The Five Commitments of Optimistic Leaders for Children A Reflective Practice Journal

In a groundbreaking approach to creating a more equitable system to ensure all children thrive, the team of early childhood experts at Leading for Children identify five core commitments for everyone within the early childhood ecosystem: think impact, cultivate self-awareness, nurture relationships, refine communication, and activate curiosity. We know that children learn by modeling the behavior of adults around them and when the adults embrace these five commitments, they can foster equitable relationships that set positive examples for children.

This guidebook to the five commitments offers self-reflection exercises and real-world examples to help early childhood professionals create an environment of nurturing relationships. As you move through this reflective practice journal, you will be introduced to each of the five commitments and invited to explore how you might see them expressed through your personal identity, your interpersonal relationships, and your group interactions. As a result, we hope you will learn to challenge your biases, develop antiracist practices, and exercise intentionality in your work relationships. In doing so, you will be cultivating yourself as an Optimistic Leader for children, helping to create an equitable, healthy, collaborative, and constructive climate for children's learning and development.

Judy Jablon is the founder and Executive Director of Leading for Children, a national non-profit organization. After having spent over forty years in the field of early learning, Judy has developed a groundbreaking model that focuses on community and the collective wisdom of its members. Her work centers around the great passion and determination of all the different individuals who dedicate their lives to leading for children. Judy is the author of numerous books and resources for the field including Powerful Interactions: How to Connect with Children to Extend Their Learning, and 11 Simple Rules to Create Thriving Communities for Children. Judy began Leading for Children in 2016 to focus on equity in early learning by ensuring that all the adults in the young child's ecosystem can come together to collectively solve the challenges of their communities by using their wisdom and experience. LFC's projects are currently under way in more than ten states across the country.Nichole Parks is the Director of Programs at Leading for Children. Her philosophy is that by nurturing the growth and development of the adults in the child's ecosystem, we create pathways to sustainable quality and take steps to create a more equitable world for our children. During her twenty-nine years in early childhood education, she's taught preschool and served children and families as the Infant and Toddler Director of NAEYC accredited program. Prior to joining LFC she was the Quality Rating Improvement System Coordinator with Arkansas State University Childhood Services, where she coordinated trainings, coaching, assessments, and initiatives for early childhood program administrators. Nichole has developed place-based resources in several states and is a co-author of The Five Commitments of Optimistic Leaders: A Reflective Practice Journal.