Welcome😊🖍️
This week, we celebrate Read Across America, a time when we celebrate reading, share the importance of reading with parents and teachers, fill our classrooms with stories, guest readers, and the magic of books, and maybe even start a teacher book club.
When I think about Read Across America, I’m immediately transported back to my childhood and the excitement of the Pizza Hut BOOK IT! I can still remember tracking my reading minutes, the excitement of choosing a book, feeling so proud when I earned that Personal Pan Pizza award, and my dad driving me to Pizza Hut. There was something powerful about working toward a goal, building a habit, and being rewarded for growth.
And yes, the Pizza Hut BOOK IT! Program still exists today, continuing to motivate young readers across the country.
As children, we learned that reading helped us gain knowledge to grow. As leaders, that truth hasn’t changed.
Leadership isn’t a destination; it’s filled with skills that is always in continuous development and growth. One of the most important practices we can build is the habit of continual learning.
If we expect our teachers to grow, our programs to evolve, and our culture to stay strong, we must model what it looks like to keep learning, and reading is just one way to do this.
Giphy
I know what you’re thinking: “How do I even find the time to read?” Our early childhood field is full of daily unknowns, unexpected challenges, and busy moments. But here’s the truth: when you read with purpose, focusing on learning and building leadership skills, you begin to see patterns and structure in your day, week, and month. You start discovering ways to put systems in place, not just for yourself, but for your team. When you do, the culture of your program begins to shift, becoming more intentional, supportive, and thriving.
We will focus on three essential areas and a book for each, where intentional growth strengthens not only you as a leader but also the culture of your early childhood program.
1️⃣Communication is the foundation of leading; without it, nothing else works well.
🤔Why this matters: Communication is the heartbeat of leadership. Clear, consistent communication builds trust. Unclear communication builds confusion. In early childhood programs, how you communicate sets the tone for your team, your families, and ultimately the children in your care.
✍🏽Leadership takeaways:
Practice active listening.
Ask clarifying questions before responding.
Schedule intentional one-on-one conversations.
Read to expand your language around feedback and coaching.
📖Book to support growth:
Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
This book focuses on courageous, empathetic communication and building trust in teams.
2️⃣Decision-making directly affects operations, credibility, and staff trust.
🤔Why this matters: Leaders make decisions every day that affect teachers, families, and children. Strong decision-making builds confidence, creates consistency, and demonstrates integrity. When decisions are thoughtful, your team trusts your guidance, and your program runs more smoothly.
✍🏽Leadership takeaways:
Slow down reactive decisions; pause to gather information.
Gather input from your team but take ownership of the final call.
Reflect after major decisions: what worked? What could improve?
Use past experiences as learning tools for future choices.
📖Book to support growth:
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
This book focuses on 7 habits to help you solve problems and lead with integrity.
3️⃣Morale & Team Building- shapes culture, retention, and overall program success.
🤔Why this matters: Culture doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built intentionally: through recognition, shared wins, and meaningful relationships.
✍🏽Leadership takeway:
Celebrate small victories.
Create rituals of recognition.
Invest time in team-building conversations.
Model positivity without ignoring reality.
📖Book to support growth:
Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
This book is about how leaders create environments where people feel safe, valued, and motivated.
Being a great leader isn’t just about what you know; it’s about the culture you create. Every skill you grow, every habit you build, shows your team that learning matters. When you lead with intention, your program thrives: teachers feel supported, families feel confident, and children flourish. Keep reading, keep learning, and keep shaping a culture that inspires everyone around you.
This week, in celebration of Read Across America, pick up a book that inspires your growth, and watch the culture of your program flourish.
Till next time,
Jen Sprafka📋
Navigator of Leadership Development & Program Elevation
P.S. I would love to hear what you are reading; Leave a comment, or email me: [email protected]
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