The Whole Leadership Framework is designed to clarify our understanding about leadership in early childhood education at the program level. The framework highlights three primary domains: leadership essentials, administrative leadership, and pedagogical leadership. It is important to note that there is overlap between each of these domains, reflecting an interdependent relationship. Few leadership roles and functions are mutually exclusive. Rather, leadership exercised in one domain impacts and/or requires reciprocal leadership in the other domains.
The Whole Leadership Framework can be applied to early childhood programs serving young children in a variety of settings: centers, schools, and homes. The framework is useful when considering the formal and informal leadership structures or roles in each of these settings.
We believe the Whole Leadership Framework can serve as a useful tool for early childhood systems leaders, higher education administrators, training and technical assistance developers, policymakers, and other individuals seeking to improve early childhood leadership and increase capacity of the workforce. We also believe the framework will be useful for individuals working in schools and organizations serving children birth through third grade to help them place leadership functions and competencies in an organized context. Most of all, we hope that it will establish a common language about early childhood organizational leadership as a lever to increase the quality of early childhood programs and to advance the field in support of young children and families.
Interested in Learning more about how you can use the Whole Leadership Framework? Contact us at McCormickCenter@nl.edu