Time to speak up – to each other this time!

There are some very exciting opportunities in the NC Early Learning Challenge grant for those of us who work to improve the quality of child care programs and settings for young children.  There is no doubt that the time has come to push  to effect even greater, sustainable, deep change in teacher and program practices.  The changes that have been made need to be supported and encouraged.  “Relationship-based professional development” has become the new catch-all for mentoring, coaching, consulting – an acknowledgement that people make changes in the context of relationships. Changes are not easy or we would have accomplished them long ago.  We have moved the needle significantly in NC – but not far enough.

But there is a choice right now in NC between business-as-we-have-done-in-the-past and and  new opportunities driven with a relentless focus on true collaboration, shared leadership and the linking of arms to really step together into the hard work. No one project or agency can do what is needed by itself.  It is time to connect the dots – from infant/toddlers to NC PreK – from one star family child care to NAEYC Accreditation – from Early Head Start to Smart Start – from health consultants to higher education – and everything in between.   We  need a cross-silo, integrated, talk-to-each-other-often, turf-free approach that will allow us to put our heads together to really bring young children the programs they need and deserve.  We cannot afford to waste one penny of this grant to turf or exclusivity.  We have strong programs in NC but they don’t always work well together. Can I say that out loud?  Its time for that to change. Everyone has a piece of the solution, its time to knit them together. Our leadership at DCDEE provides us clear support, the open sharing of information and the four advisory committees it convenes are a testimony to that vision.  But who knows what the political future holds? 

I challenge us to all speak up – to each other, this time.  If we don’t, we will have no one to blame but ourselves. But  if we insist on  true collaboration at each and every meeting,  if we refuse to be afraid of differences of opinions, if we ask the hard questions, risk the resistance, say out loud what we think is really good for children, then I am looking forward to what this spring holds. Lets get to work.  Together.

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