What is the most important thing needed to lead a successful school, or anything for that matter? At the recent CECE Network directors retreat, participants determined it was this: You must know what your success looks like.
Sounds almost too simple, doesn’t it?
More often than not, schools open with a strong mission statement, they churn out a vision or values statement and then, the first school year begins. Suddenly amidst the hiring, the supervising, the managing and coordinating, that really clear mission statement makes more of an impression as a wall hanging than it does as a guide for the school experience.
If you are the leader of a school, an organization or a business and you are reading this, give yourself 5 minutes, without interruption, to reset the natural, happenstance path you might find yourself journeying. Set your timer for 5 minutes and look into the future. Envision your school, organization or business in 5 years and start writing about it.
More than likely your timer will ring, the 5 minutes will be up and you’ve still got so much to write. You’re just skimming the surface of the beautiful concept you’ve started to map out, down to the finest details so reset your timer and keep on going.
Now as you plan, as you make choices in your school, and you move through your daily grind, rather than managing with a knee-jerk, need-to-know-now approach, you can make decisions that reflect that beautiful place you are going towards – the one you know really well because you just designed it.
This exercise is just one many that early childhood directors recently experienced at the CECE Network Directors’ Retreat and Conference at the Pearlstone Retreat Center in Reisterstown, MD situated on 160 acres of lush farmland and stunning outdoors.
Since its inception, the CECE Network, the early childhood department of the Shluchim Office, has pushed directors to go deep as they develop the WHY of their programs so it can reflect in all of the HOWs and WHATs of their staff, student and families’ daily experience. The conference followed that theme, as early childhood specialist and author DJ Jensen walked participants through numerous processes that helped them unpack their vision and guided them through a decision making process she calls S.T.E.P.S. – Set the Tone for Excellence, Professionalism & Success.
“We all had such a great time and received so many amazing, cutting edge ideas to continue our work at or preschools,” said Mrs. Shternie Raskin, of Brooklyn Heights.
In addition to the workshops, attendees enjoyed five-star R&R that included delicious, healthy cuisine, art and nature workshops, and fireside Farbrengens.
Mrs. Leah Shemtov of Stamford, CT sums it up: “It was pampering, informative, inspiring and relaxing. The CECE network is the place for Chabad Preschool directors and Shluchos to get high level, top notch, cutting edge insights and resources to make our preschools shine.”
The CECE Network is made possible thanks to the dedicated directorship of Mrs. Devora Krasnianski and Mrs. Chanie Feldman, and is sponsored thanks to the generosity of Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Walder.
Stay tuned for next year’s CECE conference to take place in the coming Spring. To find out more about the CECE network or contact the directors, visit www.cecenetwork.org.
CECE Network – what would we do without you!
I recommend All to become members !
Devory and chani are a great team we get so much !
Great content – Positive atmosphere – Concrete tools to apply. Thank you for all the heart & mind that was invested.