The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has long been concerned with leadership issues in early childhood. NAEYC has throughout its history offered a variety of leadership opportunities to its membership and others through efforts such as participation in advisory groups for position statement development; consulting editors for peer review of journal articles and books; and board service at local, state and national levels. A couple of years ago NAEYC launched the Building a Lasting Legacy Campaign to raise additional funds to further our leadership efforts. The Legacy Leader Fellows Program is an outgrowth of that Campaign. NAEYC is pleased to be able to extend its leadership development work using enrichment fellowships in partnership with existing early childhood leadership development programs around the country.

Dr. Martha Muñoz is the coordinator of the Legacy Leader Fellows Program (LLF) and will act as a liaison between  Leadership Programs, Fellows and NAEYC. Dr. Muñoz will maintain regular contact with Fellows, and serve as a mentor during their participation as an LLF. She will also act as a central point of contact for all stakeholders.  

Synergies have been created by connecting NAEYC Fellows engaged in identified leadership development programs with each other, and the leadership of NAEYC. By empowering the NAEYC Fellows to then in turn help develop the next cohort of LLF, the Association will leverage resources to create a comprehensive approach to nurturing and sustaining a diverse leadership pipeline.

The third cohort of the Legacy Leader Fellows will be selected in the spring of 2012. In addition to their involvement in a recognized leadership development program, Fellows will participate in a specially designed set of leadership development experiences crafted by NAEYC, while completing a project with their Affiliate. This set of experiences will provide Fellows with a broad survey of the field of early childhood education, while engaging them in real time, practical activities that will build valuable skills sets.

• Purpose
• Fellowship Calendar
• NAEYC-Recognized Leadership Development Programs
  • Criteria for NAEYC Recognition
  • List of NAEYC Recognized Program
  • Request for Qualifications Form
• NAEYC Legacy Leader Fellowship
  • Fellowship Eligibility
  • Fellowship Award
  • Fellowship Expectations
  • Selection Criteria
  • Application Checklist
• Fellowship Application