My Learning Curve for Early Learning

How do school system leaders with limited time in elementary schools become pacesetters in lifting early childhood education?

Superintendents are more than leaders for their school districts. They are community leaders who unite people around a cause.

Mike Brophy brought this mindset to our work in Yakima, Wash., beginning in 2011 when he became superintendent of the 5,000-student West Valley School District 208. Early on, he brought a relentless focus on collaboration with community partners to strengthen staff and partner knowledge of early learning.

At his first meeting with our six elementary school principals, Brophy established his priorities when he organized a videoconference so the school leaders could learn from expert early learning practitioners. He followed up with professional development for school and district leaders where we learned that investments in early learning produce some of the best returns on investment in education.

We collaborated with early learning providers in Yakima to align curriculum, instruction and assessment. We also shared professional development opportunities and coordinated family engagement strategies with our early learning partners.