Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Early childhood pedagogical leadership'

The purpose of this study was to examine the manner that directors and teachers define ideal leadership practices of Head Start programs. Specifically, this study focused on understanding leadership practices through the lens of transformational leadership. This study was guided by the following three research questions: (a) What are the perceptions of Head Start directors on ideal practices of leadership (b) What are the perceptions of Head Start teachers on ideal practices of leadership and (c) How do the perceptions of directors compare and contrast to the perceptions of teachers.

The research methodology was a qualitative approach to understanding the perceptions of the participants through their experiences and perspectives of working in the Head Start setting. Data were collected by means of interviews and completion of a demographic questionnaire and an adapted version of the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI). The use of interviews allowed participants to reflect on their experiences and share their perspectives regarding what they consider ideal leadership practices in Head Start. Data were collected from 15 participants who currently work in various Head Start programs throughout Southern California.

The findings revealed ideal leadership practices in alignment with the practices of transformational leadership. Directors described ideal leadership practices to include a clear vision, collaboration, Head Start-specific knowledge, and staff motivation. Teachers described ideal leadership practices to include visibility ofthe director at the classroom level, leading by example, encouragement, transparency, and professional development opportunities. The results of this study are critically important with the shifts in policy to increase quality of and expand access to early childhood education programs for all children. The shift in policy has resulted in greater accountability being placed on Head Start programs to deliver quality services in order to avoid losing funding. Ideal leadership practices are vital to meeting the needs of the changing expectations of Head Start programs.

The gap between our current understanding of child development and public policies related to the early childhood education workforce continues to grow (Shonkoff, 2002). This gap may lead to the hiring of individuals who are not equipped with a foundation of child development theories which is fundamental to meeting the needs of children in the early childhood range (birth through age eight). The purpose of this study is to examine the recommendations regarding early childhood standards for preparation programs both from the literature and pre-service teacher preparation programs as found in certification/credentialing programs of early childhood pre-service teachers.

Early childhood education teacher preparation is key to building a successful foundation for future academic success for young learners (Mooney, 2013). Gordon & Browne (2017) noted that becoming a professional teacher takes time, knowledge, training, and experience. Teacher preparation standards “are intended to ensure that teachers have the skills necessary to help children master the prescribed content” (Feeney, 2012, p. 40). Many theorists, such as Dewey, Montessori, Erikson, Piaget and Vygotsky provide us with their findings on the importance of early childhood development (Mooney, 2013). Teachers in early childhood education should build upon these theories and apply them in their classrooms. When newly graduated teachers are in classrooms with ten or more students, they need to have the ability to connect with their students and an understanding about how their students learn and grow.

Hispanic English Learners (ELs) in America are at risk of educational failure. Hispanics are the poorest, least-educated US ethnic group, making them subject to the widening educational achievement gap. When ELs are unsuccessful in school, both students and society suffer. As their population rises, many school districts, such as the Great Falls Public Schools (GFPS) (pseudonym), need strategies to improve EL education. High-quality early childhood education increases student achievement. The literature indicates that transformational leadership (TL) is vital for school success. However, TL has been explored neither for EL achievement nor in the preschool setting. This study was needed to address the problem of EL achievement and improve TL theory prediction. This study investigated whether TL practices by preschool directors, as perceived by instructional staff, predicted EL's preschool achievement. Instructional staff (n=146; 130 teachers and 16 master teachers) at Great Falls district's 30 preschool sites completed 194 surveys describing their site leader's TL practices. Both the leadership scores and the preschool ELs' (n=1,390) literacy and mathematics achievement scores were aggregated by preschool site. Regression analyses were performed using SPSS to explore the relationships between preschool directors' TL practices and EL achievement, controlling for prior achievement scores, average student age, and leader characteristics. The results indicated that Setting Directions (R² =.70, F (6, 22) = 8.53, p<0.01), Developing People (R² =.70, F (6, 23), p<0.01), and combined TL practices (R² =.69, F (6, 22) = 8.11, p< .01) had a significant and positive relationship with student mathematics achievement. However, Redesigning the Organization had no significant relationship with student outcomes. In addition, no relationships between TL practices and student literacy outcomes were significant. Future studies should include both student mathematics and literacy outcomes to investigate whether transformational practices have greater impact on mathematics than literacy achievement.

