Leadership Connections Conference
The Westin Chicago North Shore (Map and Directions)
May 15-17, 2008
Three
jam-packed days of skill-building sessions, networking, and fun. Return
rejuvenated and ready to take your program to a new level. Total conference
package is $400 until March 31. The discounted rate for groups of 10 or more is $375
per person.
Participants can now
register online. For more information including sponsorship opportunities,
download a brochure or contact Donna Jonas at
(800) 443-5522, ext.5058 or
donna.jonas@nl.edu.
Optional Preconference Activities – Limited Space, Register Soon!
Wednesday,
May 14, 2008
Chicago Children's Museum Tour and Documentation Workshop: Explore the Chicago
Children's Museum at Navy Pier and enjoy a workshop on documentation.
Box lunch and evening dessert reception included. There is an additional $70 fee
for this tour and pre-registration is required.
Belmont-Cragin/Gertrude B. Nielsen Child Care and Learning Center Tour: Explore
the Reggio inspired Belmont-Cragin Center in Chicago then tour the premiere
Gertrude B. Nielsen Child Care and Learning Center in Northbrook.
Box lunch and evening dessert reception included. There is an additional $70 fee
for this tour and pre-registration is required. Only a few spaces left!
Getting Ready for the PAS: This session provides an overview of the
Program Administration Scale (PAS). The PAS is designed to measure the quality
of leadership and management practices of center-based early childhood programs.
After completing this training, providers will have a basic knowledge of the
PAS, be able to use the tool for program improvement, and know how to prepare
for a PAS assessment. This training is required to apply for star levels 3 and 4
of the Illinois Quality Counts: Quality Rating System. There is an additional
$15 fee for this session and pre-registration is required. To register, contact Terese Amidei at
(847) 640-9590 or
tamidei@childrenshomeandaid.org.
Being an administrator of an early childhood program
is not just a state of employment; it is a state of mind. So many individuals
who don the director's hat with noble intentions of creating exemplary centers
end up leaving the field frustrated, depleted, and disillusioned. They burn out.
They find that there is simply too much to do and too many people tugging on
their sleeve for help, advice, and support. Are you at risk of burning out?
Join
early childhood professionals from across the country for a week-long
online discussion with Chip Donohue. Dr. Donohue is the director of the Center
for Early Childhood Professional Development and Leadership in the School of
Continuing Education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He develops and
teaches online courses for child care administrators and offers eTeaching
Institutes for early childhood faculty and trainers. With Selena Fox of New
Zealand Tertiary College, he is developing ecelearn, an innovative online
approach for early childhood teacher education. Beginning Monday, April 7 participants can
go to our Web site to
Learn about pixels and image sizes; capturing, storing, and sharing images;
and displaying your images in marketing an promotional materials. This workshop
will be held at John A. Logan College in Room F111 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (A lunch break will be provided.)
Funding is provided by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). Participant portion of the training cost is only
$45. Scholarships are available to cover this fee. Participants may also
receive undergraduate credit from John A. Logan College. To register, 
This course provides intermediate instruction to computer technology as an
administrative tool in the management of child care programs. Lab sessions will
be held at NLU's North Shore Campus in Room 627 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Additional content will be delivered online. Topics include: Creating electronic
forms with Microsoft Word 2007; constructing complex spreadsheets with Microsoft
Excel 2007; designing promotional materials with Microsoft Publisher 2007; and
building databases with Microsoft Access 2007. Funding is provided by the
Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). Participant portion of the
training cost is only $75. This fee includes instruction, textbook, flash drive,
and training materials. Scholarships are available to cover this
fee. Participants may also receive two semester hours of graduate credit from
National-Louis University (ECE534, Technology in Child Care Administration I) by
paying an additional $578. To register,
Join the ranks of over 400 directors in Illinois who have taken part in this
extraordinary professional development experience. Taking Charge of Change is
guaranteed to transform how you think about your role as an early childhood
leader. Training begins with a six-day residential institute August 4-9,
2008 at the McCormick Tribune Center for Early Childhood Leadership in Wheeling.
Topics focus on individual and organizational change and the director's role as
change agent. A comprehensive model for improving the quality of early childhood
programs is presented. A follow-up retreat will be held November 13-15, 2008
where participants report on their progress in implementing a program
improvement plan. Taking Charge of Change culminates with four days of training
in conjunction with Leadership Connections in May 2009.