Pathways: Early Childhood Educators

Parish-sponsored Early Childhood Programs are the most common type of Episcopal school. They nurture young learners at a crucial moment of their development, and provide important support to families by fostering a safe, inclusive environment for children to grow spiritually, socially, emotionally, and intellectually.

Here are some resources to support your program.

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Recent Webinars for Early Childhood Programs

Leading with Dignity: Foster Inclusive Classrooms (Webinar)

We have long known that effective instruction is not one-size-fits-all, however classrooms today include more diverse learners than ever. Join us as we examine approaches that school leaders can take to support staff and further the mission of inclusion, and learn ways to honor student voice, provide meaningful scaffolds, and support diverse learning profiles. Attendees will walk away with simple tools to differentiate instruction, promote independence, and create learning environments rooted in respect and belonging.

Building a Children’s Chapel—Being Present (Webinar)

Our presence and the way that we are present are central to creating an effective and deeply meaningful chapel for young children. In this webinar, we will explore how we can do this. From choosing the stories to the ways we tell them; from choosing songs to the way we sing them; from thinking about visual support to the children creating art; all these we will consider so that we can bring our best to these special times together.

Developing an Understanding of Young Children’s Learning Through Play: The Place of Observation, Interaction, and Reflection (Webinar)

Young children are competent and capable learners and providing a rich and meaningful environment honors their growth and development through play. Understanding how children move along a dynamic developmental continuum in their thinking provides early childhood educators with the lens to provide foundational support for later learning. See how children move from object transformation to ideational transformation which leads to more abstract mathematical and literacy development all in the context of play.

The Spirituality of the Child (Webinar)

Decades of research confirm that children are innately spiritual beings, but knowing how to nurture that spirituality best is challenging. This webinar will explore how children embody their spirituality and practices for nurturing the spiritual lives of children in your classrooms and schools using principles from Godly Play, an imaginative approach to religious education.

Early Childhood Programs — Bylaws and Board Composition (Webinar)

Early childhood programs that exist in relationship to an Episcopal parish or other church entity have distinctive governance structures, whereby the vestry delegates to a school board—through bylaws—the governance of the school. Who should sit on the school board? How might they be selected? What authority is reserved by the vestry and what authority is delegated to the school board? When and by whom should bylaws be changed? NAES will offer an overview of common practices and current trends.

MORE WEBINAR RECORDINGS

Latest Articles for Early Childhood Programs

NAES Early Childhood Education Survey Report

The purpose of this survey is to provide a demographic profile of Episcopal early childhood programs across the country for analytical, comparative, and reporting purposes as well as to assist program directors, governing boards, and vestries in important program-level decision-making. The results provide a profile of Episcopal early childhood programs including characteristics of early childhood programs, parish early childhood programs, staffing, benefits, and governance.

Book & Video Series: Building A Children’s Chapel, One Story at a Time

Based on his work with young children at the Episcopal School of New York, teacher and storyteller Gordh offers a collection of stories from the Bible, arranged and told to create a meaningful…

Common Prayer for Children and Families

Common Prayer for Children and Families is a collection of prayers and liturgies written for kids and the adults or communities who pray with them. Whimsically illustrated with pen and ink, this book…

Book & Video Series: Making Room for Everyone

For ages 3-11. Working with the same overall themes of his first book, Building a Children’s Chapel: One Story at a Time, Bill Gordh presents a wide range of folktales from around the world, stories…

Roles and Responsibilities: Parish Day School Board

A sample list of typical duties and responsibilities of board members in a parish day school. This document reflects recommended best practices. It is intended as a draft document for discussion and for the creation of a list unique in each church and school.

The Commons: the NAES Blog

Timely, sometimes tough, questions and insights from NAES and Episcopal school leaders on leadership, governance, Episcopal identity, community life, and other issues.

Shared-Expenses Allocation

This documents provides a rationale and process that schools and churches should adopt when determining and allocating shared expenses. It explores: revenue and expense sources in church and school budgets; the benefits of allocation as opposed to undifferentiated lump sum payments; optimal church and school governance structures necessary for the process; implementation suggestions and instructions; and lists of key budget areas for consideration.

Establishing an Episcopal School: An Introduction

Are you exploring the establishment of an Episcopal school or Early Childhood Education program? The decision to establish a new Episcopal school requires discernment, education, planning, and time. Before you being your discernment process, read this article!

Calling a New Rector: Sustaining Church-School Relations during the Transition

The calling and welcoming of a new rector is a time of deep reflection that ushers in a period of change for both the church and school. These eight key considerations can help church and school leaders navigate a smooth transition.

MORE RESOURCES

Upcoming Events for Early Childhood Programs

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Top Products for Your School

About Episcopal Schools, 2nd Ed.
This full color poster and pamphlet, newly updated and revised in 2022, examines the key characteristics common to all Episcopal schools, including aspects of Episcopal identity, faith-life, chapel, moral development, academic excellence, and social justice.
This publication is pamphlet-sized, but can be unfolded and used as a poster. Perfect for use in admission and development information kits, as a faculty/staff training resource or as a general information tool. Available only to members and affiliate members.

This product is exclusively for NAES members. Log in to place an order for this item.
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Reasons for Being: The Culture and Character of Episcopal Schools, 2nd Ed.
Reasons for Being: The Culture and Character of Episcopal Schools, first published in 1997, is a collection of essays on foundational, mission-related topics central to Episcopal school identity, governance, and leadership. Newly updated in 2010 and written by Episcopal school leaders and NAES staff members, the fifteen essays examine: the mission and Anglican ethos of Episcopal schools; the history of Episcopal schools and their relationship to the Episcopal Church; the head of school’s role; the school as a spiritual community; chapel and worship; religious studies; religious pluralism; early childhood education; community service; and Episcopal schools as just communities. Each essay includes suggested questions for discussion and reflection.
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Cycle of Prayer for Episcopal Schools, Second Edition
First published in 1993, Cycle of Prayer for Episcopal Schools provides prayers specifically for the calendar and rhythm of school life, augmenting the standard of prayer in Episcopal schools that is The Book of Common Prayer. This second edition now includes new prayers for occasions in and members of Episcopal school communities not previously addresses, as well as a series of short prayers for use with lower and elementary school students.
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Connect with NAES

We’re here for you! To learn more about how NAES supports your school, contact Claire Leheny, NAES Director of Engagement, by calling (212) 716-6135 or by emailing claire@episcopalschools.org.

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More Resources for Your School

Early Childhood Wisdom Circles

Apply for an Outreach Grant for Your School

Principles of Good Practice Series