Building professionalism: Chilean ECEC leaders’ views on their participation in professional associations

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) leaders are required to have training and experience, given the diversity of responsibilities they have to meet. This paper explores the participation of ECEC leaders in grassroot associations and teachers’ unions. Following a qualitative methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 ECEC leaders who participated in professional associations. Findings show that ECEC leaders think that participating in professional associations enhances their professionalism by bridging gaps in professional development between the public and private sectors, promoting solidarity among leaders, and mitigating feelings of isolation. Nonetheless, neoliberal values and governmentality shape their subjectification, leading ECEC leaders to internalize regulatory norms. This study highlights the importance of further research on how ECEC leaders navigate neoliberal policies and professional development in a changing institutional context.