Director of the Year Program

2018 Director of the Year Program

EvangelicalLutheranChurch in America

Administered by

Evangelical Lutheran Education Association

A Program to Recognize Excellence Among

Early Childhood Education Directors

TO BE COMPLETED BY THE NOMINEE (Please print or type)

Nominee Name:

(Dr., Mrs., Ms., Miss, Mr.)(First)(Nickname)(Middle Initial)(Last)

Home Address:

(Street)(City)(State)(Zip Code)

Home Phone: ______E-mail Address: ______

Please Check  ELEA Member  NAEYC Member Other (name)

Full Name of School: ______

School Address: ______

(Street)(City)(State)(Zip Code)

Center Telephone: ______Center Fax: ______

Web Address: ______

INFORMATION RELATED TO EARLY CHILDHOODEDUCATIONCENTER

TotalCenter Enrollment: Part Time: ______Full Time: ______

Chairperson of ECE Board: ______Phone: ______

Address: ______

(Street)(City)(State)(Zip Code)

COMPLETE INFORMATIONFORCENTER’S SPONSORING CONGREGATION

Full Name of Congregation: ______

Church Address: ______

(Street)(City)(State)(Zip Code)

Pastor(s) Name(s)______

______

Church Phone: ______E-Mail: ______URL: ______

PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION

(List by most recent degree, certificate, or continuing education credits)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

(Begin with present position)

Total number of years as a director______Total number of years in present center______

ELCA 2018Director of the Year Application Procedure

Instructions…

Please use the following four areas to tell us about your accomplishments as a director that distinguish you for this award. It is not expected that you will have answers to every question below. These are just suggestions to guide you and get you started. Please make your responses 1 page or less and no smaller than 10 pt type.

Leadership –Distinguished directors model and instill in others a strong sense of purpose. Their vigorous pursuit of sound educational values and goals brings others closer to assisting in fulfilling the school’s mission. Use the following questions relating to leadership to write this section:

To what extent do you develop in staff, students, and parents a clear understanding of the school’s operation and mission?

How do you set high expectations for yourself and others toward meeting your goals and mission?

How do you model a strong sense of purpose?

To what extent do you bring the school community together through shared values and beliefs?

How do you initiate and manage constructive change?

Instructional Leadership – Distinguished directors place high priority on instructional practices. They are active in developing the centers curriculum, carrying it out, and working closely with teachers to determine the most effective instructional age appropriate practices for their particular center. Use the following questions related to instructional leadership to write this section:

How do you show the relationship of curriculum and instruction to student achievement and the goals of the schools?

How do you locate appropriate resources of time, money, personnel, and materials to support your program?

How do you regularly evaluate teaching strategies to be sure they are age appropriate, varied, and effective?

How do you create and maintain a productive, caring environment in which every child can experience success through developmentally appropriate activities?

Resource Development – Distinguished directors creatively organize the human and material resources necessary to provide an outstanding center program and assist students to develop a lasting interest in learning. Use the following questions related to resource development to write this section:

How do you support and integrate ideas of others into the overall goals of the school?

How do you allow for growth and development of staff through the use of effective and appropriate supervision and evaluation?

How do you promote staff development programs to improve competencies?

To what extent do you recruit, select, assign, and organize your staff to achieve your goals and mission?

Do you show creativity in finding new resources for your center’s programs?

Do you work toward attracting parent and congregational support for the program of your center?

Communication Skills – Distinguished directors demonstrate exceptional interpersonal skills. They can effectively communicate with others in an open manner. Use the following questions related to communication skills to write this section:

How do you create an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect among all members of the school community?

Are you visible and accessible to parents, staff, and students?

How do you have open and meaningful communication?

How do you practice effective listening, oral, and written communication skills in dealing with members of the center community?

How do you deal with inappropriate behaviors and/or conflict in a sensitive, but direct way?

How do you promote harmony and productivity among various groups within the center and congregation?

Accomplishments/Effects

List one accomplishment in your career that you are exceptionally proud of and when possible show how this accomplishment impacted your center.

4 references (These should be included with your application)(See form below)

pastor of the congregation that sponsors the Early Childhood Educational Ministry Program

teacher from the center

parent of current student at your center

member of school board/committee

Gayle Denny, Executive Director

Evangelical Lutheran Education Association

Email to: (preferable mode of delivery)

Or Fax to: 623-882-8770

All applications must arrive by April 6,2018.

SUPERVISOR’S CERTIFICATION FORM

The above-named administrator has been nominated for ELCA Early Childhood Director of the Year. This form is to certify that the director’s employer understands the following obligations and responsibilities inherent in acceptance of this award.

• The Distinguished Director will be expected to attend the 2019 National Administrators & Pastors Conference in Grapevine, Texas– January 31 – February 2, 2019

• ELEA will provide the conference registration fee.

• The Distinguished Director will have a short article about their award in several publications.

• This award might also generate interest in visiting the ece center by other ece center administrators or by congregations interested in beginning their own ministry.

This is to certify that I acknowledge and endorse the nomination and/or application of

Name of Nominee

for the ELCA Director of the Year Award

Name of Supervisor/Employer (please print)Title

Address of SupervisorPhone Number (including area code)

Signature of SupervisorDate

NOTE TO THE NOMINEE: Please submit this Nominee’s Certification Form with your completed application packet to Gayle Denny, Evangelical Lutheran Education Association, 500 N. Estrella Parkway, Suite B2, Box 601, Goodyear, AZ 85338.

Preferable delivery is by email to . Faxes are also accepted – 623-882-8770.

IMPORTANT:

Please be sure that your entire packet is included in your mailing. If there are pieces missing you will be ask to provide the missing pieces before the deadline.

Complete Application Packet

Signed Affirmation Statement

Supervisor’s Certification Form

Four letters of reference

Supervisor Fellow administrator

Teacher Parent/civic/community member

A high-quality, color photo- Image submitted by email to:

NOMINEE REFERENCE FORM

ELCA Director of the Year

Letters of Reference

Name of Nominee:

Each nominee is asked to secure four letters of reference, one from each of the following persons: the pastor of the congregation, a member of the ece center’s board, a teacher currently serving on the nominee’s staff, and a parent/civic/community leader. Each letter of reference should include a copy of this form.

To the Nominee’s Reference:

The selection committee appreciates your help in assessing this candidate’s skills and knowledge in the area of school leadership. Please base your comments on the nominee’s professional performance. Limit your comments to no more than one 8 ½ x 11” page.

Please seal your completed reference letter in an envelope, place your signature over the seal, and return it to the nominee.

This letter of reference is from (please check one):

the pastor of the congregationa member of the ece center board

a teacher at the centera parent/civic/community member

Please print or type.

Printed Name of ReferenceTitle

______

Address

City State Zip

Phone (including area code)E-Mail Address

Signature of ReferenceDate

ELCA Early Childhood Director of the Year Program

NOMINEE’S AFFIRMATION STATEMENT

I do hereby affirm that I plan on remaining in a position of school leadership during the 2018-2019 school year.

I do further affirm that the information included in this application packet is a fair and true representation of the facts of my professional career.

I do hereby grant my permission for any or all of the enclosed materials (including my photo but excluding my home address, home and/or cell phone number, and home e-mail address) to be used to promote the ELCA Early Childhood Director of the Year Program.

PRINTED NAME OF NOMINEE:

NOMINEE’S SIGNATURE:

DATE: