The POWER of INTERACTIONS and TECHNOLOGY – Part II: Collaboration and Support for Directors

The Infant Toddler Intensive Technical Assistance Model Pilot Project (ITITA Model) is making a difference in the lives of children, teachers, directors and the Technical Assistance Practitioners (TAs) working with them. Last time we shared how TAs have strengthened their skills through technology. We’re excited to share with you another success story of collaboration.

Director Leadership Academies are monthly meetings of a cohort of directors participating in the project, which has produced a number of positive outcomes. Directors prioritize these meetings as a time for themselves and recognize that they are accomplishing leadership and management goals they rarely find time to address. They are reporting that with this weekly support, they have seen improvement in the teachers working with the TA, and they have seen that positive change is spreading into other classrooms in the program. 

For example, an experienced TA practitioner was working with a young, new director in a program. The director was overwhelmed regularly and struggled with all she had to do. The director was very quiet during the Director Leadership Academy and appeared upset at one meeting.

When the TA followed up with her after the meeting, the director expressed her lack of confidence, knowledge and even belief that she could do the job. She admitted that she was “hanging on by a thread” and didn’t know if she should stay in her position.

The TA listened carefully to the director’s concerns and then encouraged her to reflect on what was going well. She reminded the director that she had created a strong, supportive team of teachers who really liked working for her. She asked her to focus on the good and to celebrate the small successes each day.

This director is still continuing to attend the Directors Leadership Academy. She said she is learning so much and feeling supported by the more experienced directors.