WHEN VIEWING ON A TABLET OR MOBILE -- DOUBLE TAP TO ZOOM Today I invite you to join me at the leadership table to make a difference in countless lives by changing the way we advocate for, care for, and educate the young children in this country. Your Leadership Matters If you’re reading this book, I’m guessing that you are a new or continuing leader who works on behalf of children. At the very least, you are someone who cares about children, and this is no small thing. You are an agent for change. You view high-quality early childhood programs for young children as an antidote to social and economic injustice. You are open to a wide range of possibilities in terms of improving educational outcomes for young children, and you are will- ing to confront and challenge your previously held ideas about what constitutes leadership. You are open-minded and willing to be dazzled, amazed, provoked, cajoled, and stretched in order to realize your full leadership potential. If you see yourself in the description above, you’re in the right place, and it is the right time for you to discover the leader that is within you by developing the skills, knowledge, and habits of mind that you need to lead programs for young children. You might feel overwhelmed by the idea of achieving reform in the educa- tion system. That’s fair. Huge challenges and problems exist, and none of them can be addressed with a quick fix. Yet, it is still possible to turn things around. I teach my leadership students that there is a difference between our cir- cle of concern and our circle of control. We’re always concerned about huge things, so our circle of concern is always larger than our circle of control. But that doesn’t mean we’re powerless. Oftentimes, we fail to take advantage of the circle of control that is available to us. The truth is we usually have far more control than we realize. What you need is a set of leadership qualities that motivates you to become a relentless agent of change with the goal of doing the right thing for children. It’s time to start translating your good intentions into actions that will bring you as close to your desired vision as possible. The qualities in this book are your guide to success as a leader in early childhood education. Now is the time! You are called to action on behalf of young children. Read on, and empower yourself with the tools you need to do the right thing for children. introduction COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL