Ready to Lead

An open and inclusive professional learning community designed specifically for recently hired (one-day to five years of experience) center-based, early childhood administrators of all backgrounds.

Develop your Leadership Essentials. Delve into topics including: the power of self-awareness and reflection, understanding your leadership style, transitioning from peer to supervisor, and productivity and prioritizing tips. Participate in interactive, in-person learning while networking with other new early childhood administrators. Ready to Lead includes pre- and post-assignments and guided reflections designed to inform your practices, assess your growth, and evaluate your learning experience. Content in RTL is aligned with the Illinois Director Credential and Illinois Gateways to Opportunity.

RTL #5 

APPLICATIONS CLOSED

RTL #6 – O’Fallon, IL – Deadline to Apply: April 29, 2022

APPLICATIONS CLOSED

RTL #7 – Chicago, IL – Deadline to Apply: August 12, 2022

Apply

Download the Ready to Lead flyer to learn more:

Download flyer

Session Topics:

Session 1 – Orientation
Session 2 – From the Inside Out: The Power of Reflection and Self-Awareness
Session 3 – Leadership in Action: How Effective Directors Get Things Done
Session 4 – New Role, New Relationships: Learning to Lead and Shifting from Struggling to Juggling: Prioritizing Pointers and Productivity Tips

Price

$125* and full participation gets you:

• One, two hour virtual orientation (a working computer with Internet accessibility and audio and video capability is required).
• Three, full-day in-person sessions (lunch and snacks included)
• 19.5 contact hours of Illinois Gateways to Opportunity approved professional development
• Books, handouts, and materials

*Valued at over $2,000. The registration fee is only for Illinois administrators. Out-of-state administrators, please contact Barbara Volpe at barbara.volpe@nl.edu or 847-947-5132.

Share the excitement about Ready to Lead on your social networks! Download our easy-to-use social media toolkit:

Download Social Media Toolkit

Three RTL Cohorts Available**

Select the cohort that is right for you!

RTL #5 – NLU Campus, 850 Warrenville Road, Lisle, IL
Applications are closed

• Session 1 – Virtual – February 9, 2022 – 9:00 am – 11:15 am
• Session 2 – In-person – February 18, 2022 – 9:00 am – 4:15 pm
• Session 3 – In-person – March 11, 2022 – 9:00 am – 4:15 pm
• Session 4 – In-person – April 8, 2022  – 9:00 am – 4:15 pm

RTL #6 – Hilton Garden Inn, 360 Regency Park, O’Fallon, IL
Deadline to Apply: April 29, 2022

• Session 1 – Virtual – June 9, 2022 – 9:00 am – 11:15 am
• Session 2 – In-person – June 23, 2022 – 9:00 am – 4:15 pm
• Session 3 – In-person – July 14, 2022 – 9:00 am – 4:15 pm
• Session 4 – In-person – August 4, 2022 – 9:00 am – 4:15 pm

RTL #7 – Richard J. Daley College, 7500 S. Pulaski Rd., Chicago, IL 60652
Deadline to Apply: August 12, 2022

• Session 1 – Virtual – September 30, 2022 – 9:00 am – 11:15 am
• Session 2 – In-person – October 7, 2022 – 9:00 am – 4:15 pm
• Session 3 – In-person – November 18, 2022 – 9:00 am – 4:15 pm
• Session 4 – In-person – December 9, 2022 – 9:00 am – 4:15 pm

**Per NLU policy as of November 2021, masks are required to be worn by participants at all in-person sessions (regardless of vaccination status). Proof of vaccination must be uploaded at time of registration. If a participant is not fully vaccinated, they will be required to upload proof of a negative COVID test that is taken within seven days prior to each training session.

Taking Charge of Change

Taking Charge of Change™ (TCC) is designed to support early childhood administrators of center-based programs in leading an organization to continuous quality improvement.

A Blended Event of Virtual and In-Person Sessions for 2022–2023

APPLICATIONS CLOSE MAY 27, 2022

Apply

Funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services

Download the Taking Charge of Change flyer to learn more:

Download flyer

These essential features contribute to the TCC learning experience:

Learn more about the proven outcomes from TCC.

Empower yourself and embrace the change process. Delve into topics that strengthen your leadership style, promote peak performance, implement a quality improvement plan, and build a strong organizational climate.

As a participant, you will:

• Explore a variety of leadership topics including: appreciating individual differences, systems thinking, navigating change, organizational climate, meetings, and shared decision making, to name a few.
• Learn strategies for recruitment, inclusive leadership, meeting facilitation, organizational climate, peer learning communities, supervising staff, and more.
• Engage with a network of peers in a professional learning community about early childhood leadership.
• Participate in interactive learning and guided reflections.
• Use the Program Administration Scale (PAS) and the Early Childhood Work Environment Survey (ECWES) to diagnose organizational challenges and assess the need for change.
• Experience the impact of blending shared decision-making with data-based decision-making skills.
• Receive support and guidance from a coach.
• Receive a $500 mini-grant to support improvements toward circles of quality in ExceleRate™ Illinois
• Participate in the Leadership Connections™ Virtual National Conference with hundreds of colleagues as you learn new concepts about Whole Leadership.

Price:

Valued at over $4,000, but priced at $800, there is no other leadership program as impactful and cost-effective as TCC.

Registration fee and full participation gets you:

• Twelve skill-building sessions (a blend of in-person and virtual) led by experts in the field
• Six points applied toward the Illinois Director Credential (IDC) core competency requirements
• Over 90 clock hours – Illinois Gateways for Opportunity approved
• $500 quality improvement mini-grant
• Books, handouts, materials, and program assessment tools
• Breakfast, lunch, some dinners, and lodging included for the in-person sessions
• Full registration for the 2023 Leadership Connections^TM National Virtual Conference
• College credit available for an additional fee

Note:

• A working computer with video capability and Internet access is required.
• *Price is dependent on funding awarded from IDHS and the listed price is only for Administrators of Illinois programs. Administrators of out-of-state programs, please contact Barbara Volpe at Barbara.Volpe@nl.edu or 847.947.5132.

Share the excitement about Taking Charge of Change on your social networks! Download our easy-to-use social media toolkit:

Download Social Media Toolkit

Links to research on TCC’s impact

Zoom Report

20-Year Review

Taking the Lead

Taking the Lead (TTL) is designed to support early childhood administrators of home-based programs to grow and sustain their business.

A Blended Event of Virtual and In-Person Sessions for 2022–2023

APPLICATIONS CLOSE JULY 5, 2022

Apply

Funding provided by Illinois Department of Human Services and FDC

Download the Taking the Lead flyer to learn more:

Download flyer

These essential features contribute to the TTL learning experience:

As a participant, you will:

• Explore and strengthen business and professional practices, focus on improving the learning environment, and practice advocacy strategies.
• Learn strategies for building your leadership capacity, recordkeeping, budgeting, marketing, and improving contracts and handbooks.
• Participate in interactive learning and guided reflections.
• Engage with a network of peers in a professional learning community about early childhood leadership.
• Use the Business Administration Scale for Family Child Care (BAS) and the Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale-Revised (FCCERS-R) to diagnose administrative and learning environment challenges and assess the need for change.
• Experience the impact of using data to improve program quality.
• Apply a $300 mini-grant to support improvements toward circles of quality in ExceleRate™ Illinois.
• Participate in the Leadership Connections National Conference with colleagues from around the world as you learn new concepts.

Price:

$125.00 Registration Fee and full participation gets you:

• Ten training sessions (5 in-person sessions and five virtual sessions) from September 2022-May 2023
• Lunch included for in-person sessions
• $300 program improvement funds
• Books, handouts, materials, and program assessment tools
• 119 total contact hours and 6 points of Illinois Family Child Care Credential approved training delivered through:
  • Group learning, one Saturday per month
  • Independent online learning
  • Self-assessment
  • One-on-one coaching
• Registration to the 2023 Leadership Connections™ National Conference
• 10 quarter hours of optional undergraduate college course credit for an additional fee

TTL is valued at over $2,000, but costs you only $125.

Location:

National Louis University-Lisle campus
850 Warrenville Rd. Lisle, IL 60532
Public Forum Room

National Louis University-Wheeling campus
1000 Capitol Dr, Wheeling, IL 60090
Public Forum Room

Note:

Participants must be able to:

• Have computer access with, audio and video capabilities
• Access the internet including Zoom platform and McCormick Center Learning Management System (LMS)
• Save and upload files and open PDF documents

Share the excitement about Taking the Lead on your social networks! Download our easy-to-use social media toolkit:

Download Social Media Toolkit