Leading with Impact: A Guide for New ECE Leaders & Supervisors

Anisha Grossett • September 30, 2025

Becoming a leader in Early Childhood Education (ECE) is an exciting yet challenging transition. Whether you're stepping into a leadership role for the first time or moving up within a company you've been a part of, this journey requires new skills, a fresh mindset, and a commitment to growth. Leadership in ECE goes beyond management — it’s about fostering relationships, guiding educators, and creating a thriving learning environment for children and staff alike.

Essential Tips for New ECE Leaders & Supervisors

1. Embrace Active Listening
Leadership isn’t just about giving instructions — it’s about truly hearing and understanding your team. Actively listen to educators, parents, and children to build trust and show that their voices matter.

2. Build Strong Relationships
Strong leadership is rooted in strong relationships. Take time to connect with your team on a personal level, understand their strengths, and foster a culture of collaboration and respect.

3. Lead by Example
Your team will look to you as a role model. Show professionalism, positivity, and a willingness to learn, and your team will follow suit.

4. Communicate Clearly and Consistently
Clarity in communication helps prevent misunderstandings and ensures that expectations are met. Be open, transparent, and available for discussions.

5. Stay Open to Feedback
Leadership is a continuous learning process. Invite and accept feedback with an open mind, and use it to refine your approach.

6. Prioritize Professional Development
As an ECE leader, ongoing learning is key. Engage in training sessions, read leadership books, and seek mentorship to continue growing in your role.


Navigating Leadership When Moving Up in Your Current Company


Transitioning into a leadership role within the same organization can come with unique challenges, especially when leading former peers. Here’s how to navigate this shift smoothly:


Set Clear Boundaries: While maintaining friendly relationships is important, establish clear professional boundaries to ensure respect and credibility in your new role.


Acknowledge the Shift: Address the change with your team in an open and honest manner. Let them know your goal is to support them while upholding leadership responsibilities.


Gain Perspective: Take time to understand your new role fully, including its expectations, policies, and leadership expectations within the organization.


Lean on Mentors & Support Systems: Seek guidance from experienced leaders who have navigated similar transitions. Their insights can help you avoid common pitfalls.


Focus on Team Growth: Leadership isn’t about having authority over others — it’s about lifting your team up. Provide encouragement, guidance, and opportunities for professional development.


Take Your Leadership to the Next Level


Becoming a great leader takes time, effort, and the right resources. For more tools, strategies, and mentorship on your leadership journey, visit The ECC Academy — your go-to space for leadership development in the ECE field. Explore courses, workshops, and exclusive resources designed to support you every step of the way!


Visit The ECC Academy today and start thriving in your leadership role!

Reigniting Your Passion for Teaching

By Anisha Grossett • January 30, 2026
Finding Joy and Purpose in the Middle of the Year Somewhere between the excitement of September and the promise of summer, there’s February — the quiet stretch in the middle. The new-year energy has faded, the routines feel repetitive, and many educators find themselves just trying to make it to the next long weekend. If you’ve been feeling that way lately, you’re not alone. This season can be one of the hardest in early childhood education — the weather’s cold, the classrooms are busy, and energy levels are low. But this moment also offers something powerful: an invitation to pause, reflect, and reignite your passion for why you started in this field in the first place.

New Year, New Me: The Season of YOU in Early Childhood Education

By Anisha Grossett • January 5, 2026
Every January, we make promises. To eat better. To plan more. To do more. But this year, I want to invite you to make a different kind of promise — one that centers you. Because before you can nurture others, you must nurture yourself. And as early childhood educators, you are the heartbeat of the classroom. You are the tool, the connection, the comfort, and the calm that every child looks to. Your well-being, your energy, your spark — these are the most powerful instruments you bring into your work each day. So what if this was the year you decided to refill your own cup first?