The Early Childhood Leadership Institute (ECLI) provides ongoing professional development to professionals within New Jersey’s Quality Rating and Improvement System and Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies. Professional development opportunities include orientation, trainings, communities of practice and learners, forums, and small group and 1-on-1 Supervisor coaching. The ECLI Virtual Workshops are a way to engage in conversations with experts of specific topics, whose extensive experience provides a broader lens through which professionals can think about the work they do each day.  These workshops support practice in providing an opportunity for professionals to learn from one another, interact with others who are experts in the field, gain perspectives outside of their own context, and continue to build capacity on topics they identified through survey feedback.

The ECLI Virtual Workshop series is comprised of independent workshops throughout the year in which professionals can choose workshops that are most interesting to them based upon workshop descriptions. Each two-hour virtual workshop will be structured as a guided discussion, allowing the participants to engage in thoughtful conversation with the presenter and to process concepts with each other. ECLI gathers questions each participant submits during registration that is related to the topic and provides these to the presenters who can use them for creating content that is meaningful and tailored to the audience. Workshops are facilitated through the online platform ECLI uses for all their virtual professional development and are audio and video recorded to have as a resource for all professionals.

In keeping true to adult learning principles, registration is voluntary, allowing professionals to choose topics that are most relevant to their current needs and interests. Due to the conversational nature of the workshops, each workshop is limited to 30 participants. Due to this, professionals are encouraged to register early and only register for a workshop that they can commit to by attending on the identified date and time and fully participating utilizing both video and audio. Upon registration, participants will submit at least one question for the presenter. Registration is by invitation only and all invitees will receive an email with registration and complete event details prior to each workshop.

Thursday, September 7, 2023 from 10:00 AM – 11:30 PM EST

Title: Leadership in Action: Take-a-ways from ECLI’s First Fellowship Cohort

Last year, ECLI announced its first Fellowship opportunity, with six Fellows completing Rowan’s Certificate of Graduate Studies (COGS) in Early Childhood Coaching and Technical Assistance during the 2022-2023 academic year. Throughout the year the Fellows had access to an ECLI mentor and created lasting relationships with one another that served as support as they worked through each course within a rigorous timeline. In this session, ECLI Fellows share some of their take-a-ways from their experiences and how their work in the COGS has contributed to their own growth and learning. Our hope is that you leave the session with renewed energy and enthusiasm to seek out your own opportunities for stretching and learning in whatever path your journey may take you!

Presenters: ECLI Fellows 2023 (Rhonda Ciccone Hessler, Brenda Buxbaum, Sharon Wise, Lori Ritchwood & Valerie Walker)