Time Well Spent

The most obvious thing I have learned from this program is more about the early childhood field.  I have learned about child development, effective programs and practices, issues and trends in early childhood, diversity and equity, communication and collaboration, leadership, budgeting, and managing early childhood programs.  Each of these areas will be beneficial as I explore options in the early childhood field outside of the classroom.

On a more personal level, I learned more about myself.  I learned that I am stronger than I realized.  I honestly did not think I had what it took to finish this program.  There were a few times when I wanted to throw in the towel and walk away.  Thankfully, I was able to find the endurance to not only complete this program but give 150% to my education.  There were many sleepless nights and countless hours spent in front of the computer reading article after article but in the end, I am a much better person for it.  I am stronger than I once was and I have found a new level of self-confidence in the end.

Finally, I learned that I not only enjoy what I do but my love goes so much deeper.  I truly have a passion for children and the early childhood field.  I want to make a difference in the lives of children and families in my community but through this program, I have realized that my goals extend beyond my community and into the world.  I want to help create the social change I envision for children everywhere.

If you would have asked me what my long-term goals were at the beginning of this program, I would have told you that I wanted to be a director of an early childhood program or open my own center.  Through my educational journey with Walden University, I have realized that the difference I want to make in the lives of children and their families can be done in many other ways.  While I would still like to open an early childhood program of my own, I have realized that my real passion is with that of at-risk children and their families.  Currently there are not any programs in my community for at-risk children.  I would love to open a community center where at-risk children can come after school or when school is out to work on homework or school projects, tutor in areas they are weak in, enhance social skills through positive interactions with other youth, learn teamwork playing sports, and offer parents and children opportunities for growth through trainings and seminars.   This program has opened my eyes to the endless possibilities I can offer children and families to help them become successful members of the community.

To all of my wonderful colleagues:  Thank you for a wonderful experience.  I do not know if I could have done this without your encouragement and weekly support.  While the past eight weeks have been challenging mentally, I am amazed at the personal growth I have seen in myself as well as my colleagues.  I cannot believe this is the end.  I truly am going to miss our interactions as I feel like I have become friends with so many of you.  Please keep in touch!  I would love to hear about your future accomplishments.  Good luck to all of you in the future.  I will definitely keep each one of you in my prayers.  You can e-mail me at mindi651@yahoo.com or find me on facebook (www.facebook.com/mindi651).

Dear Dr. Teri:  Thank you for your personal support the past eight weeks.  You have helped me turn an overwhelming challenge into an obtainable goal.  You encouraged me when I felt defeated and calmed me when I did not think I could take anymore.  Thank you for pushing me personally, professionally, and academically.  I can see growth in myself in ways I never imagined.

International Organizations Promoting Positive Social Change

The first organization I chose this week was Save the Children (www.savethechildren.org).  Save the Children is an organization that helps meet children’s needs in the United States and around the world.  They partner up with other organizations to provide for children who are in need. 

One job that stuck out to me was the Coordinator for Early Steps to School.   Requirements for this position include:

·         A degree in Early Childhood or related field is preferred but not required,

·         Experience and training working in a home visiting, infant/toddler early childhood/parenting education     program,

·         Experience working with pregnant women, children ages birth to five, and families in rural areas a plus,

·         Experience leading parent or community groups a plus,

·         Experience with timely reporting and maintaining accurate records on program activities,

·         Experience in collaborating with early childhood programs in the community,

·         Individual must live in the Needles CA community

Another organization that I wanted to focus on is World Vision (www.worldvision.org).  World Vision is a Christian organization that works with children, families, and the community to help overcome poverty and injustice.  My family is currently supporting World Vision because of their Christian foundation and their proactive approach to helping people from various countries combat illness, poverty, and hunger while maintaining their Christian beliefs.

                There are currently job openings in many different areas throughout the United States.  Vacancies are in areas such as Finance, Marketing and Communications, Advertising, Call Centers, Internet, and Project Management.  Each job has specific qualifications associated with them, pertaining to the kind of work each position requires.  All positions are Christ-centered so corporate each job requires the leadership of devotions, weekly chapel services, and regular prayer time.  I think this says a lot about the organization.

