Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

Three international organizations or communities of practice that appealed to me are:

1.    United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://www.unicef.org/

2.   Save the Children. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm

3.      United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). (2011). Retrieved from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/about-us/who-we-are/introducing-unesco/

I chose UNICEF because this organization promotes humanitarian work.  The organization also offers assistance to mothers and their children. I chose Save the Children because this organization because the welfare of children is their number one priority. They promote the rights of children and they offer assistance in an effort to improve the lives of children better education, profitable opportunities, crisis aid, and health care. I chose UNESCO because this organization promotes education, peace, security, and culture in an effort to protect human rights.

The job opportunity that interests me at UNICEF is the Chief Advocacy Position. According to UNICEF the following are the skills needed: The Chief, Advocacy will lead a team of highly skilled communication staff to deliver on the key outputs defined for UNICEF’s advocacy priorities, in very close coordination with the other sections in the Division and within the context of the Cause Frame work with other Divisions, Country and Regional Offices and National Committees.

The job opportunity that interests me at Save the Children is the Advocacy Advisor Position. According to Save the Children the following are the skills needed: This is a demanding role in which you'll build alliances and partnerships with relevant NGO's and UN partners, including NGO working groups/coalitions to enhance our advocacy impact; contribute to the development and implementation of activities to meet our advocacy benchmarks/strategy, and be a credible and effective representative for Save the Children.

I searched UNESCO, but did not identify jobs that were of interest to me.

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

 

Three national/federal organizations or communities of practice that appeal to me are:

1.   Association for Early Learning Leaders

2.   National Childcare Association

3.   National Association of Early Childhood Educators (NAECTE)

I selected these organizations because their mission and vision in the early childhood education field is a reflection of my personal and professional mission and vision which is to be equipped with knowledge, skills, and best practices to ensure quality child care programs for young children. Most importunately to not withhold effectiveness but to share with early childhood educators.

A job opportunity that interests me within these organizations is the role of an early childhood professional developer.

In order to fulfill that role, I must possess the following skills and experiences:

1. Is knowledgeable and experienced in early childhood  best practices.
2. Is passionate about early childhood education.
3. Is able to create and present in-field training sessions to support  early childhood educators
4. Has in-depth knowledge of education best practices and extensive experience with various assessments and curricula.
5. Certified in the early childhood field. 

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

As I explored roles in the ECE: Local and State Levels; I found it interesting and exciting as I am in the homestretch for completing my Masters of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education. I feel this was the perfect educational activity to help me to escalate the professional ladder in Early Childhood Development. Most importantly, this assignment helped to further identify roles where I can be an agent of change for young people and their families.

Three local and state organizations that appealed to me were El Camino College Childhood Education Center, Gardena Valley Christian Preschool, and Kindercare Learning Center. I selected these three early childhood education programs because I have visited the facilities, observed the programs, and considered them to be a choice the parents would consider as their number one choice. All three are considered high quality programs.

Jobs opportunities (including skills and experience needed to competently fulfill each of the roles) for each facility that interest me are as follows:

El Camino College Childhood Education Center

Executive Director – 

Has a passion for early childhood education.

Has a vision to be a pioneer in improving the welfare of children.

Has a passion and a vision for executing a vision. 

Has experience working in an educational setting that values and sustains a strong public-private partnership and a high level of community engagement and impact.

Center Director - 

Previously served as a childcare provider.

The ability to make the best hiring decisions and knowledgeable in dealing with all childcare-related issues, including interaction with parents.

           

Gardena Valley Christian Preschool

            

Director - 

Previously served as a childcare provider.

The ability to make the best hiring decisions and knowledgeable in dealing with all childcare-related issues, including interaction with parents.

           

Kindercare Learning Center         

Site Director - 

Previously served as a childcare provider.

The ability to make the best hiring decisions and knowledgeable in dealing with all childcare-related issues, including interaction with parents.

Assistant Director - 

Kind, patient and loving.

Spends the majority of her days working with young children.

A strong leader, with the ability to manage a diverse group of children. 

An effective communicator.

Interacts with both parents and children on a daily basis.

Skilled at CPR, first aid and other routine emergency treatments.

Very organized, detail-oriented, trustworthy and responsible.

Program Specialist – 

Has a  passion for educating, caring, and nurturing children.

Ability to remain calm and show patience and understanding with children.

Effective communication skills with team members, visitors, and parents.

Excellent customer service skills, including: establishing, building and maintaining internal/external customer satisfaction.

Use opportunities to expand knowledge and expertise relating to the Early Childhood Program Specialist position.

An appreciation of diversity and the benefits of a commitment to cultural awareness and sensitivity in the workplace.

Profile of a Volunteer

We have to do what we can to help wherever and whenever it is possible for us to help – Jackie Chan

       Although the above quote was well said by Jackie Chan, those words are well demonstrated by my co-worker; Susan (pseudonym for privacy purposes). Susan is the office manager at the early childhood center where I work.  She started her work there as a parent volunteer; assisting teachers within the classroom and supervising children outside. Even early mornings, she would assist other parents in getting their children out of the car so that they could have a wonderful start of the day. Parents who were in need of anything, Susan somehow found out and either offered supportive resources or gave them the information they needed to get help. Her volunteer efforts were not only at school, but I will say, they were at home. The children that she called her own were foster children. She took care of them, fell in love with them, and adopted them, giving them the wonderful home they deserve. Beyond home and school, Susan founded and is currently operating her own foundation. She is positively impacting the lives of young children and their families within the city she lives by affording at risk children/youth educational support and teaching them skills to navigate life successfully.

