UCLA Head Start Management Fellows Program

Strengthening the Entrepreneurial Management and Leadership Skills of Head Start Executives

 
Designed from a strategic planning perspective, the UCLA Head Start Management Fellows Program provides a unique opportunity for Head Start executives to participate in a 12-day intensive leadership and management development training session at UCLA Anderson School of Management. Since 1991, the program has trained over 1,700 Head Start directors and managers who provide comprehensive services to nearly 1 million economically disadvantaged children and their families each day.

Early childhood education professionals face management and strategic challenges in an increasingly changing environment. By developing an entrepreneurial mindset and competence, our participants will be able to achieve and exceed their goals of raising families out of poverty, and preparing children to be healthy and ready for school and life.

Al Osborne, Ph.D.
Faculty Director, Senior Associate Dean

Program Details

 

Designed from a strategic planning perspective, the UCLA Head Start Management Fellows Program provides a unique opportunity for Head Start executives to participate in a 12-day intensive leadership and management development training session at UCLA Anderson School of Management.


Since 1991, the program has trained over 1,600 Head Start directors and managers who provide comprehensive services to nearly 1 million economically disadvantaged children and their families each day. The program was previously funded by Johnson & Johnson from 1991 to 2015.

The competency-based curriculum focuses on the leadership and management skills, knowledge and abilities most relevant to Head Start/Early Head Start programs.Several case studies from actual Head Start programs are used to illustrate key concepts and enhance learning. The curriculum is taught by faculty from UCLA Anderson and other universities and is supplemented by professionals in the wider community, based on the needs of each year’s participants.Key curriculum components include:

Accounting
Communications
Data Analysis
Economics
Finance
Decision Making
Group Design/Devlpmnt
Human Resources
Leadership Styles
Leasing
Management Effectiveness
Marketing
Project Management
Organizational Design
Operations Management
Strategy Development
Strategy Implementation
The Management Improvement Project (MIP)
The MIP is the practical application or experiential component of the program, allowing participants to immediately translate the UCLA program curriculum to improve performance at their own organizations. It identifies and addresses an organizational weakness or external opportunity through the development of a strategic plan for tackling an issue.
Individual Consultation by MBA Students

The program employs MBA students as Teaching Associates (TA) who lead small study groups to clarify and discuss session content with participants and act as consultants as participants develop their strategic projects.
Technology-Enabled Online Learning Community

A web-based "learning management system" coordinates the education process and delivers some of the program content. An easily accessible information source for online presentations, reading and useful links, the system is available to Fellows as a resource upon completing the program.

Upcoming Programs

 
PMFO-UCLA Head Start Management Fellows Program
June 17-28, 2024

The UCLA Head Start Management Fellows Program is a partner in the National Center on Program Management and Fiscal Operations (NCPMFO), which is funded by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Head Start.

As part of NCPMFO, we will hold one UCLA Head Start Management Fellows Program that will be held IN-PERSON from June 17-28, 2024, at UCLA Anderson.

Criteria for Admission:

  • A minimum of 2 years’ tenure as a director or manager in a Head Start/Early Head Start program or an executive who currently holds a leadership role in a regional or state Head Start association
  • Documentation of a leadership role in a local, state or regional community organization for a minimum of 2 years
  • A commitment from a co-participant who is the applicant’s supervisor, to participate for the final two and one-half days of the program
  • Demonstrated competence in working within community organizations and a pledge to work with other Head Start/Early Head Start programs in the future through training workshops and/or mentoring opportunities
  • Participants are responsible for a registration fee of $3,100 plus travel expenses for themselves and their co-participant. We do select a limited number of two-person teams from the same program.

APPLY TODAY

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PMFO-UCLA Head Start New Director Mentor Initiative

March 5-7, 2024

The National Center for Program Management and Fiscal Operations (PMFO) is pleased to offer a unique opportunity for new Head Start directors to expand their knowledge and practice, enhance their networks and improve performance and career development through a one-year mentor-mentee relationship with an effective and experienced Head Start director.

Through the New Director Mentor Initiative (NDMI), new Head Start directors (those in position for fewer than three years) will have the opportunity to become more effective leaders to achieve maximum positive impact on their organizations.

Program Details

The 2024 NDMI will kick off with a Live Learning Event that will be delivered IN-PERSON on the UCLA Campus from March 5-7, 2024. The Live Learning Event is a reflective and interactive leadership and management training and attendance is compulsory.

New directors will also be provided tools and resources on key Head Start Management Systems and Leadership and Governance through live training and technical assistance webinars and self-directed learnings throughout the one year program.  There is NO REGISTRATION FEE AND TRAVEL AND PER DIEM IS PROVIDED.

As a result of the PMFO-UCLA mentor-mentee relationship, new Head Start directors will:

  • Develop an Entrepreneurial Mindset: Increased ability to plan, lead, and control effective delivery of comprehensive services
  • Make Decisions Based on Data to Plan Program Operations: Allow for critical thinking and mission-driven planning
  • Stay Open: Remain curious, ask questions, defer judgment, and seek out diverse perspectives
  • Engage and Inspire: Listen well, build teams, create allies, develop talent, and offer your best
  • Learn and Grow: Reflect often, share insights, push boundaries, and raise the bar continuously

  Head Start directors chosen must commit to the following:

  • Attend the Live Learning Event scheduled for March 5-7, 2024
  • Access pre- and post-institute online learning opportunities (dates TBD)
  • Participate and engage in a year-long, one-on- one interactive relationship with your mentor

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Applications are no longer being accepted

Head Start Alumni Network

 
The learning process does not end with the conclusion of the UCLA Head Start Management Fellows Program. Fellows will continue to benefit from a community of program alumni that fosters support around common objectives. Networking during and after the program will create and strengthen relationships that will enhance the management education and entrepreneurial skills of Head Start/Early Head Start grantees nationwide. An e-mail list allows participants to stay informed about strategic, operational and policy issues, as well as to share information with other alumni of the program.

Get Involved: Current Anderson MBAs

 
Do you have a passion for social impact? Do you want to apply your newly developed MBA skills in real-time? Do you want more opportunities to network with our fantastic faculty and non-profit leaders in community health care and early childhood education?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, consider applying to becoming a strategic consultant for the Price Center Management Development Programs for Community Based Organizations. You will be part of a team of 7 strategic consultants that works closely with program participants who are immersed in an intensive and accelerated management curriculum.  

As a strategic consultant, you will be assigned a team which will consist of 5-7 participants. Each day, you will facilitate learning sessions focused on problem solving, strategy and leadership. You will also serve as a one-on-one coach for participants as they conduct organizational assessments, project planning and goal setting while developing and finalizing their organizational improvement projects. Ultimately, you will help participants generate a strategic plan which addresses an identified organizational weakness or a business opportunity that will advance the impact of the organization.  

This experience offers a competitive salary, and will connect you with an incredible network of nonprofit leaders across the country, as well as to UCLA Anderson faculty members and fellow students.  

Please contact Diana Hernandez at diana.hernandez@anderson.ucla.edu for information on how to apply for this position. 

Program Sponsor

 

Contact Us

 

Jeanette Boom, Director
Management Development Programs
110 Westwood Plaza, Ste C-305
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1481
Phone: (310) 825-6306
Email: jeanette.boom@anderson.ucla.edu