What is the most important skill that a leader should have?

As I try to think and consider myself as architect, sculptor, a mediator or a horticulturist and asking myself what kind of skills that I need to learn. Honestly, I have to say, “everything.” It seems very odd but personally, I think by being the architect, sculptor, mediator and horticulturist even though as the director we should not miss any skills that will contribute our program. Even though we already learn and know what should be done but the most important thing is we should be aware of what we might miss and forget. Personally, I think by maintaining high standards and stay on top of every important aspects of the program are crucial and might be the most important goal that every leader in every single career should have. Concentrating on a particular skill is not the key to success. The key to success of the leader is to be rounded how they balance the work equally.

How can we create smooth transition between home and school for children and their families?

Transition and routines during the drop off time are the most important aspect that every teacher should pay most attention t. In the classroom that I work in, there are many types of children and families. By arriving to the classroom in the morning, I can see so many interesting scenes everyday, some are predictable and some are unexpected. For examples, some children just come in and say goodbye to their parents. Some children cry and does not want their parents to leave and some just random depending on their mood for the morning. For the parents, some of them come in and spend time with their children until their children settle down and leave. Some parents are just drop off their children and leave right away because of their busy schedule. Some parents are just want to hang out as much as they can and end up being the one who does not want to leave the classroom. How can we deal with the different types of personality of children and parents? How can we help them get through this morning transition? What kind of strategies or activities that will help with different types of separation anxiety that may happen in many children, and sometimes in parents?

What are the benefits of showing respect to children and their families’ culture and belief?

Making parents and children feel comfortable and welcomed to the classroom environment is the key of developing the sense of belonging to the classroom environment. As we work in Early Childhood Education file, we are there to create a welcoming environment that each child as well as his/her family can become accustom to. At the same time, we need to be mindful about their culture, belief and background. In the story, there was a good reminder for me that respecting children and families culture and beliefs is one of the important aspects in improvement and growth of the children. As we all know that parents and immediate families are the first teachers and the first group of important people in the children’s life. It is very important to do things that benefit and honor the children and their families. Listening and understanding their parents would lead to open discussion and establish relation between teachers and families. At the same time teachers will have more opportunity to find the values out off each family's culture, background and belief which will help us to be able to adapt some of that culture beliefs or any suggestions to the classroom environment or activities because this is another way trust is established between teachers and parents.

How can we as the directors create a sense of warmth and welcome to children and their family in the program?

          As I looked back to the programs that I have been working, visiting or volunteering I found that most of them stood out and are well known for their philosophy and mission. As a least experienced assistance teacher, I would always wonder how the contributors or directors of the childcare program or preschool create their philosophy and mission. Did they create it based on what topical childcare program should have? Did they just create it based on their personal experience? Did they just create it by the beliefs and understanding of majority of people in their society? Did they just create it by what they have experienced and learned from the Early Childhood Education classes.

          As we all see in the examples in this chapter there are so many ways to create a program that incooperate family as the other important aspect of children’s development. By including family as part of the day, making them feel warm and welcome just as we would with their children will create a huge different atmosphere for children and families because families will feel more sense of belonging in the classroom. This will establish their comfort zones and a sense of trust to families when they leave their children in our hands and able to share deeper thoughts and problems between teacher and families.

         What is the best quality to implement in our program vision? Which vision will promote our program?

As a director what will be the best component of using the 3 sides of triangle framework?

After reading this chapter and doing the triangle practice for 2 scenarios, I came to realize that it is really hard for most people, especially a first time director who lacks experience to be a balanced director right of the bat. Such a director would require talent coupled with tremendous patience and vision.

After reflecting on the triangle practice, I can say that it was the greatest challenge for many people, especially for a person with limited language such as myself. Personally, I feel that if you have never had prior experience being a director or any type of leadership position before, I can guarantee that it will be a huge challenge for anyone. As we all know that different people have different personality and it is really hard to learn how to recognize other people's temper and personality, especially when you are new to the environment.

Personally, I think some strategies in triangle framework will work with some people but some strategies won’t work well. How can we learn to recognize other people's ability and temper? This is a trait that I need to focus and improve on. I also found that some part of the triangle framework could be applied to teachers as well especially the coaching and mentoring and building and supporting community aspect of it. However, I feel that managing and overseeing is more difficult because I sometimes can’t see thing in different perspective and it might lead to conflict and I am too shy to take the lead as well.

How can a new director step the foot into their new workplace environment smoothly?

Scenario 1: New director dilemma

What issues are raised from each side of the triangle by this situation?

          Managing and Overseeing: Mary Beth and Katrina seem to be testing the new director by ignoring her suggestions and encourage other teachers to do the same. The worst part is talking behind the director’s back and not being cooperative and reactive to the director, which is not right. There is no respect for the director at all. They are also trying to make other teacher do the same thing just like them. Personally, I think this is a really big issue and can affect others. As we can see how disrespectful these 2 teachers are to you as director, and it begs the question. Do they do the same to parents, too?

