Leadership
March 10, 2009
Every so often I get a call from a niece or nephew, looking for guidance in choosing the right preschool program for their child. I gather the necessary checklists and brochures and send them off. In my heart I have such an empty feeling, because I know that all the written material I can give them will only touch upon the surface of what makes a school a good one.
I know that what makes a school great is not a concrete thing. Of course the facility should be clean and the staff must have the appropriate qualifications, but is that what makes a school great?
Is the school with the old building and fading paint of inferior quality then the new building with all the bells and whistles?
The catch phrase these days is "Best Practices". We use this term when discussing schools, businesses, factories and government. Everyone wants to have their particular "best practices" defined. Knowing policies and procedures which have produced the desired results is important.
So what are the "best practices" in Early Childhood Education? Of course there are lists and lists and lists. The accreditation process for preschools holds them responsible for meeting the defined "best practices". It is a year-long evaluative process. Therefore, through deductive reasoning"¦ accredited preschools are the best! Right?
Well, yes and no. Just because a school is accredited does not make it a great school. Just because a school is not accredited does not make it an inferior school.
Some schools do not always continue to fulfill the requirements, after receiving their accreditation. Ratios go up, staff is transferred and equipment is put back in storage (for the next time). The accrediting process is very costly, and many smaller schools cannot afford to undergo the process. Should you eliminate them from your search? The answer is no.
Is there a succinct way to tell if a school is great? I think there is. Does the leadership of the school understand their client (the child) and their ultimate goal (success in school, positive relationships, and the confidence to keep on trying, to name a few)?
Understanding the policies and procedures for success is fundamental, but having the vision to inspire those around you to reach for the stars is vital!
A good school will never be perfect in every way. In the same way that a parent cannot be everything to their child, a teacher cannot be all things to your child. A good school requires a good leader. They do not have to know how to do every aspect of a job. However, they must have good background knowledge and the ability to find those people who, with the proper training, will be able to add to the collective knowledge. A good school, like a good business or good government, must have a cohesive vision in which to inspire people to do, or be, more.
You can tell if it's a great school if there are smiles on everyone's faces and they are producing competent students.
Peace & Light,
Grace
______________________________
Grace Geller is responsible for the development, administration, and implementation of early, primary and secondary programs As former Director of Operations, for Charter Schools USA, she played a pivotal role in the development of Charter Schools USA's first schools and was involved in the daily supervision of facilities, procurement, and school operations.
Grace has over 25 years of experience in educational administration. Her expertise in education includes curriculum development and program design. She has facilitated Personal Education Plans, Portfolio Assessment procedures and has developed standards enabling teachers to perform with a quantifiable increase in student standardized test scores of 1-2 years for both mainstream and special needs students. Ms. Geller has been the Early Childhood Director of a nationally recognized pre-school, which was featured in N.A.E.Y.C's film, "What To Look For In Quality Child Care". After achieving success as an Early Childhood Director, Ms. Geller served as Principal of The Vista School, an accredited private institution. As Principal, she designed and implemented an elementary and middle school that received national attention for its innovative programming and client satisfaction.
She holds a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education, and an Advanced Level Director's Credential. Ms. Geller has been a validator for NAEYC and A.I.S.F. as well as a DCF trainer for Nova Southeastern University. She has authored articles on childcare, parenting and curriculum featured in: "Our City Weston", "City Magazine", "Today's Parent" and "Broward Family".
Read more from Grace Geller on her blog, Preschooltimes.net
I know that what makes a school great is not a concrete thing. Of course the facility should be clean and the staff must have the appropriate qualifications, but is that what makes a school great?
Is the school with the old building and fading paint of inferior quality then the new building with all the bells and whistles?
The catch phrase these days is "Best Practices". We use this term when discussing schools, businesses, factories and government. Everyone wants to have their particular "best practices" defined. Knowing policies and procedures which have produced the desired results is important.
So what are the "best practices" in Early Childhood Education? Of course there are lists and lists and lists. The accreditation process for preschools holds them responsible for meeting the defined "best practices". It is a year-long evaluative process. Therefore, through deductive reasoning"¦ accredited preschools are the best! Right?
Well, yes and no. Just because a school is accredited does not make it a great school. Just because a school is not accredited does not make it an inferior school.
Some schools do not always continue to fulfill the requirements, after receiving their accreditation. Ratios go up, staff is transferred and equipment is put back in storage (for the next time). The accrediting process is very costly, and many smaller schools cannot afford to undergo the process. Should you eliminate them from your search? The answer is no.
Is there a succinct way to tell if a school is great? I think there is. Does the leadership of the school understand their client (the child) and their ultimate goal (success in school, positive relationships, and the confidence to keep on trying, to name a few)?
Understanding the policies and procedures for success is fundamental, but having the vision to inspire those around you to reach for the stars is vital!
A good school will never be perfect in every way. In the same way that a parent cannot be everything to their child, a teacher cannot be all things to your child. A good school requires a good leader. They do not have to know how to do every aspect of a job. However, they must have good background knowledge and the ability to find those people who, with the proper training, will be able to add to the collective knowledge. A good school, like a good business or good government, must have a cohesive vision in which to inspire people to do, or be, more.
You can tell if it's a great school if there are smiles on everyone's faces and they are producing competent students.
Peace & Light,
Grace
______________________________
Grace Geller is responsible for the development, administration, and implementation of early, primary and secondary programs As former Director of Operations, for Charter Schools USA, she played a pivotal role in the development of Charter Schools USA's first schools and was involved in the daily supervision of facilities, procurement, and school operations.
Grace has over 25 years of experience in educational administration. Her expertise in education includes curriculum development and program design. She has facilitated Personal Education Plans, Portfolio Assessment procedures and has developed standards enabling teachers to perform with a quantifiable increase in student standardized test scores of 1-2 years for both mainstream and special needs students. Ms. Geller has been the Early Childhood Director of a nationally recognized pre-school, which was featured in N.A.E.Y.C's film, "What To Look For In Quality Child Care". After achieving success as an Early Childhood Director, Ms. Geller served as Principal of The Vista School, an accredited private institution. As Principal, she designed and implemented an elementary and middle school that received national attention for its innovative programming and client satisfaction.
She holds a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education, and an Advanced Level Director's Credential. Ms. Geller has been a validator for NAEYC and A.I.S.F. as well as a DCF trainer for Nova Southeastern University. She has authored articles on childcare, parenting and curriculum featured in: "Our City Weston", "City Magazine", "Today's Parent" and "Broward Family".
Read more from Grace Geller on her blog, Preschooltimes.net
