Da teoria à prática: os desafios do gestor da educação infantil

Abstract

The research is the result of an investigation carried out in the stricto sensu graduate program, Master's level, of the Graduate Program in Education, at the Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, inserted in the area of concentration Fundamentals and Educational Practices. The educational manager is an important actor in the education scenario, impacting the educational process and motivating studies regarding his training and performance. In Early Childhood Education, the director has few professionals on his team and management is not shared, factors that make the work difficult. Thinking about these issues, this research aims to know the perception of Managers of CEMEI, Municipal Center for Early Childhood Education, in Uberaba/MG, regarding their initial academic training for the execution of their position. This is a descriptive qualitative research, using a semi-structured interview as a data collection instrument, in order to know the profile of these professionals, in addition to their perception of their theoretical training and the difficulties and facilities encountered in carrying out the position. The professionals' identification data were coded and the information from the interviews transcribed and qualitatively analyzed through Content Analysis (BARDIN, 2016). The group, female, with higher education in degree courses in different years, had the content of their speeches organized into three categories of analysis: educational background, professional trajectory and management in Early Childhood Education. They perceive that the degree courses have improved the approach to management, but their satisfaction in relation to the preparation for the execution of such a position is relative. This makes the maintenance of its educational process occur to improve the practice. Even though they did not focus on management since their initial formation, they followed a path in education that served positively for management. Challenges related to democratic management, bureaucracy, a concise team and interpersonal relationships are the factors that most impacted the work, especially in the period of facing the COVID-19 pandemic. Communication, continuing education and support from SEMED were cited as resources for resolving difficulties. From these data, it was possible to answer the research questions regarding the satisfaction of managers in relation to their initial training for the execution of their position. There is the perception of respondents that initial training needs to be complemented, and it often is, to be a manager. At the same time, many setbacks linked to work overload and consequent lack of time impacted research participation. However, even with these, it was possible to meet a group of managers who demonstrated the richness of the work of these professionals and demands for further studies.