Workshop #3

Getting and Keeping Staff

In this workshop we will consider three aspects of staffing in child care.

Firstly, we’ll look at practical advice on attracting staff: where to recruit them, creating effective job postings and how to inspire people to apply. We’ll also demonstrate how to retain staff with effective orientations, welcoming and ongoing check-ins.

Secondly, we’ll look at building careers with qualifications and professional development. This segment will cover the importance of including team building, professional development, and prep time in your program so that your centre is an enriching environment.

Finally, we’ll take a broader look at wages in the sector. The Ministry of Education will be paying the full compensation bill next year. The debate on wages and working conditions has become a political topic, and the discussion needs to shift so that staff see real improvements. Plus, we’ll get a chance to consider centre compensation packages from other employers.

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Thursday, May 18, 2023 - 2:00pm EST

Sheila Olan-Maclean is a value-based leader with over 40 years’ experience in the early learning and child care field. Drawing from her various roles as educator, resource teacher, executive director and presently CEO of Compass Early Learning and Care, she believes in authentic co-leadership practices that prepares a space where every human can be their best selves.

Alana Powell (she/her) is an early childhood educator, activist, and the Executive Director of the Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario (AECEO). The AECEO is a proud membership organization whose work is led by our shared values and ethics, and our focus on building caring communities and policy change with early childhood educators. Alana lives, works and learns on unceded, unsurrendered Algonquin Anishinaabe territory. She is grateful to ECEs from across Ontario for all they do and for inviting the AECEO in their work and lives. She continues to engage in scholarship, where she thinks with feminist ethics of care and the intersections of ECE’s subjectivities, policy, advocacy, and creating community.

Sue Colley, VP Cleveland Consulting: Early Learning and Child Care, has been a recognized leader and innovator in the development of co-op housing for seniors, in the health sector, and in the field of early learning and child care over the last 40 years. She was a key founder of Action Day Care and first Executive Director of the Ontario Child Care Coalition. She has played an important role in major studies of child care policy and programs for the University of Toronto, the City of Toronto and the Province of Ontario. Sue has an M.B.A. from Edinburgh Business School.

Jennelle (Jenny) Cullen is a Registered Early Childhood Educator, an HR (Human Relations) Organizational Link and one of more than 500 humans that make up the Compass Early Leaning and Care team. She has been with the organization for nearly 23 years and in her current role for 13 of them. Jenny is passionate about organizational culture, human relations, finding joy in the workplace and supporting other to find the same. She leads with a value based approach, practicing Distributed Leadership while using a coaching mentoring model and seeing the importance of soliciting and giving feedback in guiding her work.

Ryan Heath is a Human Relations Coordinator and one of more than 500 humans that make up the Compass Early Learning and Care team. He has been with the organization for 5 years and has been a part of the HR team for the last 4 years. Ryan is passionate about onboarding, recruiting, and creating a warm and welcoming space for all to be their authentic selves. He leads with a lens of diversity and equity in all aspects of human relations experiences.

Workshop #3

Getting and Keeping Staff

Watch the workshop

Sheila Olan-Maclean

Alana Powell

Sue Colley

Jenny Cullen

Ryan Heath

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