Congratulations, You have reached the end of Learning to Lead in Early Childhood Programs course!

You have read and reviewed a selection of documents that support and build upon your leadership skills. This systems approach was designed to increase your knowledge of how the different components in early education and leadership interact and interconnect. You investigated the tenet from Socrates “To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom”, a basic maxim of western philosophy. However, eastern philosophers also held similar beliefs. In Indigenous worldview the phrase “All my relations” is about the interconnectedness of the self to other living beings and the environment that supports life. The teaching emphasizes the responsibility of stewardship, not only in caring for the environment but also in engagement with others in meaningful ways to support well-being.

Then the focus was on creating safe spaces and learning from some of the experiences of persons who have been “othered” or marginalized. Some of the materials are eye opening to perspectives and experiences that not everyone shares. Resources were included for future use in your practice.

The concept of using the Heart, Head, and Hands to build leadership skills led the learner through some of the day-to-day practices; from relationship building and human resources back to creating safe spaces for children’s activities. Throughout the course you were encouraged to keep a journal of reflections. This activity of reflective journaling lays a foundation for your continuing journey of self-discovery and increasing your leadership skills to the level where you will mentor others. 

This course concluded with the hope that your toolkit of leadership skills will continue to flourish. The actions of a leader determine direction and sustainability. 

As Susanne Thiessen wrote 

“…to act in a good way is to treat and recognize all relationships as connected, as each has a role in the long-term sustainability of our ecosystems.”

Before leaving the course, take some time to read an Indigenous Perspective on  Working “in a Good Way” in the Public Service (Thiessen, 2025) 

Reference

Thiessen, S. (2024, March 4). An Indigenous perspective on working “in a good way” in the public service. IPAC Victoria. https://ipac-victoria.ca/news/an-indigenous-perspective-onnbsp-working-in-a-good-way-in-the-public-service