Starting January 20, 2026
Challenging times require new approaches in leadership and in program management. Inspired by exemplary program leaders in the West, Head Start WEST is excited to offer our Managers Academy.
One of the ways that great agencies have responded to changing times has been to elevate the skills of managers whose work intersect most closely with the delivery of services. As essential a great strategy might be, equally essential is the ability to implement the vision and structure. The foundational component of trust is only strengthened when all parties, at all levels of an organization are moving in the same direction with a clear view of the horizon and the guardrails to support a high impact performance. As Simon Sinek, the author of may books on organizational success says, “A team is not a group of people who work together but a team is a group of people who trust each other.” The development of strong management teams starts with the development of individuals.
The values of HSW Managers Academy include the belief that each person must acknowledged for their lived experiences, they are all leaders in their organizations and self-development is the key to personal growth and professional success.
The Managers Academy combines collective, small-group, and independent learning to create a dynamic experience. Participants gain leadership essentials, strategies for building strong teams, and practical tools for program design, evaluation, and continuous improvement. They will apply concepts directly to their programs—developing monitoring and evaluation plans, practicing systems thinking, and cultivating meaningful community partnerships.
Most importantly, managers leave with a deeper understanding of their leadership style and the confidence to leverage it in advancing program initiatives, fostering sustainability, and driving long-term success.
The Head Start West Manager’s Academy is designed for current managers and emerging leaders who are ready to strengthen their skills, expand their influence, and prepare for the next step in their leadership journey. By bringing together those already guiding teams and those preparing to step into management roles, the Academy creates a powerful platform for succession planning—ensuring that agencies have a strong pipeline of capable leaders to sustain excellence in Head Start programs.
This experience is especially valuable for individuals navigating the critical transitions into and out of middle management positions, where the ability to balance vision with implementation, and strategy with trust, is most essential. The Academy equips participants with tools, relationships, and perspectives that will not only enhance their own leadership but also elevate the performance and culture of their entire organization.
The majority of the course work will take place virtually utilizing the Zoom platform and an interactive learning management resource from 2-4:30pm PST. Participants will meet in Sacramento, CA July 21-22, 2026 for our closing gathering.
Member: $1,750.00/person
Non-Member: $1,950.00/person
I have been to management workshops, not leadership training. This has totally changed my perspective and encouraged me to propel forward in developing my skills.
I am honored and humbled to be a recipient of the Head Start WEST’s Legacy Scholarship. The scholarship helped me get one step closer to achieving my goal of becoming a Head Start Director.
I took part in The disproportionate impact of COVID 19, and how to provide “real” support for black/brown children and families and I just want to say this was an amazing webinar. I hope we can look forward to further conversation on this topic.
Thank you so much for making events like this! I really enjoyed and learned so much teaching strategies to implement STEM in the classroom.
The HR Network was an excellent opportunity to network and learn the best practices from other HR professionals within Head Start programs. You will be amazed by the level of talent and experience of the participants.
The Summer Camp training was powerful and inspiring! Each presenter was very engaging, it’s hard to even pick a favorite session!
The Leadership Challenge training was very relevant to my work as a Head Start leader! Great facilitation; stayed with the program yet allowed time for individual and small group reflections.
Regular price $12.00
Regular price $39.00
Questions? Contact us at headstartr9@region9hsa.org.
