Who Are State Early Education Leaders and How Did They Get There?

• In Event: 29.062 - Early Childhood Education Workforce: Professional Development and Leadership

Abstract

Recent investments to support the expansion of public preschool opportunities in the U.S. have led to the creation of early education leadership positions at the state level. However, there is little research on these new leaders and how they attained their roles. This paper reports the findings of a quantitative study on state level early education leaders from 38 states. Analysis of participants’ survey responses revealed a lack of racial diversity among leaders and a concern that the most experienced leaders may soon be exiting the profession. Findings also demonstrate the importance of having knowledge of early education and access to support networks within the field, while suggesting that the field needs to better prepare leaders to navigate political contexts.

Author

• Kaitlin Northey, Rutgers University - New Brunswick/Piscataway