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"Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality."
-Warren G. Bennis
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Upcoming Events

Central NY Leadership Networking Meetings 2024

Members of the Central New York Leadership Initiative are invited to join our networking meetings. Our meeting topics are driven by your questions and needs. Share stories, strategies, feelings, ideas, resources, and words of encouragement about leading an early childhood program.

Sessions Available Between Monday, January 1st 2024 and Tuesday, December 31st 2024

Long Island Networking Meeting 2024

The Leadership Initiative is excited to offer weekly networking meetings on Zoom for our Long Island members of the Leadership Initiative. 

Sessions Available Between Tuesday, January 2nd 2024 and Tuesday, December 31st 2024

Southern Tier Leadership Initiative 2024 Networking Meetings

As a member of the Southern Tier Leadership Initiative, you are invited to join our monthly virtual networking meetings. Meeting topics are driven by your questions and needs. 

Sessions Available Between Tuesday, January 16th 2024 and Monday, December 30th 2024

Networking 2024 Daytime

As a member of the Western New York Leadership Initiative, you are invited to join our networking meetings! Meeting topics are driven by your questions and needs. This is a space to share stories, strategies, feelings, ideas, resources, and words of encouragement about leading an early childhood program in Western NY.

Sessions Available Between Thursday, January 18th 2024 and Thursday, December 19th 2024

Networking WNY 2024 Evening

Members of the WNY Leadership Initiative are invited to join our networking meetings. Meeting topics are driven by your questions and needs. This is a space to share stories, strategies, feelings, ideas, resources, and words of encouragement about leading an early childhood program in Western NY.

Networking in the evening is from 6 to 7 p.m.

Sessions Available Between Thursday, January 18th 2024 and Thursday, December 19th 2024

Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators

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 Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators by Elena Aguilar. 

Sessions Available Between Wednesday, January 24th 2024 and Wednesday, December 18th 2024

Home-Based Networking Meeting

These Long Island Leadership Initiative networking meetings are especially intended for home-based and family providers.

Sessions Available Between Thursday, January 25th 2024 and Thursday, December 26th 2024

Leaders Learning Cafe

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!

Sessions Available Between Monday, July 1st 2024 and Tuesday, December 31st 2024

CNY Learning Community: Intentional Leadership with Heart

Leadership is a practice – it needs to be examined, refined, and current.​ Join us for a 3-part learning community as we dive into discussion and reflection on our own leadership journeys to define our "why."

Sessions Available
Monday, October 14th, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Monday, November 18th, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Monday, December 16th, 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators

Please join the North Country Leadership Initiative in our yearlong learning community on Elena Aguilar's: Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators. This text is a practical resource for cultivating resilience in educators. The book is based on the author's research on emotional resilience, psychology, systems thinking, and change management.

Sessions Available Between Tuesday, January 7th 2025 and Tuesday, January 7th 2025

North Country Leadership Networking: January 2025

Join the North Country Leadership Initiative for monthly community gatherings to reflect on our practices, share stories and develop strategies for leading in early childhood. Bring your lunch and bring a colleague!

Tuesday, January 28th 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Subscribe to the Leadership Initiative Mailing List

Early childhood leaders, as well as those who aspire to leadership roles in the future, are welcome to participate in the Leadership Initiative in a variety of ways. Sign up below to start to receiving our periodic newsletter and event announcements!

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About the Leadership Initiative

Comments or Questions?

Contact us with questions about the leadership initiative:

leadershipinitiative@earlychildhoodny.org

The Leadership Initiative serves leaders from all areas of early childhood, including direct services and support services in family/group family homes, centers, schools, shelters, and faith based settings. Non-direct care leadership roles such as system leaders, policy advocates, and promoters of our workforce are also supported by our community.

The excellence of early childhood programs is reliant on the quality and caliber of the leader. The program leader sets the mission, vision, philosophy, and culture of a program. And yet, too many leaders come to the work with limited knowledge and expertise in early childhood management and leadership. The New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute leads the Leadership Initiative, designed to support the professional development and success of current leaders and prospective leaders in the early childhood field. The Leadership Initiative and this website provide early childhood leaders, as well as those who aspire to leadership roles in the future, with resources and opportunities to engage with their peers and support professional development promoting access to excellence for all young children.

The Initiative Newsletter

Our monthly newsletter offers a round-up of the latest Leadership Initiative events, the books we're reading, member spotlights, resources and opportunities. If you signed up as a member, you'll already be getting our next issue!

Read the Latest: December, 1969 Browse our newsletter archive

Other News and Resources

Our Guide to NYC Leadership Degree and Credential Programs

We've compiled a list of degrees and credentials that leaders can pursue to advance their careers and enrich their practice. From NYAEYC credentials to Master's degrees for school principals this guide will help you find your next step in your journey.

Download the PDF Guide

Children's Program Administrator Credential

The Children’s Program Administrator Credential (CPAC) is a state-recognized credential that addresses the components essential for running early childhood and school-age programs. Both new and experienced administrators may choose to obtain the credential, as well as current teachers who aspire to administrative positions. Those individuals without program management experience will need to complete an internship to obtain the credential.

Learn more about the CPAC on our Career Development Services page.


Listen! Sherry Cleary on Leadership

Sherry Cleary, Executive Director of the New York Early Childhood Institute shared her thoughts about the importance of leadership with HiMama's The Preschool Podcast



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