                The third organization I chose for this assignment was FHI 360 (www.fhi360.org).  FHI is a nonprofit human development organization whose passion is driven by a personal commitment to make a positive difference.  In 2011, the teams of experts from Family Health International and Academy for Educational Development came together to create FHI 360.  Together they work to “empower individuals, families, and communities to tackle their own challenges”.

                I was surprised to see that several of the job vacancies were actually 15 minutes from my home.  I had no idea that this organization had an office in my area.  Unfortunately the jobs posted here involve scientific research or are clerical in nature.  One job that sounds interesting is that of an Administrative Assistant, HIV Prevention Trials Network.  Minimal requirements include: 

·         High School Diploma with 1-3 years’ experience.

·         Microsoft Office Suites, preferred.

·         Ability to gather, recommend and summarize data for reports

·         Finds solutions to various administrative problems, and prioritizes work.

·         Work requires attention to detail in composing, typing and proofing materials, establishing priorities and meeting deadlines.

·         Strong MS Office skills (i.e. Word, PowerPoint, Excel)

·         Excellent written and communication skills

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

This week’s assignment was to explore national and federal early childhood organizations, agencies, and communities of practice then share three that appealed to me and explain why, any job opportunities that interest me, and skills and/or experience needed to fulfill each of these roles.

1.       Association for Early Learning Leaders (www.earlylearningleaders.org)

The Association for Early Learning Leaders was previously known as the National Association of Child Care Professionals (NACCP).  “The organization's goal is to enhance the knowledge, skills and abilities of the people who lead the child care industry by providing membership services and benefits” (Association for Early Learning Leaders, n.d., para. 1).  They work toward obtaining their goal through their National Conference, membership, accreditation, and training.  As a member, there are many opportunities for professional growth, including online training, seminars, and networking with other professionals.

Members are able to post job openings on the site.  One job that I found really stuck out to me, although I would have to relocate.  The position I would love to have is the Director of the Montessori Child Care Center at Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.  Requirements for this position include:

·         Bachelor’s degree in Education (although a Master’s degree is preferred)

·         certification in Montessori education

·         first aid and  CPR trainings

·         Chicago Department of Health Food Service certificate

I currently work for an early childhood center at a hospital in North Carolina so I would be interested in seeing the difference in the traditional early childhood setting and that of the Montessori foundation.

2.           McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership (http://cecl.nl.edu)

The McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership at National Louis University “is a nationally recognized resource for building the leadership capacity of the early childhood workforce” (McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership, n.d., para. 1).  I chose this organization because it offers professional development, program evaluation, research and resource library, and other leadership matters.

Right now there is an opening for a Quality Specialist Coordinator.  Qualifications include:

·         a Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or related field, with a Master’s degree preferred

·         at least 3 years experience in providing technical assistance and developing training curriculum

·         must be detail oriented

·         high level of reliability with assessment tools

·         proficiency in certain computer programs

·         strong written and oral communication skills

·         excellent interpersonal skills

·         an ability to relate to people from culturally diverse backgrounds

Although this particular position is available in Illinois, I would love to find a position like this in my area.

3.            Parents as Teachers (www.parentsasteachers.org)

Parents as Teachers was conceptualized by educators in Missouri in the 1970’s.  “Early childhood professionals suggested that a program to provide early detection of developmental delays and health issues, and parent education to help parents understand their role in encouraging their child's development from the beginning could help improve school readiness and parent involvement” (Parents as Teachers, n.d., para. 11).

               

After researching this organization, I would like to be one of the people who go out to the homes and work with parents to improve their parenting skills and give them the resources they need to be the best parent they can be to their child.  Although there is not a current opening for this position in my local branch or through the federal organization, I did find another job that interests me.  They are hiring a Quality Specialist which has the following pre-requisites:

·         Master’s degree or equivalent in social work, health, psychology, or education

·         3-5 years’ experience in early childhood education, social work, home visiting, education, or working with at-risk children and families

·         Experience in managing and/or implementing accreditation, continuous quality improvement or similar systems

·         Ability to analyze, synthesize, and summarize information accurately and clearly

·         Strong written communication skills

·         Computer skills

References

Association for Early Learning Leaders.  (n.d).  Welcome early learning leaders.  Retrieved from               http://www.earlylearningleaders.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=10.

McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership.  (n.d.).  About us.  Retrieved from         http://cecl.nl.edu/.

Parents as Teachers.  (n.d.).  Vision- mission history.  Retrieved from                 http://www.parentsasteachers.org/about/what-we-do/visionmission-history.

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

1.  North Carolina Early Childhood Association (www.ncearlychildhoodassoc.com)

The reason I chose this organization is because they have a good reputation for working toward improving the quality of care in NC.  In addition to working on behalf of the children in NC, the NCECA also advocates to enhance the early childhood field for educators.  Benefits of being a member include:

• “updates through Facebook and the website about information relevant to all areas of early childhood
• Advance notice of training opportunities offered by NCECA
• Reduced rates at NCECA training opportunities
• Official membership card
• Email alerts about early childhood issues
• Annual membership in a professional association
• Ability to support and collaborate with other early childhood professionals” (http://www.ncearlychildhoodassoc.com/_files/NCECA_recruit_2012full.pdf)

There are currently no job opportunities available with this association as this group is made up of members, including parents, educators, directors, and other early childhood advocates.  There are advocacy opportunities available for members, which get e-mailed to them.  While there are no set skills or experience required, I think it would be important to be a part of the early childhood field on some level, whether it is as a parent, educator, or other support for the early childhood community.  Basic education and additional education related to early childhood issues and trends would be beneficial for any advocacy opportunities.

2.       Rowan Smart Start (www.rowan-smartstart.org)

While researching the NCECA, I found that they support our local Smart Start agency.  This agency connects families to high quality care in my county.  This agency has been a wonderful asset throughout my years in the early childhood field.  They provide trainings and workshops for early childhood educators including SIDS training, CPR and First Aid, Playground Safety, NC Pre-K training and support, just to name a few. They also provide support to parents by providing referrals to for local agencies and early childhood programs, providing an in house early resource center which has materials available for parents to use with their children, assistance in being better parents, and providing a healthy start for their children.   

I would love to work for this agency.  Currently there are no job opportunities available however there are two positions I would love to be a part of.  The first is the role of the Parent Educator.  A few years ago, I fostered a pregnant teenager who was assigned a Parent Educator after she had the baby.  The Parent Educator came to our home twice a week and worked with my foster teenager on how to be a good mother to her baby from things like breast feeding/ bottle feeding to play time to early assessments.  I admired the Parent Educator for her role in helping my teenager become a better mom.  The other position I would like to have would be the Child Development Consultant.  This individual comes out to centers and works with them on getting ready for assessments, licensing questions, behavior issues, etc.  Both opportunities would allow me to step out of my comfort zone and move away from the classroom aspect to work in different areas in the early childhood field.

No skills or experience were noted for the role as a Parent Educator or Child Development Consultant because neither position are available at this time but I believe it would be safe to say that early childhood education would be necessary as well as some experience in the early childhood field.  Parent Educators would need good people skills and have to be organized as they go from home to home on a regular basis.  The Child Development Consultant would have to be familiar with classroom procedures, classroom management, and licensing laws.

3.       North Carolina Infant Toddler Program (NC ITP) (http://www.beearly.nc.gov/index.php/)

The North Carolina Infant Toddler Program (NC ITP) “provides supports for families and their children, birth to three who have special needs” (http://www.beearly.nc.gov/index.php/).  A variety of services are provided including service coordination, physical, occupational and speech-language therapies, family support, special instruction, assistive technology, and other services.  I have had several of my students receive services from the Infant Toddler Program and I have been pleased with the results.  The therapists have been wonderful to work with and have really made a difference in the lives of the children and families they serve.

 I would love to have the opportunity to make a difference in children’s lives while also supporting the family during these formative years.  There are several different branches throughout the state.  There are no job opportunities in my county or neighboring counties.  With my education and experience, I would like to be a part of service coordination or family support.  I could also see myself as a therapist, although this would require more training.