Dr. Traci Childress (she/her)

Collaboration, Expertise, and the Ethics of Leadership Lately, I’ve been thinking about the challenge of holding presence, groundedness, and collaboration while also meeting goals and moving things forward.

Leading with both collaboration and expertise is hard. Too much of one can erode the other. I’ve been reflecting on that balance & how gender & transparency shape it.
#leadership #collaboration #womensleadership #transparency

Two Pots of Soup, Weather, Work, and the Rest of It Both of my kids have been home sick this week.

This week, both kids were home sick. I made two pots of soup. The sky stayed gray. The work got real. Nothing dramatic, but something was shifting under the surface. I wrote about it. Two Pots of Soup, Weather, Work, and the Rest of It
#writinglife #reflection #lifelately #slowliving #personalesay

Before the Love Story Re-membering My Own Life

“I’m starting to see my journals less as records and more as terrain.”What if the old journals stacked in your closet weren’t just diaries—but a kind of map? This piece is the beginning of a pilgrimage: A return to myselfbefore the love story
#Reflection #narrartive #story #growth

Leading Like a Poet A Personal Theory of Change in Five Movements

“Leadership is not about control. It’s about creating spaces where people can tell their truths, and from those truths, imagine something new together.” From "Like a Poet: A Personal Theory of Change in Five Movements" If you're holding space for transformation may this offer something meaningful.

Marriage Is an Infrastructure, Divorce an Excavation There are moments when we make the right choice and still find ourselves in free fall.

Marriage Is an Infrastructure, Divorce an Excavation: When I left my marriage, I didn’t expect to lose the shape of my community, the texture of my days, or the ease of knowing where the salt lived in the kitchen. Read my essay to learn more.

A Eulogy for My Past Grief, Growth, and the (Cheesy) Soundtrack That Saved Me After Divorce

A Eulogy for My Past

Holding the Thread A Liberal Arts Education and the Life It Made Possible

Reflecting as the new week begins.

Two Things Can Be True The Courage to Stay in the Conversation

Last week brought grief. The dismantling of the Dept. of Ed is not abstract to me—it's personal, it's about kids. I wrote through the anxiety, remembering Germany, my grandfathers, and what it means to stay in hard conversations. #Writing #Resistance #Hope

Where the Stones Remember Reflecting on A Personal Journey Through Germany’s Memorials, Resistance, and the Lessons We Still Need

I’ve been thinking about the years I lived in Germany, how the history I encountered there feels relevant now. I used to imagine I would’ve joined the resistance.Now, as an American, I wonder what choices I’m making. #Resistance #Memory #WhatWeCarry #HistoryAndNow

The Power of Culturally Responsive Leadership in Early Childhood Education Imagine walking into a bustling early childhood education (ECE) center: children are playing, teachers are guiding small hands through activities, and caregivers come and go, trusting that this space ...

What if childcare directors were seen as changemakers, not just managers? My latest piece explores how ECE leaders can drive equity + culture in early learning. #ECE #Leadership #Equity #CulturallyResponsive

Revisiting the Voices of Early Childhood Leaders A System in Crisis and the Urgency for Change

I spent years interviewing early childhood educators. One voice still echoes: “People call us babysitters. That’s not what we do.” This leader left direct service, and I wonder: where is she? Where is early childhood education headed? #ECE #Equity #EarlyLearning

Beyond the Script Leadership, Coaching, and Conversations That Transform Us

What if leadership wasn’t about answers, but listening deeply enough to change the conversation? My elders taught me that leadership isn’t about titles. It’s about connection. Coaching isn’t control—it’s partnership. Are you making space to hear others, or just filling the silence?#LeadWithEmpathy

Why The Unfinished Leader A Reflection on Identity

When do we get to claim an identity? When are we enough, as leaders, writers, or creators? Too often, we wait for titles or validation before stepping into who we already are. But leadership, like identity, is never finished. It evolves as we do.

Alt Text: A digital flyer with a dark red background promotes the "Save Our Services: LET US WORK Mass Call" event. The main text is in bold white and light blue, with "LET US WORK" in large, uppercase white letters and "MASS CALL" in bold outlined text. Below, the flyer highlights four featured speakers with circular headshots: Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), Robert Reich (Former Secretary of Labor & Co-Founder of Inequality Media), Liz Shuler (President, AFL-CIO), and Maurice Mitchell (National Director, Working Families Party). The event is scheduled for Thursday, March 13th at 8PM ET / 5PM PT, with a call to action in bold: "Register: bit.ly/march13RSVP." On the left side, logos of supporting organizations are stacked vertically, including the Federal Unionists Network (FUN), AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), Working Families Party (WFP), and MoveOn. At the bottom, white text reads "+ more!!" indicating additional speakers. The flyer visually emphasizes urgency and collective action against federal worker layoffs.

🚨 Trump and Musk want to fire federal workers, gut public services, and hand our government to billionaires. We’re not letting that happen.

📢 Join us this Thursday at 8PM ET for a mass call to hear how we fight back—together.

Understanding How to Lead with Awareness of Others’ Needs A Reflective Approach

Leading is personal. Who I am shapes the way I lead. Leadership isn’t just about strategy or efficiency; it’s about being aware of the impact I have. Leadership is a constant learning curve. #ReflectiveLeadership #InclusivePractices #CriticalPedagogy

Building Forward Cultivating Connection In Our Leadership

When systems tighten their grip—through budget cuts, policy shifts, or fear-driven narratives—it’s easy to feel stuck. Fight. Flight. Freeze. But what if leadership is also about building, even now?
#Leadership #BuildingForward #ResilientLeadership #NavigatingUncertainty #CultivatingChange

Leading in the In-Between Building While Systems Shift

bell hooks (1994) reminds us that true leadership—especially in spaces like education—is not about compliance. It’s about transformation. Transformation takes time, reflection, and the ability to ask, "What are we actually trying to build here?"

Why We Need to Talk About Leadership in Early Childhood Education Hint: It is Personal and Systemic!

Leadership in ECE is often overlooked—but it shapes the future of early learning. Effective leaders foster collaboration, inclusivity, and growth. Leadership is deeply personal, shaped by values, experiences, and identity. When we lead with equity and reflection, we create lasting change.

Are You an ECE Leader? You Might Be Without Realizing It

Leadership in ECE isn’t just for directors—it’s about influence.
Mentoring a colleague? Advocating for a child? Creating an inclusive classroom? That's leadership. My latest Substack explores how recognizing this can amplify your impact.#ECELeadership #TeacherLeadership #LeadWithImpact

Join Zaina Cahill for "Getting Involved: Practical Advocacy For Early Childhood Educators" on March 19, 5:30-6:30 PM, hosted by McNichol Early Childhood Education Lab.
Learn key policies, build an action plan, and connect with advocacy networks. A must for ECE advocates—don't miss it! #ECE #Advocacy