Educational Leaders in Head Start and Early Head Start: A Privilege and a Responsibility Maurice Sykes, Early Childhood Leadership Institute, University of the District of Columbia Maurice Sykes is an urban educator who consults on systemic change, early childhood education, and early literacy acquisition. As the former Deputy Superintendent for the Center for Systemic Educational Change and Director of Early Childhood Programs for the District of Columbia Public Schools, he has demonstrated his ability to take charge of change and brought significant innovations to the D.C. Public Schools’ educational reform agenda. While at the U.S. Department of Education, where he served as an Educational Program Specialist, Sykes advised the department on educational policy and programs related to urban school improvement. Sykes has served as a teacher, a teacher trainer, and a curriculum developer. He directed the Tufts University Day Care Center in Somerville, Massachusetts, where he held a joint appointment as Assistant Professor in the Elliot Pearson Child Study Department. He also directed the Education Policy Fellowship Program at the Institute for Educational Leadership, where he trained mid-career educational leaders. Sykes has provided consultation to the Florida "Smart Start" initiative. He also serves as the principal early childhood consultant for the Memphis "Getting Schools Ready for Children" initiative, as well as Washington, D.C.’s "Safe Passages" initiative. He has written numerous publications and spoken across the nation on the need for schools and communities to "do the right thing" for children. Sykes was profiled as an "Early Childhood Champion" in a national study released in 1997 by the National Association of State Boards of Education. Most recently, he was elected to the Board of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. "Leaders dare to cross the line between wishing and doing. They realize that leadership is an action, not a position." — Maurice Sykes Presentation Highlights To implement the Head Start Program Performance Standards and Child Outcomes Framework at an exemplary level, leadership skills must be developed, enhanced, and demonstrated consistently. Working together for the common good of the program, staff should be guided by a focus on the core values and principles that define Head Start and Early Head Start. Characteristics of Effective Leaders Some key characteristics of effective leaders include: Leaders approach change fearlessly and have the courage to move toward their danger zone. Leaders work toward achieving alignment between their "talk" and their "walk." Leaders know that a single act of courage can dramatically change the life outcomes for children and families. Seven Leadership Lessons 1. Leadership is not a spectator sport and is not for the faint of heart. 2. Leaders lead by sharing power. None of us is as strong as all of us. The leader views his/her role as a sacred trust in service to others. 3. Trivial pursuit is for losers, not leaders. Managers do things right, leaders do the right thing. 4. Leaders are not risk-adverse. They know that failure to take a risk is much worse than taking a risk that fails. 5. Leaders are lifelong learners and constantly seek to expand their knowledge base. They know that the road to leadership is under constant construction. 6. Leaders make no excuses and have a passion for action. They know that "can’t" is the mother of "won’t." 7. Leaders dare to cross the line between wishing and doing. They realize that leadership is an action, not a position. Video of Presentation Presentation Highlights No Handout for This Presentation Information on how to view videos and view/download handouts

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