Sarah Martinez’s entry into early childhood education came through an unlikely clerical error. Fresh out of college and working as a YMCA lifeguard, she applied to a number of different jobs and her application was accidentally stapled to someone else’s who was applying for a teaching job. When a child care center called to interview her, mistakenly thinking she was a certified instructor with classroom experience, Martinez was candid about the mix-up but expressed interest anyway. Her only teaching experience at the time? Leading Sunday school lessons for refugee children at her father’s church and teaching swim lessons. Yet that chance occurrence launched what would become a fulfilling career in early education. Now, as director of an early childhood learning center on the North Shore managing 54 staff across 14 classrooms, Martinez credits the Essential Leadership Model, taught through the Early Childhood Support Organization (ECSO) program with helping her develop a more collaborative and effective leadership approach.
“The incentive was initially financial,” Martinez admits, referring to the program’s funding structure that provided $1,000 per classroom for program staff accepted into the program “But what we gained went far beyond the monetary benefits. We learned so much as leaders, particularly about changing our mindset to lead through collaboration.”
One of the program’s most impactful elements was its emphasis on implementing small, strategic changes that create ripple effects throughout the organization. Martinez and her team focused on strengthening family involvement, inviting parents into classrooms to participate in activities ranging from story time to cultural celebrations.
“By inviting families in, we saw multiple benefits,” Martinez explains. “Parents became more engaged in the classroom environment, teachers strengthened their curriculum planning, and they developed leadership skills by guiding parents in classroom activities. One small change affected everything – our quality of care, our supportive environment, and our leadership development.”
The Essential Leadership Model’s structured approach to analyzing and improving program quality particularly resonated with Martinez. Working through the program’s “Five Essentials” framework – which includes effective instructional leadership, collaborative teachers, involved families, supportive environment, and ambitious instruction – helped her team break down complex challenges into manageable pieces.
“You learn to take these statements and really analyze them,” Martinez shares. “We had to connect with the material, extend our understanding, and challenge ourselves. It taught us that we can make meaningful improvements by focusing on one small change at a time.”
The program’s impact is evident in the center’s impressive staff retention rates. Half of Martinez’s full-time teachers have been with the program for more than three years – an unusual achievement in early education. She attributes this stability to leadership lessons learned through the Essential Leadership Model, particularly about supporting staff well-being and creating a positive work environment.
While Martinez acknowledges that the first year of the program demands significant time and focus, she emphasizes that the investment pays off. “Year two has been much more relaxed,” she notes. “You have to trust the process, as our instructors always said. Sometimes the meetings might feel long, but you always walk away with valuable nuggets to improve your program.”
When asked if she would recommend the program to others, Martinez doesn’t hesitate. “Definitely,” she says. “The program helps you develop your leadership skills in ways you might not expect. It can be humbling at times, but that’s part of the growth process. The norms and practices you learn become essential tools for leading your team effectively.”
For Martinez, what began as a program primarily attractive for its financial incentives has become a transformative professional development experience. Through the program, she has evolved her leadership style to emphasize collaboration, strategic improvement, and staff support – creating positive changes that benefit her entire early learning community.
The Essential Leadership Model is one of three Early Childhood Support Organizations offered to early education programs in Massachusetts through a partnership between the Commonwealth’s Department of Early Education and Care and New Profit, a venture philanthropy firm that backs social entrepreneurs advancing equity and opportunity.
