
Inspiring Professional Growth for Leaders of Early Childhood Programs 2022 -2023
A Ten-Month Learning Community
Becoming a member of this ten-month learning community will inspire you to rethink and refocus your work to re-energize and strengthen your learning community.
This program includes:
- 10 Live Interactive Professional Development Sessions- to help you embrace a growth mindset, develop a vision-focused action plan, utilize strength-based communication and strategies for making transformational changes (see full listing of sessions below).
- 9 Live Building Connections Sessions – where you can ask questions and be supported in a safe space with like-minded colleagues. You will be able to voice your dilemmas and be guided to explore possible solutions.
- Access to a Private Discussion Board – where you will build strong connections, collaborate, learn and support one another in an interactive forum.
- A Monthly Reflection and Resource Guide – to enhance your learning and build your leadership portfolio
- 30 Hour Professional Development Certificate

How Does This Course Works
Susan MacDonald, M.Ed., will be your inspirational and informative guide on this journey. She will share her expertise from her books, Inspiring Early Childhood Leadership, and Inspiring Professional Growth, and her first-hand knowledge of leading early childhood programs from her years as a director of a Reggio-inspired preschool. Susan will bring her broad knowledge of the early childhood field and her unique background as a professional coach, with certifications through the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching, and the Center for School Transformation into all aspects of this program.
Susan will use her signature three-pillar methodology – Passion, Intentionality, and Engagement (PIE), to empower you to create a customized leadership portfolio that will enhance your professional growth and enable you to make lasting changes in the areas you care about most. Your portfolio will include:
- Vision: A clear and concise vision statement focused on supporting the professional growth of the educators in your program
- Plan:A year-long goal focused professional development plan for your staff meetings and professional days
- Design: The design, development, and delivery of a professional development workshop
- Communicate:A positive communication action plan to guide you in facilitating effective dialogues
- Resources:A cultivated list of current and relevant resources to inspire your ongoing professional growth
Schedule:
This ten-month program begins on August 17, 2022.
To accommodate various work schedules and time zones, the live course presentations will be held one Wednesday a month from 1:00 – 2:30 pm EST. The Building Connections – Group Dialogues, Questions, and Reflections calls will be held on one Wednesday a month from 7:00 – 8:30 pm EST.
The presentations and Building Connections calls will be recorded and posted to the course site.
Investment: $499
Your one-time payment includes the live presentations, monthly group calls, recordings of all live sessions, a private discussion board, a monthly resources guide, a free digital copy of Susan’s book, Inspiring Professional Growth, and a 30 Hour Professional Development Certificate.
If you are experiencing financial difficulties, please contact me via email: inspiringnewperspectives@gmail.com. A limited number of discounted spots are available. A group discount is available for any program registering four or more participants.
Inspiring Professional Growth
Leadership Program Schedule
To accommodate various work schedules and time zones, the live course presentations will be held from 1:00 – 2:30 pm EST, and the Building Connections – Group Dialogues, Questions, and Reflections calls will be held from 7:00 – 8:30 pm EST.
All presentations and Building Connections calls will be recorded and posted to the course site.
Dates | Topic |
August 17 August 23 |
Creating a Vision for a Thriving Growth Culture Building Connections |
September 14 September 20 |
Professional Development Plans Building Connections – Group Dialogues, Questions and Reflections |
October 19 October 25 |
Leadership Skills To Empower Professional Growth Building Connections – Group Dialogues, Questions and Reflections |
November 9 November 15 |
Conversations that Matter – Strengths-Based Communication Skills Building Connections – Group Dialogues, Questions and Reflections |
December 7 December 13 |
Supporting Positive Teams Building Connections – Group Dialogues, Questions and Reflections |
January 11 January 17 January 25 |
Managing Your Time to Enhance Your Leadership Building Connections – Group Dialogues, Questions and Reflections Running Effective Staff Meetings |
February 15 February 21 |
Designing and Developing a Professional Development Project Building Connections – Group Dialogues, Questions and Reflections |
March 15 March 21 |
Cultivating Professional Collaboration Building Connections – Group Dialogues, Questions and Reflections |
April 12 April 18 |
Leading Transformational Change Building Connections – Group Dialogues, Questions and Reflections |
Frequently asked Questions
I have a really full schedule, what is the time commitment for this program?
This program has been designed to have flexibility for busy professionals. Each month there will be a live professional development session and a live building connections session. These sessions will be recorded for anyone who cannot participate live. The monthly reflection guides and discussion board can be accessed 24 hours a day to share your thoughts and reflections. Participants should expect to spend 4 – 5 hours a month participating in the live calls, sharing on the discussion boards, completing the reflection guides, and developing your portfolio.
Who should enroll in this program?
- This program has been developed for:
- Directors of early childhood and school-age programs
- Family child care providers and system administrators
- Educational coordinators, coaches, and consultants
- Teachers aspiring to move into program leadership
- Trainers designing professional development experiences for the early childhood educators
I have some specific questions, who can I speak with?
Susan MacDonald will be happy to schedule a call to discuss any questions about the program. You can email her to set up a time to talk: inspiringnewperspectives@gmail.com