Certificate in Early Education Leadership (CEEL)

“The more we learn about promoting children’s healthy development and laying a strong foundation for later learning and development, the clearer it becomes that one of the best investments for young children is an investment in the adults who shape the settings where they learn and grow.” —Saul Zaentz Early Education Initiative

The Certificate in Early Education Leadership (CEEL), offered through the Zaentz Professional Learning Academy, is a visionary, job-embedded, online certificate program that supports the learning and development of early education leaders and provides them with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to strengthen learning environments and foster quality improvement in all early education settings.

Overview

Given the vital role high-quality early education plays in learning and development, early education leaders need a broad, cutting-edge knowledge base, relevant strategies, and leadership competencies to generate sustained quality improvement. The Zaentz Professional Learning Academy at the Harvard Graduate School of Education is offering a new Certificate in Early Education Leadership (CEEL) to provide leaders with the core knowledge, management skills, and tools necessary to build and advance high-quality early education across learning environments.

Led by HGSE Professors Nonie Lesaux and Stephanie Jones, faculty directors of the Saul Zaentz Early Education Initiative, CEEL includes three series. Each series covers foundational knowledge, skills, and tools that enable early education leaders to improve and sustain high-quality early education for the learners they serve.

CEEL includes the following three series:

• Series 1: Leading for Early Learning and Development
• Series 2: Rethinking Leadership in Early Education
• Series 3: Supporting Optimal Teaching and Learning Environments

Each series contains five modules. Four of these are instructional Learn modules that build participants’ core knowledge in key areas, including early learning and development, adult learning, and leadership and management. The fifth module in each series, the Plan and Apply module, is designed to support participants as they map key learnings and to create and implement a plan tailored to their site and work. Learn modules within each series can be taken individually, or as part of the series. Participants may complete the Plan and Apply module in a series after completing all four relevant Learn modules. Those who complete all 15 modules in the three series will earn the Certificate in Early Education Leadership.

Program Details

CEEL is designed to offer working professionals in early education an opportunity to deepen their core knowledge, enhance their skills, and add to their leadership toolkit through a flexible, online, and job-embedded learning experience. Materials are interactive and case-based. Each Learn module includes: brief video lectures from Professors Lesaux and Jones that include insights from current scientific research in early education and related leadership strategies and practices; readings; self-reflection exercises; online discussions; animated depictions of real scenarios drawn from early education practice; facilitated cohort discussions; strategies for practical implementation; and job-embedded practice to apply the concepts and techniques learned.

Each Learn module runs for three weeks and requires approximately 10 hours of work. The Plan and Apply module runs for four weeks and requires approximately 15 hours of work. Upon completion of all four Learn modules, you will receive an invitation to apply to this final module, or you may register for a Series or the full Certificate in its entirety.

​Participants can register for the full Certificate, a Series in its entirety, or choose to complete the modules on an individual basis. For participants who wish to register for modules on an individual basis, the fee for each module is $199. For participants who wish to register for a Series in its entirety, which includes the four Learn modules and the Plan and Apply, the fee is $895. For participants who wish to register for the full certificate, you will be invoiced series-by-series and the fee is $895 per series. Click here for the complete schedule of the next Certificate offering.

Series Overview

CEEL Series 1: Leading for Early Learning and Development

Series 1 Modules:

• Learn A: The Science of Early Learning  
• Learn B: Leading Adults for Quality Improvement 
• Learn C: Stress, Adversity, and Trauma  
• Learn D: Strong Relationships and Interactions
• Series 1 Plan and Apply  

CEEL Series 2: Rethinking Leadership in Early Education

Series 2 Modules:

• Learn A: Effective Approaches to Leadership
• Learn B: Leading Change in Others 
• Learn C: Leveraging Diversity for Improvement 
• Learn D: Effective Teams
• Series 2 Plan and Apply

CEEL Series 3: Supporting Optimal Teaching and Learning Environments

Series 3 Modules:

• Learn A: Cornerstone Educator Competencies
• Learn B: Teaching for Cognitive Growth
• Learn C: Effective Classroom Management
• Learn D: Universal Design for Learning
• Series 3 Plan and Apply 

Click here for the current offering's full schedule. The next Certificate offering begins in August 2020. Series begin in August and March; click here for a schedule of upcoming modules. 

Who Should Attend

CEEL is designed for early education leaders and practitioners, including:

• Directors of early education centers or programs
• Administrators, coaches, and practitioners in public school preK programs
• Leaders of early education service organizations
• State leaders and administrators
• Philanthropists, grant-makers, and advocates

Fees & Policies

For participants who register for the individual modules, payment is due by credit card and must be submitted prior to the start of the program. For participants who register for the full series or the certificate, payment or a purchase order must be received within 30 days of program registration, or upon receipt of the invoice if registration is within 30 days prior to the start of the program. While a purchase order confirms enrollment, an outstanding balance is maintained until payment is rendered. Please click here for more information on our on-campus and online refund and withdrawal policies. Note that VA benefits may not be used for participation in CEEL.

Upon successful completion of an individual Learn module, participants will receive documentation of completion, as well as a letter confirming 10 clock hours awarded. Upon successful completion of a Plan and Apply module, participants will receive documentation of completion, as well as a letter confirming 15 clock hours awarded.

Participants who successfully complete all three CEEL Series — Leading for Early Learning and Development, Rethinking Leadership in Early Education, and Supporting Optimal Teaching and Learning Environments — will receive the Certificate in Early Education Leadership.

The Harvard Graduate School of Education reserves the right to change faculty or cancel programs at its discretion. In the unlikely event of program changes, the school is not responsible for non-refundable travel arrangements or other planning expenses incurred.