Collaborative Leadership Institute


Update:  Sadly, the CLI has become a victim of the recession, and is on indefinite hiatus. 

The Collaborative Leadership Institute is a 10-month leadership development program for early learning leaders in Washington

Who should apply?

Emerging leaders working within the early learning, early care, and after-school fields who are motivated to:

  • Increase self-awareness of personal leadership style
  • Develop an innovative project to benefit the community
  • Explore leadership research and literature
  • Understand early learning as a system
  • Cultivate a broad range of strategies to achieve goals
  • Gain ability to harness resources to fuel your actions
  • Create change and make an impact in the field of early learning

Applicants will be considered from all areas of early learning and related fields including, Department of Early Learning, Early Head Start (EHS) / Head Start (HS); Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP); Educational Service Districts, local health jurisdictions, Out of School Programs; Resource and Referral Network; child care centers/homes; health; schools; and at-large including parent cooperative preschools, board members, affiliated businesses and libraries.

Candidates must have access to e-mail and the Internet. Applicants that reflect diverse perspectives, cultures and experiences are encouraged to apply. The strongest candidates will demonstrate commitment, curiosity, risk-taking and vision.

For additional information contact:  Katy Warren at 253-373-9100 or katy@wsaheadstarteceap.com

Application Documents :

Read More about CLI Outcomes and history

Partners and sponsors

CLI partners include the Department of Early Learning, the Foundation for Early Learning, Washington State Association of Head Start & ECEAP and Washington State Child Care Resource & Referral Network, Washington Association for the Education of Young Children (WAEYC)

For information on 2010 organizational partner and sponsorship opportunities, contact Katy Warren at katy@wsaheadstarteceap.com

Participant Expectations

    • Full-time attendance at the three on-site forums
    • Establish an individualized development plan
    • Participate in telephone and/or e-mail coaching with instructor
    • Participate in on-line discussions with the cohort
    • Complete individual and group assignments including assigned reading, focused written reflection papers and activities
    • Communicate with mentor
    • Complete and present an individual or group project

Participants are required to sign a Commitment Statement.

While actual time required in addition to time spent at the three on-site sessions depends on the individual, graduates estimate their participation required 10-15 hours per month.

Teams are welcome
Individuals from different organizations within a community are encouraged to apply as a team. Team applicants will be considered for selection as a team and as individuals. The entire team may be selected or only some individuals. To qualify as a team, team members must agree to work together to complete a project that benefits their community and enhances systems building among organizations.

Key Dates

Applications Available:  November 9, 2009

Application Deadline: January 14, 2009

On-site Forums:

• March 17-19, 2010 at Rainbow Lodge, North Bend
• June 28-30, 2010 at Central Washington University, Ellensburg
• November 8-10, 2010 – Dumas Bay Centre, Federal Way

Tuition
Due to the generous support of the Institute’s sponsors, participants pay only 30% of the true cost of the program.  Fee per student is $800, which can be paid by the participant, his or her program, community partner, or any combination thereof.

Institute Faculty

Helen Jones, Ph.D., Collaborative Leadership Institute Coordinator, owns Jones Consulting based in Spokane, Washington. She is also an external senior consultant for JMJ Associates, LLC, Austin, Texas, a firm specializing in organizational transformation. Her doctorate is in Human and Organizational Development. She was formerly a full-time faculty member for the GU Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership Department and adjunct faculty at Whitworth College. She has coordinated agency programs for mid-career leadership development, and provided industry training in leadership, conflict resolution and organizational development. Past international work includes projects in Russia, Nicaragua and Canada.

Debra Ren-Etta Sullivan, Ph.D., is the co-founder and President of the Praxis Institute for Early Childhood Education, Seattle, Washington. She was formerly the Dean of Pacific Oaks College Northwest. She has a doctorate in Educational Leadership and has worked in public and private higher education for the last 23 years as a teacher, researcher, curriculum developer, and an administrator. Her recent book, Learning to Lead: Effective Leadership Skills for Teachers of Young Children, serves as one of the texts for the course.