Leading Anti-Bias Early Childhood Programs

This popular book focuses on the leader’s role in initiating and sustaining anti-bias education in programs for young children and their families. This second edition emphasizes how the journey requires thoughtful, strategic, long-term planning that addresses all components of an early childhood care and education program. The authors, who are recognized leaders and experts on anti-bias education with extensive experience as early childhood directors, use a powerful combination of frameworks and practical tools to explain the structural and individual changes that leaders must foster. This updated edition features anti-bias leaders from diverse settings who share their insights and strategies for working with teachers and families. It is essential reading for current and aspiring leaders seeking change in early childhood settings.

Book Features:

• The principles and guidelines for program-wide transformation.
• Professional development activities for teachers at all levels of awareness and experience in anti-bias education.
• Approaches for engaging with families around social justice values.
• Strategies for supporting and strengthening the leader’s ability to initiate and sustain anti-bias change.
• Support for leaders in embracing and negotiating positive conflict and responding to opposition to anti-bias change.
• Tools for documenting a program’s readiness for and progress in anti-bias education.

New for the Second Edition:

• Voices and wisdom of additional leaders from the field, highlighting BIPOC center directors from diverse settings.
• Updated research, references, and terminology on early childhood care, education leadership, and anti-bias education.
• New and expanded strategies and activities for teacher professional development and family engagement based on 7 years of using the first edition.
• Expanded section on responding to opposition to anti-bias education, addressing the current political environment.

Louise Derman-Sparks is an international consultant on anti-bias education and a professor emerita of Pacific Oaks College. Debbie LeeKeenan is a lecturer, consultant, and retired long-time director of the Eliot-Pearson Children’s School, Tufts University. John Nimmo is a professor of early childhood inclusive education at Portland State University and former laboratory school director.

Praise for the First Edition!

"This book is a tool box for building early childhood programs that foster sentiments of justice and fairness in leaders, teachers, and young children.”
—Herbert Kohl, educator and bestselling author

“A concise and powerful message for anti-bias leaders in early childhood education everywhere. A truly inspired gift of lessons from the movement, for the movement.”
—Carol Brunson Day, board president, NAEYC (2014-2016)

“For those who are seeking to make a real difference and impact on the world we live in, Leading Anti-Bias Early Childhood Programs lays a road map and foundation for the work ahead. As the book underlines, begin with a guiding vision of equity that can inspire a new generation of leaders through effective leadership, family engagement, and community resources. The work of these passionate authors challenges us to be fearless in the pursuit and building of sustainable anti-bias early childhood programs.”
—Luis A. Hernandez, early childhood education specialist

“Leading Anti-Bias Early Childhood Programs recognizes the essential role early childhood administrators play in initiating and sustaining culturally relevant care and education. Program leaders steeped in the principles of anti-bias education are able to see diversity as an organizational asset and work intentionally and strategically to make the abstract notion of social justice come alive throughout the program. This book provides the tools program leaders need to make that happen."
—Paula Jorde Bloom, founder, McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership

“If you are an educator wanting to see more equity and inclusiveness in the world, at times discouraged, confused, or overwhelmed with how to manage the conflict that always emerges in the change process, you’ll find reassurance, resources, and strategic thinking to engage with in this anti-bias work.”
—Margie Carter, author and international early childhood consultant

Contents (Tentative)

Foreword by Iheoma U. Iruka

Acknowledgments

Introduction
Organization of This Book
Meet the Authors and Contributors

1.  Pursuing the Anti-Bias Vision: The Conceptual Framework
Revisiting Anti-Bias Education
Becoming an Anti-Bias Program
Changing Adult Consciousness and Behavior
Understanding the Phases of Adult Anti-Bias Development
Recognizing Contested Grounds for Anti-Bias Education
Anti-Bias Education—Within Reach

2.  Best Practices of Early Childhood Program Leaders: The Foundation for Anti-Bias Leadership
Key Aspects of ECCE Program Leadership
Core Attributes of Effective ECCE Program Leaders
Professional Development of ECCE Program Leaders
Taking on the Challenge

3.  Reading the Program and Preparing for Anti-Bias Change
Collecting Preliminary Impressions: Establishing a Baseline for Planning
Making Sense of the Baseline for Strategic Planning
Setting the Stage for Action
A Dynamic and Cyclical Process

4.  Fostering Reflective Anti-Bias Educators
Building a Community of Anti-Bias Learners
Committing to an Anti-bias Education Framework Being a Life-Long Learner

5.  Engaging Families and Growing Anti-Bias Partnerships
The Framework for Working with Families
Introducing Anti-Bias Values and Expectations
Family Anti-Bias Education and Dialogues
Promoting Family Partnership and Leadership
Making All Families Visible

6.  Deepening and Sustaining Anti-Bias Awareness, Knowledge, and Skills
Enhancing the Professional Development of Anti-Bias Teachers
Facilitating Teachers’ Work with Families
Staff Development Throughout the Year

7.  Managing and Negotiating Disequilibrium and Conflict
Understanding Conflict
Building the Foundation for Productive Conflict
Turning Conflict into Growth
Responding to Pushback and Opposition
Thoughtful Risk Taking

8.  Documenting and Assessing Anti-Bias Education Change
Indicators and Strategies for Documenting Anti-Bias Change
Strategically Managing External Standards Requirements and Assessment Tools.
Documentation and Empowerment

Epilogue. Sustaining the Anti-Bias Vision
Motivation Comes from Our Inner Core
“Man Man Lai”: Slowly It Will Come
Fostering a Community for Change
Staying Over the Long Haul
Carry on the Movement for Change

References

Index

About the Authors