Leading with Intention and Impact
Strategies for Rekindling Purpose, Supporting Growth, and Sustaining Momentum
Are you ready to re-ignite your passion, thrive as a leader,
and discover new and empowering ways to sustain and recruit an engaged workforce?
It’s time to reduce the feelings of isolation and stress so that you can reconnect with your hopes and dreams and establish a more professional and positive work culture.
Join a Dynamic Leadership Community!
Become part of a vibrant learning community designed to spark new ideas, deepen your impact, and elevate the culture and quality of your early childhood setting.
This Dynamic Course Includes
Seven Live Interactive Professional Development Sessions
To help you embrace a growth mindset, develop a vision-focused action plan, and utilize strength-based communication skills and strategies for making transformational changes (see a full listing of the sessions on the course schedule).
Seven In-Depth Reflection and Resource Guides
Designed to deepen your learning and support meaningful growth. These comprehensive guides provide thought-provoking questions, practical tools, and relevant resources. They will help you clarify your leadership vision, apply new strategies, and document your journey to build a powerful portfolio that reflects your development as a confident, intentional leader.
Access to a Private Discussion Board
Engage in ongoing dialogue with a network of passionate early childhood leaders. This private space offers opportunities to collaborate, ask questions, reflect on practice, and deepen your learning between sessions.
A 20 Hour Professional Development Certificate
Upon completion of the series, you'll receive a certificate that not only validates your learning but also demonstrates your dedication to advancing high-quality leadership in early childhood education.
Martha Rockaway
Owner
Sounds and Colors School
North Carolina
"Thank you Susan ! For having given us a space to learn and grow as we continue our search to become better in our field, and specifically to become better human beings!"
Rulywndra Walker
Site Supervisor
Hoover Intergenerational Childcare (HIC)
Los Angeles, CA
"This course is life-changing!"
Angela Wheeler
Bright & Early ND Coordinator
CAPLP
Moorhead, MN
"I loved that it lit a fire in me again. I love being inspired and working towards goals; not just focused on the day to day items."
Course Schedule
This course begins on, August 19, 2025
Three Focus Sessions to get ready for the new school year:
August 19, 2025
September 16 & 30, 2025
Four Monthly Sessions to Build Skills and Professional Accountability:
October 21, November 18, December 9, 2025 and January 6, 2026
August 19, 2025
Creating a Vision for a Thriving Growth Culture
September 16, 2025
Creating Professional Development Plans
September 30, 2025
Leadership Skills to Empower Professional Growth
October 21, 2025
Conversations that Matter - Strengths-Based Communication Skills
November 18, 2025
Supporting Positive
Teams
December 9, 2025
Running Effective Staff Meetings and Designing a Personal Development Project
January 6, 2026
Leading Transformational Change in 2026
Additional Information
TIME COMMITMENT
This program has been designed to have flexibility for busy professionals. Each month there will be live professional development The sessions will be recorded for anyone who cannot participate live.
The monthly reflection guides and discussion board can be accessed 24 hours a day to share your thoughts and reflections.
Participants should expect to spend three to four hours a month participating in the live call, sharing on the discussion boards, completing the reflection guides, and developing their portfolio.
DISCUSSION POSTS
There will be a new discussion post for each module of the course.
Please respond to the discussion post prompts with insightful details.
Then respond to at least two participants with thoughtful comments related to their posts
Actively engaging on the discussion boards will help to build an interactive learning community.
COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS
Participants must attend the course presentations or view the recording.
Complete the discussion posts for this series, post their response, and comment on the posts of two other participants.
Complete a Leadership Portfolio that includes – your vision, goals, the design for a professional development workshop, a communication action plan, and a resource list to guide your ongoing professional growth.
About Susan
Susan MacDonald, M.Ed., brings deep expertise and inspiration to this leadership journey. Her work is grounded in the insights from her books Inspiring Early Childhood Leadership, Inspiring Professional Growth, and Supercharge Professional Development, and enriched by her hands-on experience leading a Reggio inspired preschool. Her sessions blend practical strategies with meaningful reflection to spark lasting growth.
LEARN MORE
Linda Kosinski
Executive Director
Groton Community School Groton
MA
"...and sooo much valuable and applicable information. I keep going back to reread my notes because each session was so powerful and full of info!!"
Amy Coolbeth
Early Childhood Care Coordinator Early Head Start
"It will help and encourage you to challenge yourself to a better you and your program."
Heida Sigurdardottir
Pedagogical Coordinator Co-op Family Center
"You will be inspired by people from all over the country who are in the same learning lane as you. Susan is an extremely thoughtful presenter who has been doing this work many years and has a way to make you think about your own growth in a way that is immediately applicable to your work."
Develop a Comprehensive Portfolio to Enhance Your Leadership
- Vision: A clear and concise vision statement focused on supporting the professional growth of the educators in your program
- Plan: A year-long goal focused professional development plan for your staff meetings and professional days
- Design: The design, development, and delivery of a professional development workshop
- Communicate: A positive communication action plan to guide you in facilitating effective dialogues
- Resources: A cultivated list of current and relevant resources to inspire your ongoing professional growth
Access to this course starts August 18, 2025
Rachel Jefferson
Executive Director
Co-op Family Center
Eugene, OR
"And her positive approach to life and learning. She is a wonderful mentor, an active listener, and extremely knowledgeable while being easy to connect to."
Debora Schofield
ECE Professional Development Facilitator
Maine
"It is a workshop all about "you". It offers a place, time, and reflection to focus on who you are as a professional and where you can go!"
Angela Wheeler
Regional Director
Nurtury Early Education
Boston, MA
"I think all early childhood leaders should take this course. It helps leaders understand importance of team building."
I have a really full schedule, what is the time commitment for this program?
Who should enroll in this program?
I have some specific questions, who can I speak with?
Do you offer a group discount?
Contact Information
Susan is happy to answer any questions that you have regarding this course.
You can reach her:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 617 909 8367.