            Susan has certainly had  and is currently having a positive impact on the lives of children and their families. Through her support, she has helped them to feel good about themselves. She has made her community stronger. Most importantly she has strengthened the family unit. Individuals have personally testified to the fact that she has been their biggest cheerleader and they would support her if she decided to run for political office. Children who are now adults have shared that her love and kindness have kept them from ruining their lives. Now that is POSITIVE…..

            A vital take-away message related to my work in early childhood education in terms of volunteer efforts and advocacy work in fostering the well-being of children and families is clear and succinct.  I will do what I can…. EVERYDAY.... for all children in a SPECIAL WAY…. For Dr. Seuss has encouraged this work greatly by saying, “A person’s a person, no matter how small”.

Using Social Media to Get Connected

When I first heard of MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter, I thought it was a platform that teenagers used to express themselves; so I did not find a need to secure an account and indulge. However in 2010, a colleague shared with me her experience of having a Facebook account.  She found friends from her past and shared how it was fun to get in touch and to keep in touch with them. She also shared how she enjoyed sharing goals that she had set for herself and how in doing so, others who were among her friend list encouraged her and shared resources to support her efforts. I was inspired by how fun Facebook appeared to be that I asked her to help me to create my account and page.  I must say; it was love at first post!!!! I love Facebook! I have been able to find friends, make friends, receive local and distant news coverage, Bible scriptures for the day and what I love the most, I receive resources for self help. I am a member of health organizations and just recently; grief counseling organizations. The grief counseling organizations such as Motherless Daughters and In Memory of Our Angels In Heaven, have been my source of comfort and are currently helping me as I am dealing with the recent loss of my Mother. I can honestly say, I am on Facebook every single day.

Social media tools certainly lend themselves to effective advocacy. Through Facebook, businesses and organizations can create a business page to promote their business or foundation. You can give and receive information regarding initiatives, implementations, and or plans regarding issues such as advocacy. There are also advocacy sites. What is truly amazing is that millions of people can search and learn. On Facebook you can even invite others to search and learn; giving information and receiving information. This is certainly a powerful tool for advocacy.

I can definitely use these social media tools to educate and inspire others in my advocacy work. My advocacy objective is to promote increasing efforts for early childhood caregivers/providers/educators to be afforded ongoing and relevant professional development. Social media can enhance these efforts because I can reach more people in a quick way. I can even target a certain audience of people to promote my advocacy efforts. I can gain friends who share the same interest to join in coalition with me.

I spoke with a colleague and asked them for suggestions as to how I could use social media to promote my advocacy efforts. I was strongly encouraged to get a Twitter Account. This will enable me to communicate quickly and effectively using an additional platform. I can share information with as many as one person to a million people.

 

Advocacy Messages

Inspiring Campaign Messages

Campaign: College Access

Message: Get Schooled

This message is effective in creating action because it invites all high school students to attend college; positively sharing that college is accessible.

Campaign: Caregiver Assistance (African-American Market)

Message: Support for Your Strength

This message is effective in creating action because it shares information regarding the caregiver role within the African-American community and how many within that community are caregivers. Caregivers are supporting others and they need support as well, emotionally and physically. 

Campaign: Reducing Food Waste

Message: Save the Food

This message is effective in creating action because food is fuel. It is needed. It is wanted. So much of it is wasted. The waste must stop. Everyone can advocate for this.

My Own Capacity

                                                                                                                                                        

Which issues impacting young children and their families and/or the field of early

      childhood fuel your passion?

Doing what is best for children is always at the helm of what I do as an early childhood educator. I am a mother; and I always think about the services that my children receive. When it comes down to their education, I want them to have the highest of quality educational experiences. Being highly qualified is not a one shot deal. It is continuous and relevant learning for the early childhood educator or caregiver. For a lot of America’s very young people, professional development offerings for the caregiver’s or educator’s is minimum if at all. With that said, the issue that is impacting young children and their families and the field of early childhood that fuels my passion id ongoing and relevant professional development opportunities for early childhood caregivers and educators. I am going to work to ensure that my colleagues everywhere has access to professional learning opportunities so that they can afford every child and their family high quality services.

 What knowledge, skills, dispositions, and/or talents do you possess that will contribute to your advocacy work?

I possess the following knowledge, skills, dispositions, and talents that will contribute to my advocacy work: 

Assertiveness

Integrity and Respect for Others

Knowledge of Early Childhood Education

Persistence and Patience

Problem Solving

 In what ways do you hope to grow in order to be a more effective advocate?

I have learned that as an effective advocate, you can not be scared to disagree or challenge someone. Although I am assertive, I shy away from private and or public disagreements. I want to grow in this area to be more effective as an advocate. I want to be able to challenge others privately and or publicly when the other person is wrong or have incorrect information.