Leading Change in Early Childhood Programs: Capstone

Catalog description

This capstone course starts with an overview of program evaluation and transformational leadership strategies. Candidates will use the knowledge gained throughout their graduate coursework (the MAE core and LECE courses) to analyze the quality of a local preschool or infant/toddler program. Candidates will examine a program to evaluate its efficacy in providing an engaging, relationship-based, developmentally appropriate setting for young children, in its support of teachers and connections with parents and community. Based on this analysis, candidates will develop and lead a focused collaborative transformational change strategy to address one area of need. Candidates will reflect on their personal leadership roles, relationships and successes with motivation and peer collaboration, knowledge and implementation of public policies and professional ethics, and advocacy for equitable educational opportunities for all children. Candidates will demonstrate program mastery through this Capstone project.