          Coaching and Mentoring: The teachers are not using different strategies and activities in the classroom that the director is mentioning. When the director suggested new ideas, she was let down by these 2 teachers. This makes the teachers look very bad in my opinion, because they are not respectful of their director. Even though they have been at the program for eight years and have always worked together and feel comfortable where they are they forget one critical reality in early childhood education. And that is how things are always changing and evolving in childhood education. As a teacher, we still go to workshops as well as training classes to get more knowledge of new ways of working in classrooms in certain areas.

          Building and Supporting Community: The fact that the teachers have worked in the program for many years, they should know that different group of children requires different strategies, activities, and environment to match their interests. New suggestions by the director might ultimately help the children improve in many different areas. By focusing on just one curriculum, in this case, art related curriculum children maybe missing out on science, music, math, or other engaging activities that may improve children in other areas. Another downside to this scenario is it creates enmity between teachers and the director. In the end, the children will be most affected.

What strategies from each side might you use to address the issues?

          After reading the three ways to respond to this scenario, I think this would be a difficult situation for me to deal with because I don’t like telling people what to do, but its also really hard for me to ignore something that I think should be changed or improved.

          Managing and Overseeing: I think it may be hard to come into a program as a new director, especially if it's your first time in the position. If I were the director I would keep doing my part as what the director should do. I would hold meetings regularly to talk about the new curriculum and changes in the program. At the same time, I would also want to gain advice from the experienced staff as well and I think the staff will feel appreciated and important.

         Coaching and Mentoring: As the director, I would allow staff to voice their opinions and take in consideration what they say and how they feel about things, but I would also want them to do the same. Personally, I would let the staff know that I am there for them, if they need advice or want to talk about certain things. Showing respect for one another is something I would do as well.

         Building and Supporting Community: As the director, I would provide or ask staff to attend the workshops that will help them to gain new idea and knowledge of early childhood education. I would provide some community events for families to come in and learn more and get to know more about the program. At the same time the staff will have more opportunities to come out and get to know more about each other and learn about the community they work in.

Scenario 2: Messing with Michael

What issues are raised from each side of the triangle by this situation?

          Managing and Overseeing: Environments that neat and organized is a requirement when working with young children. As we all know that unorganized and messy classroom can become a safety hazard issue especially when you start to smell rotten food that is a sign that show your classroom really needs cleaning because rotting food can attract bugs or ants and will cause really bad smell when it has mold. This is a big issue because this is the first thing the parents see and smell when entering the center. Personally, messy and dirty classroom or environment can lead to negative aspect to the parents of the children and can interfere with clarifying professional standards as well.

          Coaching and Mentoring: Michael has very strong ideas about how he wants to run his classroom because he explains his reason about his cubbies strategy and his philosophy. However, This issue may cause some conflict for the director and the teacher because the cleanliness and organization may also interfere his personal philosophy. Personally, I think he seems like a very good teacher, but he just disorganized. But he also has to understand the impact this decision has made on the center especially in terms of cleanliness because these impacts has affect on children, parents and other staff who he is working with.

          Building and Supporting Community: A messy classroom is some the issue that affect everyone because it will be safety issue for children, unattractive for families and irritation to staff member. Personally, this messy entrance is not exactly welcoming to family members to come in at all. It could also make family transfer their child to different school.

What strategies from each side might you use to address the issues?

          Managing and Overseeing: As a director I would tell Michael that I understand his wonderful philosophy about giving children responsibility to make decisions on their own and that is the good learning for children. But at the same time you need to understand that as a teacher we need to keep the classroom and environment to be clean and safe for children. So you might need to adjust your way of teaching and organizing your classroom. By helping children learn how to be responsible with the stuff in their cubbies and how to keep them clean will help encouraged children about personal responsibility as well and that might appear to be a better look for your classroom.

          Coaching and Mentoring: I want everyone to feel important and tread them with the respect. So I will discuss with teacher about why keeping his classroom clean in private. I will also explain about the impacts of having disorganized classroom and environment that will affect the children, children’s families, staff member and himself.

          Building and Supporting Community: At the meetings, I would let all the teachers know why it is important to keep their classrooms clean by cleaning, sanitizing, and organizing the classroom. Especially, when families or accreditation come in a messy and disorganized classroom will turn them off.

What is the balance in the director role?

           Directors are typically responsible for a preschool or childcare center's administrative duties. This often includes managing staff, as well as handling and establishing the center's goals, curriculum and daily routine. They also meet with prospective children and their families, and make sure the center and its staff meets required licensing regulations and safety standards. Personally, I feel like directors have a lot on their hands. I don’t even know how my life would be if I become a director. I might experience lack of sleep or something of that sort. I believe that if we get into the point that we understand all the process of what we are doing and why we are doing it I think it would be easier to get through these duties. However, we have to maintain an understanding towards other people in our workplace such as staff, families and children. It is really hard to work with a lot of people at one time because as we know different people have different idea and would lead to conflict. So, it is up to the director to maintain control so things won’t get out of hand. How can a director balance all of these roles? Is it possible that a director focuses more on one responsibility than others? What is the best way a director can balance his/her duties? According to “The Visionary Director” the image of a triangle to represent the framework that they believe that each side of everyone management work is of equal importance. These are 3 side of the framework: 1. Managing and overseeing. 2. Coaching and mentoring. 3. Building and supporting community. A good director must possess all of these skills and implement them in real life work.