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

This week I was challenged to explore national organizations and federal agencies dedicated to the wellbeing of children that I could imagine myself working for. Zero to Three is a national, nonprofit organization that “provides parents, professionals and policymakers the knowledge and know-how to nurture early development” (Zero to Three). Their mission is to “ensure that all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life” (Aero to Three). I appreciate Zero to Three’s passion for supporting and strengthening families and would love to be part of their team of early childhood professionals responsible for promoting good health, strong families, and positive early learning experiences for all babies and toddlers.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has a vision that states “All young children thrive and learn in a society dedicated to ensuring they reach their full potential” (NAEYC). Furthermore I believe the NAEYC works very hard to live up to their mission of promoting  “high-quality early learning for all children, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy, and research. The NAEYC advance a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children” (NAEYC).  I have been a member of the NAEYC for several years and am the vice president of my local affiliate, the SNAEYC. With my Masters Degree in Early Childhood, I think it would be exciting to work for the NAEYC as a consultant in the field regarding equity and inclusion for all children in early childhood settings.

The T.E.A.C.H Early Childhood National Center’s vision states, “Every child in an early childhood setting has a teacher who is well educated and well compensated. Every early childhood teacher has access to affordable college education and workforce supports and earns a living wage” (T.E.A.C.H Early Childhood National Center). Their mission is to “develop, implement, and sustain programs and strategies that result in a well educated, fairly compensated and stable early childhood workforce to ensure the long term success of our nation’s children in school and in life” (T.E.A.C.H Early Childhood National Center). I think it would be interesting to be an advocate for young children and educate state and national leaders on the vital importance of funding in our field to ensure early childhood professionals are well educated and fairly compensated. Millions of children spend a large percentage of their waking hours in various childcare environments and deserve high-quality programs with well-educated teachers.

References

National Association for the Education of Young Children. Retrieved from

http://www.naeyc.org/

T.E.A.C.H Early Childhood National Center. Retrieved from

http://teachecnationalcenter.org/

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

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

This week I enjoyed researching job opportunities within my local and state ECE organizations. 

My dream job would be to teach evening and/or weekend classes in the Child and Family Studies Department at Napa Valley College (NVC) in California. NVC “prepares students for evolving roles in a diverse, dynamic, and interdependent world. The college is an accredited open-access, degree- and certificate-granting institution that is committed to student achievement through high-quality programs and services that are continuously evaluated and improved” (NVC). I would love the opportunity to share my passion for (and experience with) serving young children and their families in our community. The qualifications for a part-time instructor include a Masters Degree in Early Childhood and five years experience working in the field. Previous community college teaching experience is preferred.

Child Start Inc. provides Napa and Solano counties in California with NO COST infant/toddler and preschool services. Their mission is “to support the educational, social, and emotional development of children, ages 0-5, by providing high quality, comprehensive and family-focused early childhood services in partnerships with the community” (Child Start Inc.) I am on a local QRIS team with the executive director of Child Start and respect her passion for the wellbeing of children and their families.

There is currently a job opening for a Regional Program Manager for Head Start and Early Head Start. The qualifications include an AA degree in Early Childhood Education (BA preferred) and two years previous experience teaching in an early childhood setting; 5 years experience with supervision, management or coaching; experience managing an infant/toddler or preschool program; bilingual Spanish/English preferred and knowledge of infant/toddler and preschool health and safety licensing requirements. Child Start also seeks applicants with experience in collaborations and community partnerships! A friend of mine has this job and loves coaching childcare providers and teachers on strategies to improve their environments and quality!

I have learned that there are several organizations in the Napa Valley that truly care about the wellbeing of our residents and Action Napa Valley is one of them. Auction Napa Valley issues grants from an annual wine auction to agencies within Napa County that are meeting a documented, demonstrated community need in the areas of community health and children’s education. Their goal is “to invest deeply rather than broadly to have meaningful, measurable impact on the community. The majority of grants support organizations providing programs for Napa County’s neediest residents, focusing on strategies for prevention and early intervention” (Auction Napa Valley). I recently met a consultant working for Auction Napa Valley and we were brainstorming on how to educate donors on the vital importance of quality early childhood development and education. I would be honored to be the voice of children in our community, especially the 25 percent who live in poverty. I believe this masters program and my experience in the field have prepared me for such an endeavor!

References

Auction Napa Valley. Retrieved form http://auctionnapavalley.org/

Child Start Inc. Retrieved from http://www.childstartinc.org/

Napa Valley College. Retrieved from

http://www.napavalley.edu/HR/Pages/JobOpportunities.aspx