Time Well Spent

Throughout my early childhood studies, I have shared and developed a sense of community with my early childhood community of practice. I have gained knowledge, abilities, and leadership skills that will help me both in and out of the classroom. I have expanded my knowledge of effective programs and services and how to make informed decisions through research that will impact and improve my ability to work with children, early childhood professionals, and the communities.

My long term goal is to continue to promote positive learning experiences in early childhood programs for ALL children and their families.

As I look at the title of this blog, I began to shed some tears. It has definitely been “TIME WELL SPENT” on this journey of obtaining my Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Studies with a Specialization in Administration, Management, and Leadership. My final Capstone Project was challenging, but has tremendously deepened my understanding and knowledge in the early childhood field. I can remember Dr. Davis putting in some of the course assignments: “the sky is the limit”- when you envision your own growth and accomplishments in the field. My understanding of this phrase is to mean that the potential you have in the early childhood field is limitless. There is no limit on how you can advocate for social change for children and their families in the early childhood field.

To my Instructor and Colleagues- Words of Encouragement:

 

 

Job/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

Three international organizations that appeals to me:

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF): http://www.unicef.org

UNICEF believes that nurturing and caring for children are the cornerstone of human progress. UNICEF was created to work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path. They believe that we together can advance the cause for humanity. Also, they advocate for measures to give children the best start in life, promote girls’ education- ensuring that they complete primary education as a minimum, act so that all children are immunized against common childhood diseases, and are well nourished, work to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people, and involve everyone in creating protective environments for children.

Save the Children- http://www.savethechildren.org

Save the Children is the leading independent organization creating lasting change in the lives of children in need in the United States and around the world. This organization help children and families help themselves by commitment to accountability, innovation and collaboration in the heart of communities.

Academy for Educational Development (AED) - http://www.aed.org

Academy for Educational Development’s mission is to make a positive difference in people’s lives by working in partnership to create and implement innovative solutions to critical social and economic problems. This organization works in all the major areas of human development, with a focus on education, health, and economic opportunities for the least advantaged in the U.S. and developing countries throughout the world.

Job Opportunities

The job opportunity I found interesting to me internationally was a Coordinator at Early Steps to School Success (ESSS). Early Steps to School Success provides early childhood education services to pregnant women and children birth to five years of age, education services to their parents, and ongoing staff training to the community early childhood educators. The Coordinator will recruit pregnant families and children ages birth to five into the program, develop and schedule the program activities, provide regular home visits to families, organize and conduct parent/child groups in the elementary schools, conduct child screenings and make referrals to community providers, coordinate/collaborate with program partners, participate in training and technical assistance activities, and participate in the evolution of Early Steps, including data collection, interviewing and videotaping activities. The education requirements and experience I will need for this position will be an AA degree in Early Childhood or related field with 2-3 years related experience, experience and training working in an early childhood/parenting education program, experience leading parent groups, and experience in collaborating with early childhood programs in the community.

References:

Academy for Educational Development (AED). (2013). Retrieved from http://aed.org

Save the Children. (2013). Retrieved from http://savethechildren.org

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). (2013). Retrieved from http://unicef.org

 

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

Three national/federal organizations that appeals to me is:  The National Association for the Education of Young Children, Zero to Three, and High Scope. I chose these three because in the State of Georgia, these are well-known organizations with many valuable resources and information that will help you in the early childhood world, and also our pre-k program uses the High Scope Curriculum. I also explored the “Voices for America’s Children” website because the title caught my attention for being voice for young children. Below is a list of the organizations and what they stand for on the behalf of young children and their families.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children- http://www.naeyc.org

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is the world’s largest organization working on the behalf of young children. Their mission is to serve and act on behalf of needs, rights and well-being of all young children with primary focus on the provision of educational and developmental services and resources.

Zero to Three- http://www.zerotothree.org

Zero to Three is a national nonprofit organization that informs, trains, and supports professionals, policymakers and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers.  Their mission is to promote the health and development of infants and toddlers. According to Zero to Three, early experiences will set a course for a lifelong process of discovery about ourselves and the world around us.

High Scope- http://www.highscope.org

High Scope Educational Research Foundation is an independent nonprofit research, development, training, and public outreach organization. High Scope’s mission is to lift lives through education. They envision a world in which all educational settings use active participatory learning so everyone has a chance to succeed in life and contribute to society.

Voices for America’s Children- http://www.voices.org

Voices for America’s Children are the nation’s largest network of multi-issue child advocacy organizations. They lead advocacy efforts at the community, state, and federal levels to improve the lives of all children, especially those most vulnerable, and their families.

Job Opportunities

The job opportunities I found interesting that fosters the well-being of children, families, and the early childhood field was a Senior Technical Assistance Specialist that provides technical assistance to state and territory Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Administrators, Head Start Leaders, and their partners to support building integrated professional development systems and effective workforce initiatives. For this position, I must have a Master’s Degree in early childhood, in which I will soon obtain, expertise needed to promote coordination of high quality early childhood development services and early childhood system reform. I must be able to establish and maintain positive ongoing relationships with assigned states/territories and Regions. I also found a job opportunity for being a Program Coordinator for NAEYC. They are seeking a Program Coordinator to support the work of our early childhood program Accreditation System. I must have experience in the field of early childhood education and a sound understanding of its practice, 1-2 years clerical/administrative experience, and experience handling a high volume of calls.

References:

High Scope. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.highscope.org

The National Association for the Education of Young Children. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org.

