Cultivating Leadership in Early Childhood Education and Care

Dr Leanne Gibbs is Senior Lecturer at Charles Sturt University. She joined Charles Sturt University after an exemplary career within Australian early childhood education. Her research interests include leadership, advocacy and public policy, and she has published extensively on the topic of leadership emergence and cultivation in early childhood education.

• ProloguePart I: Trouble1. We Need to Talk About Leadership in ECEC2. Thinking Differently About Leadership Theory and PracticePart II: Complexity3. Dispositions for Leading: Knowledge, Skills, Values4. The Complex Site of ECEC: Where Leadership HappensPart III: Promise5. Organisations Cultivating and Shaping Leadership6. Learning for Leading7. A Path Ahead

Cultivating Leadership in Early Childhood Education and Care fills a gap that ECE leaders are constantly lamenting. There is a dearth of leadership resources for emerging leaders and service leaders of early childhood education and care services. This book will be welcomed and is extremely useful with a mix of theory and practical applications for leaders in this field.Su Garrett, Director, Explore & Develop, AnnandaleThis book examines the complexities of leadership in ECEC and bridges the gap between theory and practice. Readers are urged to create a learning culture within early childhood environments and to empower and inspire the leadership in all educators. For anyone who is interested in leading and learning more about what enables effective leadership in early childhood educational contexts this is a must read!Dr Jo Grimmond University of WollongongThe author explores the challenges that traditional leadership paradigms have raised within the ECEC profession and offers a path forward through reframing leadership development, knowledge and skills. This book offers an optimistic vision for the future of leadership in early childhood education. I highly recommend this book to anyone passionate about driving positive organisational change through leadership but particularly for established and emerging leaders in the early childhood profession.Dr Belinda Downey Charles Sturt UniversityIn the important but complex and demanding space of early childhood education and care (ECEC) developing and nurturing leadership is essential to achieving positive outcomes for children and families and for educator well-being. Leanne Gibbs in her book “Cultivating Leadership in Early Childhood Education and Care: Trouble, Complexity and Promise” provides a realistic insight into the challenges of cultivating leadership in ECEC along with a compelling and inspiring alternative approach to leadership development. Through the sharing of leadership stories Leanne highlights practices that enable the development of effective leadership. This book will encourage you to think deeply about the definition, practice, and development of leadership in ECEC and inspire educators who are on a leadership journey!Marina Papic, Professor of Early Childhood EducationAustralian Catholic University