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«Back to all edWebinarsPractical Strategies for Today’s Early Childhood Directors: Leading When Everything Feels Like Everything
Wednesday, September 2, 2026 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EDT
Presented by Jill Jacobi-Vessels, Ph.D., Executive Director (Retired), Early Learning Campus, University of Louisville; and Amy Kay Powell, Ph.D., Director, Child Development Lab at the McPhaul Center, University of Georgia
Moderated by Stephanie Roselli, Executive Editor, Gryphon House
Sponsored by Gryphon House
Learn more about earning a CE certificate and our accessibility features.
Childcare directors across the country are unsung heroes who spend their days solving problems for others, ensuring high standards and best practices so that children have high-quality early learning experiences, serving as chief health and safety officer and financial wizard, while trying to convince others of the importance of their critical work. Everything can feel like everything and quickly overwhelm even the most dedicated and experienced directors.
In this edWebinar, Jill Jacobi-Vessels, Ph.D., and Amy Kay Powell, Ph.D., will share information based on their nearly half-century of experience as childcare directors. Practical strategies to help make the job a little more manageable include developing and using proactive and consistent tools, prioritizing tasks, delegating, and remembering to take care of ourselves.
Attendees will:
- Consider proactive measures to provide transparency and consistency within their programs
- Identify program needs and develop prioritization and delegation strategies to address issues
- Understand and appreciate the need for self-care
Attendees will engage in active conversations, gain strategies for immediate implementation, and share ideas with each other. Together, we will explore meaningful strategies that can help reignite joy and support directors as they face challenges. This edWebinar will be of interest to childcare directors and administrators.
About the Presenters
Jill Jacobi-Vessels, Ph.D., has administered programs for families and children for over 25 years. She recently retired after 14 years as the executive director/director of a large, nationally accredited child development program, where she guided and supervised up to 60 staff members each day. Dr. Jacobi-Vessels is experienced in developing program frameworks and policies, curriculum development based on children’s current interests, addressing human resources needs, supporting children and families, and community engagement. She holds a master’s degree in interdisciplinary early childhood education and a doctorate in teaching and learning – early childhood. Dr. Jacobi-Vessels is a published researcher and recently co-authored a book through Gryphon House to recognize the challenges and victories of childcare center directors across the country.
Amy Kay Powell, Ph.D., has been the director of a NAEYC-accredited childcare facility for 20 years and came into the position after 13 years of teaching. She holds a master’s degree in elementary education and a Ph.D. in language and literacy education. A significant amount of her learning has been “on the job” and by standing alongside and being led by other administrators. She has delivered over 50 presentations at local, state, regional, national, and international conferences and, most recently, co-authored a book, It’s Fine! Everything’s Fine (And You’re in Charge): Real-World Wisdom for Early Childhood Directors, through Gryphon House Publishing.
About the Moderator
Stephanie Roselli is the Executive Editor at Gryphon House, the leading publisher of educational resources for teachers and parents, where she acquires and develops the latest books from today’s top early childhood experts.
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Gryphon House is an award-winning publisher of early childhood resources for teachers and parents.
