Let me introduce myself. My name is Beth Engelhardt and I have over 30 years' experience in early childhood education including: 15 years as an administrator of a NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) accredited child care center, a child care licensing specialist, a CDA advisor; a mentor to Dayton, Ohio area directors and student teachers; and I am presently teaching fulltime at the University of Dayton. I've authored the Director Mentoring Program, co-authored Dayton's Children - a resource guide for families, and Becoming a Director: Lessons Learned in the Nov. - Dec., 2006 Child Care Information Exchange publication. I've presented at local, state and national conferences; and I am the past president of the Dayton Association for Young Children, a member of the Montgomery County Early Childhood Education Coalition, and moderator for the Montgomery County Directors Online Group. I earned my master's degree in Leadership in Education and Human Development from Pacific Oaks College.

I created this site to serve the Early Childhood community because many ECE professionals lack the resources and support they need.

Here are some of the site's resources. I hope to add many more as our community grows.

The "Director's Chair" is a series of monthly articles and professional networking provided for child care directors. These articles are an opportunity to pick up some new, helpful information.

Below is a list of upcoming topics.

• "Let's Talk" - Communication is a key to a harmonious work environment. Communicating with staff, parents, or perhaps a governing board can present a challenge for Administrators.
  
  
• "Mission Impossible" - How to empower your staff and delegate. Have you ever thought how I can engage them in the mission of the center? This is an article to help move you beyond this thinking. It will help you towards delegating so that you can free yourself up to accomplish tasks that only you can do. Delegate and Celebrate.
  
  
• "Refuse to Adopt a Scarcity Mentality" - thoughts about budget, finances, fund raising, partnerships corporations and investing in your staff and yourself
  
  
• "Organize yourself, your time and your staff" - As director there is never enough time in the day, the week, or the month. Do you feel like you aren't getting anything done? Are you thinking I'll get to that, but then you never do? This article will assist you in putting systems in place to help you manage your time more efficiently.
  
  
• "Marketing and Public Relations" - thoughts, stepping outside the ECE field, building your business, branding
  
  
• "Moving from Surviving to Thriving" - thoughts, moving out of crisis mode to planning ahead, using your resources, support and networking, making it work for you.
  
  
• "Nurturing Yourself" - This article is especially for you. It's time to take care of yourself and to plan some time just for you. The field of ECE is such a giving profession that it is important to take the time to fill your cup so that you can continue to give to yourself, your staff, family, friends, children and the parents at the center.

Visit the "Director's Chair" to read these Early Childhood articles, then exlpore and dialogue about them with other ECE professionals in the Discussion Forums.

The "Discussion Forums" are networking areas to build community and dialogue about the topics presented in the "Director's Chair" and any others that are relevent to Early Childhood professionals.

University of Dayton leadership and advocacy survey.