Gryphon House Books

09/10/2026

Missed our latest edWebinar? Want to watch it again? The recording is now available!

In "Practical Strategies for Today’s Early Childhood Directors: Leading When Everything Feels Like Everything," Jill Jacobi-Vessels, Ph.D., and Amy Kay Powell, Ph.D., share practical ways to prioritize, delegate, create consistency, and care for yourself while leading others.

Watch the free recording anytime: https://hubs.li/Q04x8Dv10

09/10/2026

Amy Kay Powell never planned to become an early childhood administrator.
She began her career in the classroom, teaching toddlers, pre-K, and kindergarten. Then, in 2006, she agreed to temporarily lead a university campus lab school for just two months.

Two months turned into two decades.

Today, Dr. Powell is director of the Child Development Lab at the McPhaul Center at the University of Georgia and coauthor, with Jill Jacobi-Vessels, PhD, of 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘦! 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨’𝘴 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘦! (𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘐𝘯 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦) https://tinyurl.com/bdc68h3h

Much of what Amy learned about leadership came the way it does for so many directors: hands-on, on the job, and often in the middle of whatever fire needed putting out that day. That experience shapes a book filled with the kind of practical guidance, humor, and reassurance she once wished she had herself.

Get to know Amy and hear more of her real-world wisdom in our latest episode of Early Childhood Chapters, out next week.

09/08/2026

Staff called out. A family needs to talk. Licensing has questions. The budget still isn’t finished.

Sound familiar?

Jill Jacobi-Vessels, PhD, and Amy Kay Powell, PhD, wrote 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘦! 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨’𝘴 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘦! (𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘐𝘯 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦) for the realities of early childhood leadership. With practical strategies, real-life stories, ready-to-use guidance, and plenty of humor, it tackles everything from hiring and retention to family relationships, documentation, delegation, and self-care.

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time something catches fire. https://tinyurl.com/4vvhb4cr

09/08/2026

What if the problem isn’t that children aren’t ready for kindergarten, but that kindergarten isn’t ready for five-year-olds?

In a new interview with Theseventyfour, Gryphon House author Laura Bornfreund talks about what she learned while researching 𝘙𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘯: 𝘌𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘺 & 𝘑𝘰𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘯, including visits to more than 50 classrooms across 13 states.

Her message is clear: play and rigorous learning aren’t opposites. Guided, intentional play gives young children opportunities to build language, relationships, self-regulation, background knowledge, and academic skills in ways that align with how they actually learn.

“The play-based approach is the rigor for those kids, because it’s how they learn best.”

Read the full interview, “The Case for Prioritizing Play in Kindergarten,” from The 74: https://hubs.li/Q04wZ4JM0

Laura Bornfreund on how schools, families and policymakers can transform kindergarten to better support young children.

09/04/2026

Early childhood leaders carry a lot. Staffing challenges, quality initiatives, professional development, family needs, and the daily work of keeping a program moving can leave even experienced directors feeling overwhelmed.

In 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘌𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱, Susan MacDonald offers eight practical strategies to help leaders move from stress and crisis mode toward more intentional, strengths-based leadership. From creating a shared vision and building positive energy to supporting professional growth, coaching staff, and embracing change, this book helps leaders create programs where teachers, children, and families can thrive. https://tinyurl.com/33b8nkjw

Because strong programs begin with leaders who feel focused, engaged, and inspired.

09/03/2026

Ever feel like everyone else's emergency somehow becomes YOUR emergency?

A staffing shortage. A parent concern. A budget issue. A licensing question. And somehow, it's not even lunchtime yet.

In their latest blog, Jill Jacobi-Vessels, PhD, and Amy Kay Powell, PhD, share the real-life experiences that inspired 𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘦! 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨'𝘴 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘦! (𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦). It's an honest look at the challenges of early childhood leadership, and a reminder that directors don't have to figure it all out alone.

Read the blog, then discover the book created to help directors navigate the everyday realities of leading an early learning program. https://tinyurl.com/mrrjk89h

09/02/2026

For more than 25 years, Jill Jacobi-Vessels, PhD, has experienced the highs, lows, and everyday realities of leading early childhood programs. From teacher to executive director, professor, and mentor, she's spent her career helping children, families, and educators thrive.

That real-world experience is at the heart of 𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘦! 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨'𝘴 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘦! (𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦). Together with coauthor Amy Kay Powell, Jill shares practical strategies, honest stories, and reassuring guidance to remind directors that they don't have to face every challenge alone.

Because leadership isn't about having all the answers—it's about building the confidence, systems, and relationships that help everyone succeed. https://tinyurl.com/bdc68h3h

09/02/2026

TODAY at 2:00 p.m. EDT!

When everything feels like everything, how do you decide what actually needs your attention first?

Join experienced directors Jill Jacobi-Vessels, Ph.D., and Amy Kay Powell, Ph.D., for a FREE edWebinar designed for the people who keep early childhood programs running.
Get practical ideas for prioritizing, delegating, creating proactive systems, finding support, and protecting your own well-being while leading others.

Today | 2:00–3:00 p.m. EDT
Free registration + CE certificate
Register now and join us this afternoon!
https://bit.ly/4zOnInZ

09/01/2026

If your job description sometimes feels like “responsible for absolutely everything,” this webinar is for you.

Tomorrow, Jill Jacobi-Vessels, Ph.D., and Amy Kay Powell, Ph.D., share practical, field-tested strategies for handling the realities of early childhood leadership.

We’ll talk prioritizing, delegating, creating consistent systems, managing what you can control, and remembering that you don’t have to carry the entire program alone.

September 2 | 2:00–3:00 p.m. EDT
There’s still time to register!
https://bit.ly/4xqQTMi

09/01/2026

Being an early childhood director means wearing a dozen hats before breakfast.
From staffing shortages and licensing requirements to family conversations and budgeting, every day brings new challenges. That's why we're excited to celebrate the release of 𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘦! 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨'𝘴 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘦! (𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦) by Jill Jacobi-Vessels, PhD, and Amy Kay Powell, PhD.

Filled with practical advice, real-world stories, and approachable solutions, this new resource helps directors navigate the moments that matter most—with confidence, compassion, and a little humor. https://tinyurl.com/yz7dbbd6

And don't miss the authors' FREE EdWebinar on September 2, where you'll learn even more and receive a special discount code for the book. https://bit.ly/4qMbWq2