Northern Lights Professional Development Roundtables are designed to deepen our knowledge about promising initiatives happening in Vermont paired with time to reflect together on opportunities for collaboration and integration. Each roundtable includes a panel presentation, Q+A, and time for discussion and reflection.
NL PD Roundtable: Leadership 9/30/25
Panelists:
- Su White discussed the Early Childhood Leadership Institute. Learn more at: Early Childhood Leadership Institute – Snelling Center for Government
- Tricia Pawlik discussed the LEAD Microcredential for afterschool professionals. Learn more at: L.E.A.D. – Vermont Afterschool
- Meg Atwood discussed the Vermont Early Childhood Network Leadership Academy. Learn more about Vermont Early Childhood Networks at: Vermont Early Childhood Networks – VTAEYC
- Amelia Struthers and Kristen Martin discussed the Program Director Credential. Learn more at: Program Director Credential – Northern Lights at CCV
Key Takeaways:
- Effective leadership is most often defined in relation to how we interact with, inspire, and influence others.
- Think of leadership as both a verb and as a noun.
- Cultivating leadership skills takes time. Several of our featured programs take place over an extended period, providing time for developing skills and engaging with peers.
Learn More:
- Leadership in Afterschool Programs:
- Effective characteristics for leaders in afterschool programs: Effective Characteristics for Leaders in Afterschool Programs
- Building and retaining high quality professional staff for extended education programs: IJREE – International Journal for Research on Extended Education 1-2016
- Leadership in Early Childhood Programs:
- “Distributed leadership is when formal leaders and frontline staff share power and decision making in one or more domains of work. In the context of ECE, distributed leadership is defined as the combined efforts and influence of ECE administrators and teaching staff in leading change and quality improvement. Learn more at: Recognizing and Supporting Early Childhood Educators and Program Administrators as Agents of Change: An Exploration of Distributed Leadership in Early Care and Education