Inclusive Leadership in an Early Education Center Serving Immigrant Children and Families

• In Event: Belonging(s): Including Leaders, Languages, and the Marginalized

Abstract

Sustainable early childhood education (ECE) leadership fosters quality early education and care. This qualitative case study investigated the conceptualizations and ECE leadership practices among teachers and administrators at a center that serves immigrant children and families in Southwest Florida. The aggregated data from interviews resulted in five themes: vision-driven leadership, inclusive leadership, practice-focused leadership, freedom and ownership vs. close supervision, and advocacy for ECE. The participants held a shared vision of collaborative and inclusive ECE leadership, which was expanded to include culturally and linguistically diverse children and families. The study suggests that willingness to invest in leadership training and practices and commitment towards a shared and democratic leadership is as a pathway toward social justice.

Authors

• Clarisse Halpern, Florida Gulf Coast University

• Tunde Szecsi, Florida Gulf Coast University