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/