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.
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
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, this book lays a road map and foundation for the work ahead." -Luis A. Hernandez, early childhood education specialist "Recognizes the essential role early childhood administrators play in initiating and sustaining culturally relevant care and education. This book provides the tools program leaders need." -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, you'll find reassurance, resources, and strategic thinking to engage with in this anti-bias work." -Margie Carter, author and international early childhood consultant
