Ann McClain Terrell - Graceful Leadership in Early Childhood Education

Table of Contents

In her signature style, Ann gives the ingredients necessary for graceful leadership. Always listening, learning, and serving, a leader knows that great things happen in service to others. Theres no chance that you forget this leadership truth after reading Anns thoughts!

Vincent J. Costanza, superintendent in residence

Teaching Strategies, LLC

Ann McClain Terrells Graceful Leadership in Early Childhood Education is a spiritual, autobiographical homage to all the women on whose shoulders she standsthose who have inspired her to develop grit, vision, and tenacity and the wisdom to lead with grace, courage, and commitment. This book is a must read for those who want to be inspired to lead and inspire others.

Maurice Sykes, executive director

Early Childhood Leadership Institute and author of Doing the Right Thing for Children: Eight Qualities of Leadership

Published by Redleaf Press

10 Yorkton Court

St. Paul, MN 55117

www.redleafpress.org

2018 by Ann McClain Terrell

All rights reserved. Unless otherwise noted on a specific page, no portion of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or capturing on any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a critical article or review to be printed in a magazine or newspaper, or electronically transmitted on radio, television, or the internet.

First edition 2018

Cover design by Jim Handrigan

Cover photograph by Latoya Gayle Studios

Interior design by Douglas Schmitz and Jim Handrigan

Typeset in Palatino

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CIP data is on file with the Library of Congress.

This book is dedicated to the women who raised me and raised me up and on whose shoulders I stand: my mother, Patricia Jane Small Terrell; my grandmothers, Mayme Lee McClain Small and Wilma Dickerson Terrell; and my great-grandmother, Annie Bell Kimbrough Terrell, affectionately known as Momma, Mama Mayme, Big Mama, and Little Mama.

I also dedicate this book to my children, Jenise and Kenisha, of whom Im so very proud. Theyve always allowed me to work on behalf of others. Their love, patience, and support sustained me while I took on this project, and it is very much appreciated.

This book is also dedicated to my grandchildren, BriAnna, Kenyon, Brian, Brice, and Journee, who bring much pride and joy to my life.

I love you all!

Contents

Thank you to my elders for their wisdom and my ancestors who have guided me throughout my life and career.

Thank you to my community of relatives, colleagues, mentors, and mentees who provided the experiences and education that I draw upon in the pages of this book.

Thank you to Holly Elissa Bruno, who has never wavered in her belief that writing this book was an important step for me and that I should consider risking becoming more visible.

Thank you to my cousins, those wonderful Dickerson women, especially Martha (Dot) and Estelle, who modeled for me true grace and dignity.

Thank you to my daddys brothers, my Uncle Alonzo and Uncle Richard, who were the real father figures in my life, especially my Uncle Richard, who taught me the true meaning of family and family history and so many other life lessons during our road trips together home to Kentucky.

Thank you to my Aunt Betsy, the current matriarch of my mothers side of the family. I have enjoyed spending more time with you and getting to know you and Cousin Muriel better.

Thank you to the teams Ive been fortunate enough to lead and to the new leaders Ive had the pleasure of working with, especially Tamara Johnson, Kortney Smith, Tanya Johnson, Delechia Johnson, Sonja Smith, and Candace Armstrong; Im grateful for the lessons you all have taught me.

Thank you to Laura Saterfield and Jill Haglund for your steadfast friendship and collegiality throughout the years.

Thank you to Dr. Florence Johnson for your ever-present support of me and my work.

Thank you to Mell and Angie Monroe, owners of the Welcome Inn Manor, who provided me with the environment to write and the freedom of their Chicago B&B.

Thank you to the five Sisters with Amazing Grace (SWAG) who invited me to lunch and fellowship with them that spring day at the National Museum of African American History and Culture while they were there as part of their sixtieth birthday celebrations.

Thank you to my current and former Redleaf Press family. Thank you Kyra Ostendorf for reaching out to me with an idea. Thank you Kara Lomen for encouraging and cajoling. Thank you Mari Kesselring for embracing my work with such understanding and commitment. Thank you to Jim Handrigan, Douglas Schmitz, Sue Ostfield, and Nicole Borneman. Finally, David Heath, thank you for your ever-present support, patience, and belief in me.

I thank you all for your part in my journey.

I never thought I would write a book. But sometimes life gives you opportunities that are worth seizing, even if they are outside your comfort zone. In 2013 I was a candidate on the slate of early childhood professionals campaigning for election to the Governing Board of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). After the Meet the Candidates session at the national conference, I was approached by Kyra Ostendorf, then an acquisitions editor for Redleaf Press. She asked me if Id ever considered writing a book. I think Kyra may have been intrigued by a fact I shared during the session that I was one of the first people in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to be approved to care for children under the age of two in an out-of-home setting. But her question threw me completely off guard. Writing a book was one thing that has never been on my to-do list. I guess Kyra saw the dazed look on my face because she went on to say that my passion and voice were so clear, she believed that others could gain insight from my experiences and life lessons.

I was flattered by the idea, but writing a book meant sharing myself and my life and career experiences with others. It took me a while to come to the decision to take this step. In fact, I literally ignored Kyra for over a year. Then one day, one of the women I mentor said to me that I should do it so that others could learn from the same valuable lessons shed learned from me. So began this part of my leadership journey.

What has been your leadership journey? Whats lighted your path along the way? What challenges have you had to hurdle? Were there any unexpected opportunities, twists, turns, or forks in the road? Did you follow the signposts or blaze a new trail? Regardless of our position in leadership, we all have stories about our journeys; some are success stories and some are tales of challenges, but all include lessons.

In this book, I will share some of my professional journey and the lessons Ive learned along the way. But my leadership journey is not a path Ive walked alone, so this book will also introduce some of my family, friends, and colleagues that have had an impact on my career. I hope the lessons from my leadership journey help guide you and that this book becomes one of those keepers, a resource you turn to when there is a challenge in your leadership journey that needs tackling or when you just want to reflect on your leadership journey.