Leadership Education and Development Summit
June 21 - 23, 2022 | Virtual
Right now, Head Start and Early Head Start programs all across the country need prepared, innovative, and committed leadership. The Leadership Education and Development Summit (LEADS) has much to offer to enhance our community’s innovative best practices and skills.
As a virtual conference, LEADS will feature a format to enhance the benefits of remote learning. Every time slot will feature three concurrent breakout sessions and recordings will be available for 30 days after the conference so you can catch anything you might have missed.
Registration Rates
- Non-Member: $824.00
- Regular Member: $604.00
- Time Zone Discount: $399.00Recognizing the difficulty residents of Alaska and Hawaii will have attending the morning sessions (11 am ET), residents of those states may register at a discounted rate.
- 10% Group Discount: $549.00 each
for 3-19 People from Member Programs - 25% Group Discount: $549.00 each
for 20 or More from Member Programs
Summit Schedule
All sessions below are in Eastern Standard Time.
Tuesday, June 21, 2022
11:00 a.m. ET
Presenter: Tommy Sheridan
12:15 p.m. ET
Community assessments are the foundation that the governing body (boards and tribal councils), the policy council, and the leadership team use to build the five-year Head Start/Early Head Start grant. Programs are required to complete community assessments every five years and update them annually. This session will share tools to help you think about how to best gather information and connect it to outcomes.
Presenter(s): Tammy Jelinek and Daniel Bashore, Ph.D.
We need to make this world a better place. We do this by supporting the wellbeing of humanity, and this begins with the work we do in Head Start and Early Head Start. In the spirit of “be the change you wish to see in the world,” this session will provide a roadmap for new and seasoned leaders to become the best versions of themselves. The session will focus on the foundational elements of research-based self-care practices and on self-regulation techniques, which enable us to choose our responses, rather than reacting from ego, in challenging situations.
Presenter(s): Paul Behrman
Participants in NHSA’s Director Credential will present their capstone projects, sharing ideas you can implement in your own program. From the very talented cohort of directors, a few were chosen to present just for you! Tackling the most pressing issues of the day, these presentations include recommendations based on action research. Support your fellow directors and learn something new!
1:30 p.m. ET
Planning for in-kind is as important as planning for the rest of your program budget. In this session, we will go over tools to help you and your team build, review, or update your in-kind plan. We will also explore ideas for generating new in-kind.
Presenter(s): Tammy Jelinek
In this session, participants will explore the PFCE Framework as a roadmap to strengthen orientation activities for family services professionals. Scenarios and resources will also be shared to support the day-to-day work of family services professionals as they develop successful partnerships with families. Join your colleagues and National Centers on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement (NCPFCE) to discuss how thoughtful orientation practices can promote progress for children and families.
Presenter(s): Brandi Black-Thacker
With the federal focus on using data for improvement in Head Start programs, it's important to have data capacity in your centers. As a result, you may be considering hiring a data coordinator or data analyst—or maybe you've already created this new position—but what should the responsibilities of this data employee be? How can you define this role and integrate it into your existing team? Join us to learn more about how to best set up and benefit from a data coordinator or analyst role in your program, and hear from colleagues who have already successfully done so.
Presenter(s): Dr. Greg Dixon
2:45 p.m. ET
Change happens. In this session we will explore a tool you can use to build a change story alone, and in teams. Thinking through the process of change helps leaders understand the impact change has for others and facilitates moving change forward.
Presenter(s): Tammy Jelinek and Daniel Bashore, Ph.D.
As programs continue to focus on full enrollment, there is an opportunity to reconsider and strengthen ERSEA strategies with staff and families. Join the National Centers on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement (NCPFCE) to explore challenges and options that ensure ERSEA activities are grounded in systemic, relationship-based, equity-informed, and collaborative approaches. This session will culminate with the space to reflect on the conversation and integrate the ideas into an action plan.
Presenter(s): Brandi Thacker-Black
If you want to feel more successful at work and peaceful at home then you need a success plan that includes self-care. You want to do good work and go home feeling satisfied, ready to enjoy your family and friends. The problem is, it feels like the work is never done so you work more when you get home or are still thinking about it. When you create a success plan that includes self-care, you get to enjoy the feeling of success more often.
Presenter(s): John Robinson
4:00 p.m. ET
Erin will share the five essential components of leading change for optimal team wellness and effectiveness. Change is important to keep your program growing and evolving but sometimes it can be challenging to have your team all going in the same direction. Be prepared to be empowered and inspired for the work ahead!
Presenter: Erin Ramsey
Wednesday, June 22, 2022
11:00 a.m. ET
Updates from the Office of Head Start.
12:15 p.m. ET
What is strategic planning? Channeling insights and innovations into action plans to achieve goals and objectives. This session opens with a description of the three forms of innovation and goes on to identify the path from innovation to implementation…the action plan! The session progresses to demystify strategic planning by lifting up the ways in which we think about it. Leave with strategic planning tools that will be useful as leaders continue towards comprehensive, in-person services.
