Building Early Learning Leaders (BELL)

School leaders are best equipped to lead exemplary early learning programs when provided with the right resources and a community of peers, to learn and strategize together. Learn, grow, lead, as part of the Building Early Learning Leaders network improvement community.

Purpose

Building Early Learning Leaders (BELL) is a cohort-based program designed for school leaders and administrators to strengthen their leadership of early learning programs in their schools by identifying and implementing strong early learning practices. Expert early learning leadership coaches from VOCEL partner closely with you to determine the most pressing challenges in your early learning program and develop a tailored action plan, working alongside you and your team to support implementation and improve outcomes for our earliest learners.

Benefits for Participating Leaders

BELL members receive:

  • Group professional development, with accompanying ISBE professional development hours

  • On the ground implementation support via coaching for your school’s leadership team

  • Progress monitoring for the 2023-24 school year

  • Access to online modules and ready-to-use resources

  • Invitations to learning and social events with panel discussions, guest speakers, and networking

  • A network of CPS school leaders committed to early learning excellence

Program Commitments

To get the most out of the improvement community, we ask for participants to:

  • Virtually attend quarterly 2-hour community learning events

  • Attend additional networking and in-person events (Optional)

  • Engage in monthly coaching visits with BELL coaches (following district guidance on health/safety)

  • Occasionally serve as an ambassador of BELL and refer other school leaders and teachers to VOCEL's program offerings

Eligibility

We are prioritizing accepting schools who meet a combination of the following criteria:

  • Commit to two years as the programming is built on a two-year model

  • Schools with Title I designation

  • At least one Pre-K classroom

  • Identified Early Childhood focus on CIWP or in other school priorities

  • Ability to dedicate time and human resources (school leader and up to 2 additional adult-facing staff members) to focused improvement effort

We are accepting applications now through September 10, 2023!

Want to learn more? Email Raha Dempsey at Raha@VOCEL.org with any questions