La Vista, Neb. — About 120 metro-area administrators, principals, and other educators are participating in a leadership institute June 20 to learn more about the birth – Grade 3 approach, which is at the heart of the Superintendents' Early Childhood Plan. 

“One thing that’s become apparent as we go forward in the Superintendents’ Plan is the important role principals play,” said Kim Bodensteiner, associate director of program development at the Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska. While the popular Professional Development for All series has been focused on teachers and child care providers, with classroom-based content, Bodensteiner said, this institute’s content is directed more at school leaders.

Presentations from principals and staff teams serving as birth – Grade 3 hubs within the Superintendents' Plan will highlight the work going on in the full implementation schools. Staff from all 10 school sites will present on such topics as home visiting, project-based learning, social emotional learning and development, working with families, and preschool to Kindergarten transitions.

The morning keynote address will be given by Samuel J. Meisels, the Institute's founding executive director, who will provide an overview of the Superintendents' Plan. Chris Maxwell, director of program development at the Institute, will follow up with insights into how the plan’s principles are being translated into action in the metro-area schools.

The afternoon keynote address will be delivered by Vincent Costanza, executive director of Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge, and co-administrator of the Division of Early Childhood Education and Family Engagement, New Jersey Department of Education. Constanza will share what New Jersey is doing to extend best early childhood practices into the primary grades, Bodensteiner said.

About the Superintendents’ Early Childhood Plan
The Superintendents' Early Childhood Plan is a groundbreaking initiative that represents one of the nation's most innovative, comprehensive approaches to reducing achievement gaps for children from birth through Grade 3. It is built around intensive, continuous, and evidence-based services for children living in high concentrations of poverty in the Omaha metro area. The plan was developed by the Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska in partnership with the 11 school districts of the Learning Community of Douglas and Sarpy Counties. The Buffett Institute continues to facilitate implementation of the plan, which is funded by the Learning Community. Learn more at buffettinstitute.nebraska.edu/superintendents-plan.