This study was undertaken to explore ways to assist at-risk African American students in phonemic awareness skills using their cultural vernacular. African American, at-risk preschoolers typically lag behind their peers. Teachers typically do not use culturally responsive methods to instruct them. For these reasons, these children struggle with literacy. Research questions were as follows: (1) Do African American at-risk preschoolers’ phonemic awareness increase after exposure to AAVE instructional strategies? (2) Do African American at-risk preschoolers’ rhyming and alliteration increase after exposure to AAVE language instructional strategies? and (3) Do African American at-risk preschoolers’ blending, manipulation, and segmenting increase after exposure to AAVE language instructional strategies? The theoretical framework of this study was African American at-risk preschoolers and all children must be taught in a manner in which they can learn and this would include using their vernacular. The methodology used was a quantitative study involving two groups of 20 randomly sampled preschoolers enrolled in a Head Start Preschool for All program. The study took place for twelve weeks with a control group of 20 and a treatment group of 20. Data analysis included an independent T-test, followed by a paired dependent T-test. Results indicated there were insufficient data to indicate significant differences in phonemic awareness. Recommendations include further research regarding culturally responsive teaching.

This dissertation examines the ways in which mid-career intermediary early care and educations leaders, "change agents among change agents," have prepared themselves for leadership roles given the lack of articulated competencies and pathways to ECE leadership. Thousands of ECE leadership roles in which persons are responsible for informing, developing and implementing policy and practice standards for the ECE field, and working in politically charged settings, are being filled across the country. Yet little is known about those filling these roles and scant attention has been paid the educational and professional development needs of these leaders. This study used a constructivist grounded theory methodological approach to learn about the lived experiences of nine mid-career intermediary leaders, and from this derive a contribution to a theory of essential skills, knowledge, and experiences for effective ECE leadership. Findings indicate that participants in this study, regardless of whether they had prior experience in the ECE field, identified a need for leadership development focused on developing subject matter expertise about the ECE system, political strategies, and communication skills. Findings also indicate that participants experienced a range of challenges as leaders based on age, and that participants of color also experienced leadership challenges because of their race. Findings further indicate that participation in in-depth ECE-based leadership programs and relationships with mentors helped to fill in some knowledge gaps and mitigate some of the challenges experienced because of age or race. The results suggest that a lack of attention to the development of a diverse cadre of field leaders has led to a knowledge gap in the acquisition of leadership competencies, and has undergirded generational and racial tensions among field leaders, amplifying the need for further research to inform policies, programs, and practices to support the development and promotion of a diverse, well-prepared leaders.

Currently, there is a gap in the literature highlighting the need for professional development in the form of mentoring support for first-year directors in Early Childhood Education (ECE).

The primary purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of first-year ECE directors who took part in the California Early Childhood Mentor Program (CECMP) during the 2015–2016 school year. Participants came from the northern and northeast regions of the CECMP. Using a narrative approach guided by personalized stories, along with in-depth one-on-one interviews, this study focused on the experiences of four protégé directors who engaged in a mentoring relationship with an experienced director mentor. By situating the protégés’ experiences within a 4-path framework of Analyzing, Advancing, Acting and Accelerating, this study investigated the impact of the mentoring relationship on addressing challenges and leadership development in an ECE program.

Findings from this study revealed that when the elements of supportive guidance, supportive resources, self-reflection and supportive relationships are in place, first-year directors can become equipped to address challenges and develop the capacity for leadership. The ECE field must continue to promote the provision of systemic and relevant leadership training and mentoring in order to grow leaders and to sustain leadership capacity. Implications of this study reveal the need to incorporate a professional development system for emerging and future first-year directors that recognizes effective leadership as a vital component to the success of children, staff and families.

