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.

“The reboot of this book comes at the right time...It provides a common language, real-life examples for practitioners to engage and lean in, and, most importantly, addresses the tension of anti-bias education as the path forward to ensuring that children experience high-quality early education.”
— From the Foreword by Iheoma U. Iruka, founding director, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute

“Louise, Debbie, and John are trusted teachers who, for decades, have been thought-leaders, mentors, and partners with us as we each explore our own identities and test Anti-Bias Education (ABE) strategies. This important book will inspire and encourage the work of leaders who want to initiate and grow ABE programs. Given the challenges we face in the United States right now, the urgent call for ABE leadership could not be clearer. Add this book to your must-read pile.”
—Valora Washington, CEO and president, The CAYL Institute

“The second edition of Leading Anti-Bias Early Childhood Programs: A Guide to Change, for Change again underscores that this work requires a long term commitment. In the best of circumstances, progress rides on waves of disequilibrium. Anti-bias leadership must be agile and in the moment. The authors of this book use clarifying examples in which readers will recognize today’s challenges to anti-bias work. They will also be comforted and encouraged by the authentic invitation to join the authors on this journey.”
—Jerlean Daniel, former executive director, NAEYC and co-chair, NAEYC Black Caucus

“The strategies cited in this book are invaluable for engaging in and sustaining anti-bias education. A must-read for early care and education leaders at any level in their career.”
—Denice Contreras, senior director, early childhood professional development, United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona

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

Foreword Iheoma U. Iruka  xi

Acknowledgments  xiii

Introduction  1

Organization of This Book  2

Meet the Authors and Contributors  5

1.  Pursuing the Anti-Bias Vision: The Conceptual Framework  11

Revisiting Anti-Bias Education  11

Becoming an Anti-Bias Program  13

Changing Adult Consciousness and Behavior  15

Understanding the Phases of Adult Anti-Bias Development  18

Recognizing Contested Grounds for Anti-Bias Education  23

Anti-Bias Education—Within Reach  26

2.  Best Practices of Early Childhood Program Leaders: The Foundation for Anti-Bias Leadership  29

Key Aspects of ECCE Program Leadership  30

Core Attributes of Effective ECCE Program Leaders  35

Professional Development of ECCE Program Leaders  37

Taking on the Challenge  38

3.  Reading the Program and Preparing for Anti-Bias Change  39

Collecting Preliminary Impressions: Establishing a Baseline for Planning  40

Making Sense of the Baseline for Strategic Planning  48

Setting the Stage for Action  57

A Dynamic and Cyclical Process  59

4.  Fostering Reflective Anti-Bias Educators  61

Building a Community of Anti-Bias Learners  62

Committing to an Anti-Bias Education Framework  70

Being a Lifelong Learner  81

5.  Engaging Families and Growing Anti-Bias Partnerships  83

The Framework for Working With Families  83

Introducing Anti-Bias Values and Expectations  86

Family Anti-Bias Education and Dialogue  95

Promoting Family Partnership and Leadership  99

Making All Families Visible  104

6.  Deepening and Sustaining Anti-Bias Awareness, Knowledge, and Skills  107

Enhancing the Professional Development of Anti-Bias Teachers  107

Facilitating Teachers’ Work With Families  120

Staff Development Throughout the Year  126

7.  Managing and Negotiating Disequilibrium and Conflict  127

Understanding Conflict  128

Building the Foundation for Productive Conflict  134

Turning Conflict into Growth  137

Responding to Pushback and Opposition  145

Thoughtful Risk-Taking  148

8.  Documenting and Assessing Anti-Bias Education Change  151

Reflections About Documentation in an Anti-Bias Program  153

Indicators and Strategies for Documenting Anti-Bias Change  154

Strategically Managing External Standards Requirements and Assessment Tools  170

Documentation and Empowerment  174

Epilogue: Sustaining the Anti-Bias Vision  177

Motivation Comes From Our Inner Core  177

“Man Man Lai”: Slowly It Will Come  179

Fostering a Community for Change  179

Staying Over the Long Haul  181

Carry on the Movement for Change  183

References  185

Index  195

About the Authors  207

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