1.3 Early Childhood Education: Structures, Frameworks and Resources

Being a Leader

In most contexts, administrative leaders also work directly on the floor, navigating the dual responsibilities of “on-the-floor” leadership and administrative management. For this course, participants will focus on the leadership role encompassing financial management, human resources, governance, and the centre's overall operations. Beyond these administrative tasks, leaders are also responsible for fostering professionalism, ethical conduct, and staff well-being. They play a pivotal role in supporting staff development, advocating for quality early childhood education and care, and maintaining a collaborative and inclusive organizational culture.

Being a Leader or the Leader is more than just a title think about yourself as a Leader, lifting your staff as Leaders, the families as Leaders, and most of all the children that you are supporting as our FUTURE Leaders.  How are you supporting them to be their own leaders? We must be GREAT role models and understand that we are all leaders in our own ways.  – A Blanket Approach – Children are our Future; Children are our Future Leaders” (interviewed 18 Chiefs and 3 Friendship Centers)

Bringing Language and Culture into the Program

A high-quality Early Learning program grounded in First Nations practices should reflect the local language, cultural teachings, and ways of being. Work with the community to understand how these teachings should be brought into the program and what respectful implementation looks like.