Recommendations for policy include increasing federal funding for mentoring and leadership training programs and the provision of options for an ECE director credential similar to the Clear Induction Tier 2 Standards put forth in K-12 for first-year principals. Recommendations for practice highlight the need for mandated mentoring hours as well as prolonged engagement in quality leadership development programs leading up to the first-year directorship. Recommendations for future research include the use of quantitative survey instruments to determine if first-year directors with mentors identify this study’s findings as significant in a mentoring relationship.

A key component of effective early childhood programs is collaborative relationships between schools, families, and the community (Fiese, Eckert, & Spagnola, 2005). One of these early childhood programs, Head Start, stands out among the others in its efforts to work with children, families, and communities to promote parental involvement. Some families whose children enroll in Head Start continue involvement throughout the elementary years, and others do not. What is not known is parent perceptions of school factors that sustained parent involvement throughout the elementary years. This study uses purposeful sampling techniques to concentrate on a sample of past Head Start parents whose children have progressed into both early elementary and elementary school. Data were collected from Head Start and non-Head Start parents (both involved and uninvolved) from grades K-5. Additionally, administrators from the Head Start program, the Early Childhood campus, and the Elementary campus were interviewed in this study to identify perceptions of the influence of Head Start on sustained parental involvement. Findings suggest that school factors, such as a welcoming environment, leadership efforts to promote involvement, and communication with parents about how to be involved as the child progresses in grade level, encourage sustained involvement. This study provides researchers, school leaders, and parents with understandings for sustained parental involvement. This study supports findings in current research on the ongoing need to recognize school and leadership factors that can both enhance and discourage parent efforts for involvement.

Purpose: The purpose of this Delphi study was to identify the competencies that early care and education systems leaders should possess as perceived by a panel of early childhood systems leadership experts. This study also identified which leadership competencies experts perceive will have the most impact on transformation of the field into an organized system of practice.

Methodology: This study used a mixed-methods Delphi approach consisting of three electronic surveys to identify competencies needed by early care and education systems leaders as perceived by a panel of national experts. Round 1 consisted of open-ended questions. Round 2 asked the panelists to rate each competency’s importance using a 6-point Likert scale. In Round 3 panelists were requested to choose which competencies were most important for systems leaders to impact the transformation of the field into an organized system of practice.

Major Findings: A quantitative analysis of Round 2 found that the expert panelists agreed on 65 competencies as important or very important for systems leaders to acquire. Some of the most highly rated competencies identified were developing relationships and partnerships, valuing diversity, collaborative leadership skills, and commitment to equity. In Round 3, 14 competencies were selected as necessary for systems leaders to impact transformation of the field, including systems thinking, big picture perspective, commitment to equity, and knowledge of policy and legislation. Through a qualitative literature analysis, the themes systems thinking, and collaborative and inclusive leadership were found to be most aligned with the research literature. A surprising finding was that the expert panelists did not rate knowledge of child development as important for systems leaders, which contrasted with the research literature.

Recommendations for Future Research: Include (a) replication of this study with representation from additional systems leaders throughout the country; (b) perceptions of stakeholders throughout the ECE workforce regarding leadership competencies, including diverse and marginalized populations and those in a variety of leadership roles; (c) tasks and objectives of systems leaders and a clear definition of their roles; and (d) impact of the absence or presence of knowledge of child development on the decisions of ECE systems leaders.

