Abstract
Purpose. The first purpose of this study was to identify and describe what, if any, leadership knowledge, skills, and behaviors were found among directors of quality, state-funded, childcare centers in the San Francisco Bay Area. The second purpose was to determine in what ways, if any, these knowledge, skills, and behaviors were similar to or different from, those identified as effective in the literature. Methodology. This was a descriptive study. Two instruments were developed and field-tested by the researcher. An interview schedule was used to collect data from ten childcare center directors in high-quality programs in the San Francisco Bay Area. A mailed survey was sent to fifty-six teachers to collect quantitative data about their directors' leadership knowledge, skills, and behaviors. Forty-one teachers returned surveys; a return rate of 72 percent. Qualitative analysis was used to analyze the interview data. Descriptive statistics were used to report the quantitative data. Key findings. A majority of the ten center directors use their leadership knowledge, skills, and behaviors to: (1) be visible in the classroom; (2) provide information, consultation, resources, and feedback to their teachers about issues that will improve the instructional program for children; and (3) garner family support and seek resources for their centers. Conclusions. The directors of these childcare centers: (1) have created a supportive environment in which they establish the same kind of strong connection with families that they do with children; (2) rely primarily on management rather than leadership knowledge, skills, and behaviors to run their centers; and (3) do not have access to a systematic preparation program that focuses on leadership knowledge, skills, and behaviors. Recommendations. That: (1) directors gain knowledge about current issues in the fields of early childhood education and educational leadership and share that knowledge with teachers; and (2) colleges and universities offer coursework for new and experienced directors that includes knowledge, skills, and behaviors that are needed to establish a future vision for their centers.