National and Federal Job in the ECE Community

     As I researched and reflected upon national and federal early childhood organizations I was reminded that all should be dedicated to increasing awareness of early childhood issues while promoting growth and providing children the necessary skills and knowledge that they will need to be successful in life.  There were countless early childhood organizations, federal agencies, and communities of practice that were of interest, however the following really appealed to me as I read their missions and discovered more of what they were about.

1.    The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) is a division of the Council for Exceptional Children.  Being a special education teacher, this organization is high on my professional list as an international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or gifted.  The DEC is especially for individuals who work with or on behalf of children with special needs and their families.  Their mission is to promote policies and advances regarding evidence-based practices that support families and enhance the optimal development of young children who have or are at risk for developmental delays and disabilities.  The DEC currently has two virtual positions, neither of which interests me, however; I would like to be involved in a Special Interest Group (or community of practice).  Through this group I would meet with others on a common interest (areas of interest are research, professional development, early intervention, students, and leadership), share ideas, get feedback, and discuss methods to access additional resources.   Through this community of practice, I would be given an opportunity to not only gather and exchange information but to broadcast important information to the organizations members through public announcements, speaking engagements at conferences or workshops.  As a spokesman for DEC, the skills necessary to perform working within the Special Interest Group would be excellent communication, writing, and organizational skills.  A college degree is preferred in journalism, communications, or public speaking, but not necessary with experience.  One would need to be knowledgeable about the subject matter being discussed as I would convey policies of the organization through public formats.

2. Another organization that is of importance to me being that I am African American and the majority of my district is comprised of African American children.  The National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) has been committed to improving and advancing the lives of Black children and their families, through advocacy and education. NBDCI has been constant in their mission, preparing African American children to function in a global society and that every child deserves an equal chance.  The job opportunity through this organization is limited, yet they do offer a Program Internship that invites talented graduate students on a 10 week internship. The position is best suited for individuals yearning to make a real contribution to the lives of Black Children and families. The interns are matched according to their skills within a specific program (such as Child Health and Nutrition, Finance, Fundraising, Human Resources, Marketing and Communication, Administration, and Research and Public Policy). I would be interested to be amongst the Marketing and Communication program as I could use my degree (required) in communication along with the prerequisites of building relationships with team members, being motivated and handling high pressure deadlines.

3. The National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators (NAECTE) is not only a national organization but global as well as it provides a means for educators to discuss various issues and concerns in the early childhood education field.  I was fascinated by this association as it gives teachers an outlet to speak to individuals in their field across the globe while learning at the same time from others.  It is like being in a classroom and you are the student gaining newfound knowledge and understanding.  You have access to journal writing, e-letters, and books published by the NAECTE at your fingertips.  The job opportunities posted are advertisements for positions to early childhood teacher educators through companies or individuals associated with the association.  At this time the only position listed was for a day care teacher in MD (a position I was not interested in).  However, I would be interested in being a Board Member of the organization as a Regional Representative.  As a Regional Representative, I would first need to be invited and have several years of executive experience in education. That experience would include leading educators, projects, programs, or educational institutions. Another key skill needed would be the experience establishing relationships that can help the organization accomplish its goals. These relationships would include community leaders and groups, grassroots organizations, and government contacts.

    

     When exploring early childhood organizations on the national, federal, and even global level, it is exciting to know that there are many resources available which provide tools for creating diverse, research oriented, and innovative, collaborative, recognized leaders in the field of early childhood education.

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community

     As I explored the communities of practice within my neighborhood and on the state level I thought of those that would allow me to not only learn from them through their experiences but also allow me the opportunity to exchange ideas by encouraging me to speak my voice. The following communities of practice shared my vision regarding the early childhood education profession:

1.    Family Resource Center which supports and encourages parental involvement through a collaborative effort between the parents, schools, district, and program personnel.  I think that in order for our children to be successful it is critical that parents be involved in the process.  Through workshops, activities, meetings, written and media communication, parents will be provided strategies to not only aid their child, but increase their educational awareness as well.  The Parent Community Liaison position interest me as it assist parents in understanding the program requirements along with developing and regularly organizing school-based parent activities.  The necessary skills needed for this position is to provide educational and community outreach assistance to students and parents in addition to offering information. The skills necessary for this job is to have a high school diploma, be aware of community opinions and to possess excellent communication skills.

2.    Peach Public Library which enhances the educational, cultural and recreational life of the community.  As a English Language Arts teacher, this community of practice interests me as the library promotes reading awareness through knowledge and insights to prevent ignorance, intolerance, and apathy by making resources available to every child and young person in the county.  The job opportunity available within this community of practice is for a Librarian that strictly supports the children’s section.  They are responsible for developing and implementing a program of services for children and their families.  The prerequisite skills needed for this profession is a Master's degree in Library and Information Science in addition to two years of professional experience in the public library field, however a combination of education, training, and experience is also key.

3.    The Georgia Association of Educators (GAE) supports, protects, and strengthens Georgia’s children through observing the State Board of Education, the Georgia Department of Education, the Professional Standards Commission, and the Teachers Retirement System by keeping all informed of policies affecting education and teaching.  The educational curriculum can be only as good as our educators, so GAE pledges to advocate and support public educators in and out of the classroom through community involvement and partnership.  There were no positions, other than educators, within this realm of community of service, yet as I researched further within this community of practice I was drawn to the profession of the Professional Learning Coach.   This person is responsible for providing training and support to teachers with curriculum execution and lesson planning by allowing them to self manage, self check, and improve upon their skills through guidance and mentorship.  The skills and experience needed for this type of position would be to hold a master’s or doctoral degree with superb communication and professional development abilities.  This position also requires countless hours in detailed coaching training courses.

As you see I have a realm of communities of practice that would broaden my collaboration efforts within the early childhood education community population.  Through all three communities of practice I would be able to build my confidence, develop connections, problem solve, and learn from others by sharing our knowledge while engaging in mutual activities and discussions (Helm, 2007).

Reference:

Helm, J. (2007). Building communities of practice. YC: Young Children.