Research in the area of early childhood has confirmed that children accessing high-quality programs lead to better outcomes in kindergarten as well as later in life (Committee for Economic Development, 2006; Frabutt & Waldron, 2013; Hudson, 2014; Stewart, 2015; Temple & Reynolds, 2007). The factors highlighted in research contributing to these outcomes have included teacher effectiveness and classroom quality (Armor, 2014; Fernandez, 2010; Ryan, Whitebook, Kipnis, & Sakai, 2011). One factor missing from current research and policy is the role of the early childhood leader. The purpose of this basic interpretive qualitative study is to gain insights into how early childhood leaders’ experiences have shaped their understanding of leadership, focusing specifically on directors from licensed early childhood programs in Northern Virginia. The central research question guiding this inquiry is: What are the experiences of pre-kindergarten leaders in licensed pre-kindergarten programs in Northern Virginia that inform their development as a leader? Three sub questions are also included: What led an individual to become a pre-kindergarten leader? What has influenced the leadership philosophies of pre-kindergarten leaders? What has influenced the current leadership practices utilized by pre-kindergarten leaders? Data from interviews, walkthroughs, and document analyses with seven directors from early childhood centers in Northern Virginia were examined. Through this process, five themes emerged: generational influences, collegial influences, past work experience, environmental influences, and leadership characteristic and behaviors. Three conclusions were built upon these themes to address the research questions. First, participants entered the field of early childhood due to generational influences with their child entering preschool or just by “falling into” the field. Once in the field, collegial influences encouraged participants to pursue the director position. Participants also rose through the ranks, by beginning as a volunteer or teachers’ aide, becoming a teacher, and then ultimately becoming a director. Second, a director’s philosophies were reinforced through the media as well as professional organizations. Finally, a director’s practices were informed through collegial influences, past experiences, and environmental influences.

In the last two decades, research has increasingly demonstrated that public investment in high-quality early care and education, particularly when focused on low-income children, pays off in terms of improved outcomes for young learners in academic achievement and overall well-being (Heckman, 2011). Now, a growing evidence base within the early childhood field also demonstrates that socioeconomic status (SES) diversity in early learning settings improves kindergarten readiness and social-emotional development for all children (Reid, 2012).

To contribute to the early childhood field’s efforts to better understand how parent choice and program leadership foster SES diversity within community early learning programs, this in-depth case study examined two high-quality SES-diverse community early education program sites operating in Baltimore City. Interviews were conducted with program executive-level and site-level leaders, staff, and a purposeful sample of parents of varying income levels. A parent focus group was also conducted. In addition, program-level leadership of early learning community programs in Baltimore City with a Maryland quality rating of two or more stars were surveyed.

Key findings of this study include, 1) Despite their shared belief in its implicit value, parents across the income continuum aren’t explicitly seeking out enrollment in socioeconomically diverse early care and learning programs; 2) Within the two selected socioeconomically diverse program sites, program recruitment and engagement approaches are neither explicit or refined enough to appeal universally to parents across varying economic backgrounds; and 3) Both parents and leaders also may struggle against their own class-based social identities and deeply internalized value systems, including perceived superiority and privilege, in in enacting either the program choice or transformational leadership that drives the development socioeconomically diverse settings. Finally, this study informs leadership actions policymakers may take to promote the development and sustainability of socioeconomically diverse high-quality early learning programs.

While high levels of skills in education and achievement are critical for a student’s social and economic success, schools have yet to live up to their educational responsibilities to children of color and children living in poverty. Nationwide, the achievement gap affects students of color, particularly low-income Latino students. Gay argued that contributing to educational deficits are teachers who do not understand the importance of knowing their students’ cultural backgrounds. This qualitative dissertation utilized the conceptual frameworks of culturally responsive pedagogy and sociocultural interactions to understand Latina Head Start preschool teachers’ perspectives in the classroom when implementing culturally responsive pedagogy embedded within sociocultural interactions in classrooms.

The major findings in this study documented that the Latina Head Start preschool teacher participants were sensitive to the unique needs of Latinao dual language learners from low-income families. The teacher participants overwhelmingly reported that providing emotional support, cariño (affection), and empathy to all of the children throughout classroom interactions was vital for student learning. They regularly used the children’s home language, Spanish, and supported children’s development in both languages. The Latina Head Start preschool teacher participants expressed a sense of commitment and responsibility to ensure each Latino child is successful. The Latina Head Start preschool teacher participants shared a natural ability to teach with cariño while utilizing culturally responsive pedagogy with interwoven sociocultural interactions as they worked with their Latina/o students.

