This tiered approach builds early childhood education workforce capacity for leadership positions with different levels of complexity. As the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is being implemented, MECLP will develop early education leaders to serve as Directors/Coordinators of childcare programs and Judy Centers, in supervisory roles at non-profit organizations and local school systems, as well as lead policymaking at local and state governmental agencies. MECLP is positioning itself as the state’s early childhood education leadership hubwith the purpose of increasing the number of highly qualified early education leaders to address the needs of the field.
Tier 1: SHER 601 – Leading for Change in Early Childhood Education – a 12 month course taught by faculty from The Institute for Early Education Leadership and Innovation (IEELI) at the University of Massachusetts, Boston focuses on seven core competencies: visioning, values, people management, organizational capacity, results and outcomes, creativity and innovation, and policy advocacy.
Tier II: Community of Practice – An opportunity for MECLP alums to connect through a series of robust opportunities – a pilot coaching program; a series of webinars featuring MECLP alums and ECE leaders from Maryland as well as national experts; Leadership in Action Conversations, ample opportunities for networking and small group sharing, and an annual Early Childhood Leadership Forum.
Tier III: SHER 602 – Public Policy and Advocacy in Early Childhood – With SHER 601 as a prerequisite, this course builds students’ capacity to act as advocates, leaders and innovators for high quality practices and research-informed policies in early childhood at the local, state and national level by influencing public policy and through advocacy.
Upon completion of SHER 601 and SHER 602, students receive a UMBC Endorsement in Early Childhood Leadership. (In development) MECLP expects to develop 2 additional 3-credit graduate courses culminating in a Certificate in Early Childhood Leadership from UMBC.
Course Descriptions