)  Also please come to share with us your unique perspectives and needs as a leader and which supports would be most helpful to you. 

We are offering 5 different date and time options. Please select one when you register

May 25th 3pm-4pm
June 3rd 5:30pm-6:30pm
June 8th 10:30am-11:30am
June 15th 6:30pm-7:30pm
June 19th 10am-11am