Colleague Alumni Magazine | Graduate School of Education and Psychology | Pepperdine University

Learning How to Lead

Early Childhood Education

By John Calvin Byrd III

The initial years of learning for children are vital to their overall development. From birth, children can be taught. Something as simple as reading to newborns teaches them new concepts and increases their vocabulary. Since the brain matures most rapidly during early childhood, proper education is critical to the development of intelligence, personality, and proper social behavior.  For this reason, early childhood education practitioners must diligently seek to improve their methods and learn new teaching techniques.

Dr. Anissa McNeil (EdD ’10) of Education Works Consulting Firm, Inc., has spent the last five years consulting for nonprofit, for-profit, and public school early childhood education programs throughout the state. She served as the coordinator of early childhood education and witnessed as a professional and as a consultant that many educational leaders in early childhood education were underprepared for their responsibilities. Because of this, she designed a certificate program to provide organizational leadership information and training to managers, mid-managers, and administrators of early childhood education organizations.

Dr. McNeil pitched the program to the director of UCLA Extension and got approval to create the Early Childhood Education Leadership Institute that is designed to help administrators build capacity to effectively lead and develop their programs. The program comprises five online courses that include: Leading Change; Quality Assurance and Systems Thinking in Education; Creating a Learning Organization; Organization and Program Development; and Strategic Planning and Analysis. Successful completion of the five courses earns the candidate the Advanced ECE Administration and Policy Certificate from UCLA Extension.

What makes this program special is the fact that it follows the GSEP student/practitioner model.  Candidates are assigned projects that coincide with their current curriculum. They will also receive guidance in their assigned projects by executive coaches who have earned doctoral degrees and work in education organizations.  This allows candidates to learn theory, while applying it in real classroom settings.

“This program is designed for those seeking to make a difference.” says Dr. McNeil. “The executive coaching I received from Dr. McNeil has truly allowed me to make an increased positive impact to my organization, community, teachers, families, and the students whom I serve” Dr. Lavada Minor, early Head Start area supervisor of Volunteers of America of Los Angeles.

The world around us is constantly evolving and educational leaders need to be equipped to handle change and to create sustainable learning organizations.  Dr. McNeil has committed herself to ensuring that those who teach our children and lead education organizations are evolving as well. “The course content, practical assignments, and the knowledge I have obtained has increased my capacity to lead and sustain our early childhood education center” states Michelle Neal, owner and director of A Child Becomes preschool in Seattle, Washington.

“The Early Childhood Education Leadership Institute is an opportunity to learn new leadership skills and strategies for the leaders of tomorrow!” says Dr. McNeil.  Both prospective and current leaders in early childhood education are encouraged to apply.

For more information please contact Dr. Anissa McNeil at (909) 218-3629 or amcneil@edworks4u.org.