Leading Anti-bias Early Childhood Programs : A Guide to Change, for Change

This popular book focuses on the leader’s role in initiating and sustaining anti-bias education in programs for young children and their families.

This second edition emphasizes how the journey requires thoughtful, strategic, long-term planning that addresses all components of an early childhood care and education program. The authors, who are recognized leaders and experts on anti-bias education with extensive experience as early childhood directors, use a powerful combination of frameworks and practical tools to explain the structural and individual changes that leaders must foster. This updated edition features anti-bias leaders from diverse settings who share their insights and strategies for working with teachers and families. It is essential reading for current and aspiring leaders seeking change in early childhood settings.

Book Features:

• The principles and guidelines for program-wide transformation.
• Professional development activities for teachers at all levels of awareness and experience in anti-bias education.
• Approaches for engaging with families around social justice values.
• Strategies for supporting and strengthening the leader’s ability to initiate and sustain anti-bias change.
• Support for leaders in embracing and negotiating positive conflict and responding to opposition to anti-bias change.
• Tools for documenting a program’s readiness for and progress in anti-bias education.

New for the Second Edition:

• Voices and wisdom of additional leaders from the field, highlighting BIPOC center directors from diverse settings.
• Updated research, references, and terminology on early childhood care, education leadership, and anti-bias education.
• New and expanded strategies and activities for teacher professional development and family engagement based on 7 years of using the first edition.
• Expanded section on responding to opposition to anti-bias education, addressing the current political environment.

Louise Derman-Sparks is an international consultant on anti-bias education and a professor emerita of Pacific Oaks College. Debbie LeeKeenan is a lecturer, consultant, and retired long-time director of the Eliot-Pearson Children’s School, Tufts University. John Nimmo is a professor of early childhood inclusive education at Portland State University and former laboratory school director.