Voices for America’s Children. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.voices.org

Zero to Three. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.zerotothree.org

 

 

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

Three national/federal organizations that appeals to me is:  The National Association for the Education of Young Children, Zero to Three, and High Scope. I chose these three because in the State of Georgia, these are well-known organizations with many valuable resources and information that will help you in the early childhood world, and also our pre-k program uses the High Scope Curriculum. I also explored the “Voices for America’s Children” website because the title caught my attention for being voice for young children. Below is a list of the organizations and what they stand for on the behalf of young children and their families.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children- http://www.naeyc.org

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is the world’s largest organization working on the behalf of young children. Their mission is to serve and act on behalf of needs, rights and well-being of all young children with primary focus on the provision of educational and developmental services and resources.

Zero to Three- http://www.zerotothree.org

Zero to Three is a national nonprofit organization that informs, trains, and supports professionals, policymakers and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers.  Their mission is to promote the health and development of infants and toddlers. According to Zero to Three, early experiences will set a course for a lifelong process of discovery about ourselves and the world around us.

High Scope- http://www.highscope.org

High Scope Educational Research Foundation is an independent nonprofit research, development, training, and public outreach organization. High Scope’s mission is to lift lives through education. They envision a world in which all educational settings use active participatory learning so everyone has a chance to succeed in life and contribute to society.

Voices for America’s Children- http://www.voices.org

Voices for America’s Children are the nation’s largest network of multi-issue child advocacy organizations. They lead advocacy efforts at the community, state, and federal levels to improve the lives of all children, especially those most vulnerable, and their families.

Job Opportunities

The job opportunities I found interesting that fosters the well-being of children, families, and the early childhood field was a Senior Technical Assistance Specialist that provides technical assistance to state and territory Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Administrators, Head Start Leaders, and their partners to support building integrated professional development systems and effective workforce initiatives. For this position, I must have a Master’s Degree in early childhood, in which I will soon obtain, expertise needed to promote coordination of high quality early childhood development services and early childhood system reform. I must be able to establish and maintain positive ongoing relationships with assigned states/territories and Regions. I also found a job opportunity for being a Program Coordinator for NAEYC. They are seeking a Program Coordinator to support the work of our early childhood program Accreditation System. I must have experience in the field of early childhood education and a sound understanding of its practice, 1-2 years clerical/administrative experience, and experience handling a high volume of calls.

References:

High Scope. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.highscope.org

The National Association for the Education of Young Children. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org.

Voices for America’s Children. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.voices.org

Zero to Three. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.zerotothree.org

 

 

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

Three State early childhood organizations that appeals to me is:

Georgia Department of Education- http://www.doe.k12.ga.us

The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) oversees public education throughout the state. It ensures that laws and regulations pertaining to education are followed and that state and federal money appropriated for education is properly allocated to local school systems. GaDOE also provides education-related information to students, parents, teachers, educational staff, government officials, and the media.

Bright from the Start:  Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning- http://decal.ga.gov

Bright from the Start is responsible for meeting the child care and early education needs of Georgia’s children and their families. Their mission delivers exemplary early care and education programs that improve the quality of early learning experiences, increase school readiness, and improve overall school performance. Their vision is to increase the number of Georgia’s children and families who have access to quality early care and learning programs. More of Georgia’s early care and learning programs will achieve and maintain higher, measurable, research-based standards.

Georgia Association on Young Children- http://www.gayconline.org

Georgia Association on Young Children has worked independently and collectively with local, state, and national organizations to move Georgia closer to meeting and improving early care and education for young children. Efforts includes support of appropriate early learning standards and assessments for young children, accreditation of child care and early education programs, professional development opportunities for those who work with young children, early detection and support of children with special needs and family support programs. Their vision is a world in which all young children have the learning opportunities they need for healthy development, supported by early childhood educators who have education, financial support, and the recognition of their community. Their mission is to encourage and support healthy development in young children by working with others (1) to increase public awareness of the importance of early childhood education (2) to improve the quality of programs for young children through learning opportunities for early childhood educators.

Job opportunities

The job opportunities I found interesting and that I have a passion to work as an early childhood educator was an Early Childhood Program Manager, Director, and Administrator. I will be responsible for day to day management of the programs. I will plan, direct, implement and evaluate a developmentally appropriate program that supports the mission, values and goals of the program. I will also develop and monitor the budget for the program. The Program Director is responsible for setting up a system to monitor day to day compliance of funded programs, assist with staff hiring, scheduling of training for the program and day to day supervision of all program delivery staff.  The education and experience I will need for these positions is a Bachelor’s Degree required; Master’s degree in education or related field preferred; comprehensive understanding of pre-k-12 education; significant experience in pre-k-12 education; knowledge and experience developing and delivering professional learning; and knowledge of Georgia Performance Standards and curriculum design.

References:

Georgia Department of Education (2013). Retrieved from http://www.doe.k12.ga.us

Bright from the Start. (2013). Retrieved from http://decal.ga.gov

Georgia Association on Young Children. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.gayconline.org

 

 

 

Early Childhood Wordle

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Reflecting on Communication in the Early Childhood Field

To Dr. Darragh and my colleagues in the course of Communicating and Collaborating in the Early Childhood Field:

I would like to thank each one of you for all the information, insights, and support we shared throughout this course. I have gained more knowledge and understanding about effective communication skills that can be used in both my professionally life in the early childhood field, as well as personally. Also, I have learned how to build great teamwork and collaboration in various situations that will be beneficial to help foster the well-being of young children and their families that I serve.

As we get ready to enter into our specialization courses, I wish you the best of luck as you continue to strive to reach your goals and visions in the early childhood field. Through my blog, I would like for us to continue to stay in touch, encourage, and support each other as we continue on this journey. Once again, thanks for all you have done to contribute to my knowledge and understanding in the Early Childhood Field.