This study outlines essential frameworks of Reggio inspiration based on literature from the Educational Project of Reggio Emilia. The purpose of this study was to determine which Reggio inspired frameworks were valued and applied by teachers and instructional assistants (IAs) in the Early Childhood Center (ECC) at the Progressive Academy of Southeast Asia (PASA). The study also sought to provide feedback for educators in the ECC, now four years into the adoption of Reggio inspired values, as they work towards PASA’s 2020 strategic goals of excellence, opportunities, and holistic care. Focus groups, observations, and interviews were conducted with ECC teachers and IAs as a part of a qualitative research design. Transcripts were coded for key words and phrases. Four themes emerged from the study: (1) there are six areas of alignment between participant perceptions of the Reggio inspired frameworks in the ECC at PASA, and their day-to-day practices of that work; (2) concept-based learning is one potential area for growth for the teacher and IA Reggio inspired practice in the ECC; (3) instructional assistants (IAs) experience limitations in their work environment that affect their capacity as Reggio inspired educators; and (4) inclusive education is a potential area for policy reform at PASA. This study highlights areas for further consideration and growth as the ECC works towards the 2020 goals of excellence, opportunities, and holistic care. The study also proposes frameworks that can be used by educators in other settings to examine their Reggio inspired practices.

Young children attending high quality early education programs have demonstrated improved school readiness outcomes, with the most impact on low-income and high-risk children. The comprehensive approach to school readiness used in Head Start programs that includes ready children, ready schools, and ready families, facilitates transition and continued school success. However, gaps in school leadership efficacy around early education, family engagement, and a preschool through third grade continuum (PreK-3) have been documented in the literature. Unique to this study is the addition of the concept, ready leadership, inclusive of school leaders (district administrators, site level administrators, and teachers) and parents as leaders. Using a qualitative research design and Urie Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, the role of leadership in a PreK-3 continuum, around the integration of a Head Start preschool on an elementary school campus and on promoting and sustaining family engagement was explored. Key findings included: (1) experiences with early education impact self-efficacy for a PreK-3 approach; (2) teachers focus on the transition from preschool to kindergarten, with their perspectives depending on their grade level position on the continuum; (3) regulations can create barriers to integration, real and perceived; (4) intentional alignment and collaboration support integration; and (5) strong family engagement policies support parents as leaders, including redefining the role of the school volunteer, to include unique strengths and needs of today’s families. Recommendations include policy and practice to respond to leaders’ priorities for a PreK-3 continuum, addressing barriers to integration, supporting parents as leaders, redefining the role of school volunteer; and capitalizing on transitional kindergarten as a link between early learning in preschool and the increased rigor now seen in kindergarten.

This dissertation was aimed at providing information on developing and sustaining public-private partnerships (PPPs) in early childhood education as a way to increase efficiency and effectiveness on how resources are allocated. This study also emphasizes how teachers are perceived and supported within the PPP context. Studies have shown that investing in early childhood education yields the greatest gains to one's life and society at large. Yet, the early childhood field continues to battle waves of budget cuts while striving to convince policymakers and the public that early education is critical and necessary.

Although PPP presents itself as a new way of doing business by combining resources from the public and private sectors and redistributed based on the shared goal and vision of the PPP, there is limited research on PPPs and even more scarce specifically related to early childhood. The goal of this study is to provide exposure to the early childhood field on how PPPs can be formed and sustained using the Educare model as one example of a PPP in early childhood.

This was a qualitative designed to capture rich conversations and experiences of research participants that are relevant and appropriate to the early childhood field. Grounded theory was used in this study to learn from research participants' perceptions of PPPs based on their experience and expertise in PPP and early childhood education.

This study used theoretical sampling to target research participants at a specific Educare development site to capture real time and real life experiences in developing a PPP in early childhood education. The Educare model was developed by the Ounce of Prevention Fund in 2000 aimed at "narrow[ing] the achievement gap for students in high-risk communities" (Ounce of Prevention, Educare schools, 2011). The Educare model has set requirements for teachers and all related job categories that will work in an Educare school including professional development requirements. The Educare school also has a salary structure that is competitive to the local public elementary schools.

Five themes were identified in the findings and discussed in relation to the significance of this study. The findings from this study have implications for early childhood administrators, educators, funders, advocates, and the field at large on maximizing the usage of existing resources. The findings from this study, including questions raised, are significant in development of partnerships in early childhood education.