Presenter(s): Mark Mazon, Tim Adams
Are you ready to journey to magnificent places? Moving through a life filled with uncertainties will take more than just a powerful ship, you also need to be open to where the journey leads you. To lead oneself is one of the most powerful aspects of leadership. In this session, author Niki Spears will introduce the 8 BE’s from her book, The Beauty Underneath the Struggle, that will support you in navigating through turbulent times while creating the life of your dreams. Get ready to own your LeaderSHIP and create your masterpiece!
Presenter(s): Nikki Spears
1:30 p.m. ET
While the composition of workforces may have changed, the most significant shifts are occurring in how programs approach the talent they have and the talent they need. This session will examine the elements of talent acquisition that are important to reset your workforce and the fiscal implications that should be considered. The elements include interviewing techniques, onboarding processes, job analyses, and strategies for retaining staff. In addition, tools, resources, and strategies will be shared.
Presenter(s): Mark Mazon and Nicole Holman-Alexander
As we approach the end of the program year, we can exhale and say, “We made it!” Now let’s focus on being intentional as we move forward with another program year. Let’s connect the dots in your agency’s management structure. Attendees will share challenges and opportunities at each management level, from service area specialist, to site supervisors, to leadership. You will gain a greater understanding of each Head Start service area and how they are connected and aligned. We will wrap it up by discussing how Head Start management systems achieve high-quality service delivery.
Presenter(s): Jennifer Reed
A Harvard-Stanford research team is working with NHSA to find ways to enhance emotional resilience within Head Start. In this session, we will share knowledge about emotional resilience and discuss how Head Start leaders can use these insights to promote staff wellness. This session will be interactive and we welcome your participation! We hope that everyone interested in emotional resilience will join us and share your perspectives.
Presenter(s): Amit Goldenberg, James Grossk, Jennifer Lerner, Ke Wang
2:45 p.m. ET
The deadline for the expenditure of the $1 billion of Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) and American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds is fast approaching. By March 31, 2023, recipient organizations must develop strategic plans, draw down the funds, and implement their plan. Whether you are addressing facility, technology, or equipment needs; implementing staff recognition and wellness strategies; or developing successful community outreach programs, these funds will help recipient organizations return to full in-person services. In this session recipients will analyze the data required by funding guidelines and how to use these funds in ways that are allowable, reasonable, and justifiable.
Presenter(s): Mark Mazon and Natalie Williams
Before you can fix any problem in your programs, you need to truly understand the root cause of the issue and intentionally evaluate potential solutions. This session will take a data-informed approach to the issue of staff turnover, helping you understand what numbers to look at, what questions to ask, and how to better understand and reduce staff turnover.
Presenter(s):Victoria Jones
The Education sector is in the middle of a crisis. With 78% of educators burning out and 33% leaving the profession within five years, this crisis is threatening the very foundation of a high-functioning education system. As the leading digital mental health support and training program for educators, Starling Minds has built a proven framework specifically to address the profession’s unique stressors. This presentation will focus on the role of leaders and how they can strengthen the resilience of their staff by building their own mental fitness skills.
Presenter(s): Dr. Andrew Miki
4:00 p.m. ET
Leadership styles have been the subject of numerous articles and studies throughout the years. Whether you are a servant leader, a bureaucratic leader, a visionary or transformational leader, to name a few, this session will focus on some nuggets of leadership that will serve you well regardless of your leadership style.
Presenter: Ann Linehan
Thursday, June 23, 2022
11:00 a.m. ET
NHSA is excited to bring to you three of the nation's leading researchers at one table! Moderated by Isabelle Hau, a leader in early childhood philanthropy and innovation, this panel will share some of the most cutting edge findings regarding impacts of COVID-19 on our youngest learners. From research on pregnant women during COVID to studies on interactions between parents and children during COVID, researchers from Brown, Stanford, and Columbia Universities will join Isabelle to share insights on what the research is saying now about what you can expect over the next few years.
12:15 p.m. ET
Effective early learning leadership involves the commitment to nurture and guide staff so that they have the tools to engage children and families successfully. Effective relationships between supervisors and staff contribute to the ability to reflect upon and cope with the stresses and demands of their work. As more programs move towards in-person services, building a safe and healthy climate for Head Start and Early Head Start staff, families, and children is essential. Join us as we dive deep into the 5Rs Responsive Relationships and Recognition practices that promote healthy program climate and program quality.
Presenter(s): Gail Joseph and Vanessa Maanao-French
As Head Start grant recipients return to full in-person services, they are finding innovative ways to identify, recruit, and enroll eligible children from changing communities. In this session, analyze and apply resources to address these ERSEA needs. This session will also introduce the ERSEA Assessment Tool as a resource to help recipients implement data-informed decisions and program plans, build partnerships, and conduct outreach.
Presenter(s): Nicole Holman-Alexander and Tim Adams
Trauma, once a shadowy, taboo, threatening topic, becomes approachable and manageable as we name and discuss it. The majority of ECE professionals are trauma survivors; the pandemic has exposed us all to trauma. Together, we can claim ways to translate trauma’s harsh legacy into healing. Join us as we work to channel trauma’s deep disruption into liberating theory and healing practices.
Presenter(s): Holly Elissa Bruno
1:30 p.m. ET
School readiness means children are ready for school, families are ready to support their children's learning, and schools are ready for children. Head Start views school readiness as children possessing the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary for success in school and for later learning and life. Join the National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning (NCECDTL) staff for an orientation to school readiness goals and activities described in the Head Start Program Performance Standards, supportive teaching, learning, and family engagement frameworks, and resources designed for early learning leaders.
Presenter(s): Brittney Lee and Vanessa Maanao-French
Learn how to lead your program by using both data and relationship-building strategies to ensure staff satisfaction. In this session, you will hear from a current director who has the heart for Head Start and receives 100% staff satisfaction each year on the program's year-end surveys. Learn strategies to help move your program forward during a season of change and uncertainty.
Presenter(s): Wendy Swingle
Keri Allred, Executive Director of Rural Utah Child Development, will tell you that she is not a data person by nature. However, she has personally transformed how her program uses data in the past two years. At this session, you will hear from Keri about her data journey: Where her program began, how she made incremental changes, how she brought her staff on board, and where they're heading next in their data-driven journey. For those wondering how they can incorporate and improve data in their programs, you won't want to miss Keri's story.
2:45 p.m. ET
Engaging fathers at different levels in your program is not just a way to do nice things or check the right boxes. When done well and with intention, father engagement can provide stronger support to your program, increase overall family engagement, and increase child outcomes in several different areas. Fathers are available and can be a stronger part of your family and community outreach as well as a way to strengthen connections between programs and homes for the sake of children. This session will explore and explain how fathers can be reached effectively and efficiently based on our work with over 225,000 fathers in programs just like yours.
Presenter(s): J. Michael Hall
Strong early learning leaders influence and sustain positive and equitable changes that support educators and improve child outcomes and promote school readiness. Join the National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning (NCECDTL) for a focused exploration of 5Rs strategies early learning leaders can use to: implement curriculum that addresses the learning domains of the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework; use data to inform curriculum, instruction, professional development, program design, and other program decisions; create a learning community among staff to promote innovation, continuous improvement, and integrated services across education, family services, and health.
Presenter(s): Gail Joseph and Brittney Lee
If you want your team to be happier, more engaged, and more enthusiastic about their jobs even during these uncertain times, this power-packed session is for you. In this session, you will learn skills that make leading your team while adjusting to a new normal a more productive and personally rewarding experience than you ever expected. You will learn to energize, develop, and reward your team, even with limited funds.
Presenter(s): Dr. Earl Suttle
4:00 p.m. ET
Using analogies from the sports world, this leadership session will focus on thriving teams based on clear vision and purpose. Most importantly, how every individual’s success creates team and organizational excellence. As program leaders, the intent is for long term success for our work not just short-term wins. The joy and challenge by investing in people, will result in unlocking the surprising potential of a successful team.
Presenter: Luis Hernandez
Frequently Asked Questions
Upon registering, you will receive a confirmation email asking you to verify your email address. This is essential in ensuring you receive all attendee communications. If you did not receive this, please contact: techsupport@nhsa.org
LEADS will take place on Zoom, which can be accessed from any device including mobile and tablets. Visit Zoom’s FAQ for more information.
The Block is NHSA’s online platform where you will find key materials both during and after the conference: session links and recordings; access to session handouts and presentations; and a space where you can engage with other LEADS attendees.
You will want to test your login as soon as possible to ensure you don’t encounter any technical difficulties during the event. Please Note: it may take up to one hour after registering for the Summit for your account on The Block to become active.
Using The Block
- Head over to The Block
- If this is your first visit to The Block, click “Sign in” at the top right corner of the page
- Enter the email address you registered for the conference to sign in
- Click "Reset Password" to have the system send you an email with instructions on how to create or change your password.
For additional assistance, email: techsupport@nhsa.org
If your products and services support the healthy development of young children or help Head Start and Early Head Start programs operate more efficiently and effectively, take a look at the many partnership opportunities we offer.
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Featured Reviews
"I'm glad I can access the recordings of sessions I was unable to attend or to listen again to information I want to reinforce."
2021 LEADS Attendee
"The conference has so many things to learn from. It rejuvenates my spirit and reminds me why I continue my work in Head Start everyday."
2021 LEADS Attendee
"My favorite part of the summit was hearing the latest information from Office of Head Start leaders in Washington and updates from Tommy Sheridan."
2021 LEADS Attendee