Week Four

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

Council for Exceptional Children
Its Core Values are what attracted me to this site:

• Dignity and worth of all individuals.
• Diversity and inclusiveness.
• Advocacy and social justice.
• Professional excellence, integrity, and accountability.
• Full participation in society.
• Effective individualized education.
• Family engagement.
• Collaboration and community.
• Responsibility to members. 

The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is an International membership organization for special education professionals. 
The available position that interests me is Professional Development Manager. The Professional Development Manager develops, coordinates, and conducts customized trainings and also participates in needs assessment activities.

Requirements include:

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of  four years experience in the areas of special education (preferred), product development, and professional development or equivalent background;
• Demonstrated knowledge in professional development and experience in developing, execution and evaluation of training;
• Demonstrated knowledge of special education teaching methods and learning strategies;
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in database management, including report development and production;
• Strong oral and written communication skills and effective interpersonal skills with a keen ability to collaborate across the organization;
• Demonstrated excellence in customer service skills;
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task and respond positively to changes in activities and priorities;
• Demonstrated ability to maintain accurate and detailed records and materials in an organized manner;
• Computer proficiency in applicable software applications, including Microsoft Office Suite;
• Ability and willingness to travel within the DC Metro area and out of town periodically for meetings as assigned and the CEC annual convention and expo.

The website for CEC is:http://www.cec.sped.org/


Zero to Three
Zero to Three promotes the health and development of infants and toddlers. This organization provides up to date information and resources for parents, professionals, and policymakers. I chose this organization because I have used Zero to Three as a resource for training information and to learn more about infants and toddlers. I have also found their resources regarding child abuse to be very helpful in my work.

The available position that interests me is the Senior Writer/Training Specialist.

Requirements include:

Support efforts to deepen understanding of the needs of the EHS community and develop innovative approaches through the following:

• Lead the development of up to 3 EHSNRC deliverables (i.e. webcasts, webinars, podcasts) 
• Lead the development of at least one written product (i.e. TA papers, tip sheets) and contribute content to other written products
• Serve as content lead on AIAN specific issues; infusing cultural content specific to AIAN programs into all aspects of EHS NRC work; 
• Ensure presence of infant-toddler materials and resources specific to AIAN program staff and family needs on ECLKC and EHS NRC websites; 
• Provide training for federal staff, TA providers and EHS/MSHS programs (including specialized trainings focused on content pertinent to American Indian and Alaskan Native programs) as requested; 
• Ensuring there is a robust session offering with a cultural perspective for content that is relevant to AIAN programs, for the annual Birth To Three Institute; 
• Serve as a liaison between EHSNRC and other technical assistance providers and National Centers.

The website for Zero to Three is: http://www.zerotothree.org/

National Head Start Association

The National Head Start Association (NHSA) works to empower all at-risk children to succeed in life. I have always been attracted to its advocacy for at-risk children and their families and its strong vision:

• All children should reach their full potential,

• Every child can succeed,

• We can impact the success of at-risk children, and

• Quality early education fundamentally transforms children and families

The available position that interests me is the Policy, Data, and Research Fellowship. Although this position is only a year long position, I thought it was a great opportunity to learn research and data analysis.

Requirements include:

• Familiarity with and commitment to Head Start and the diverse communities Head Start programs serve.
• Strong academic success, including a bachelor’s degree at a minimum and coursework in statistics and/or quantitative research methodology.
• Demonstrated analytical abilities for synthesis of information and identifying themes and relationships.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to be comfortable and assertive working with large and small groups. 
• Strong attention to detail, superior organizational skills, and computer literacy. 
• A high level of energy, ability to multi-task, and sense of humor. 
• One to three years relevant work experience. 

The website for NHSA is: http://www.nhsa.org/

Communities of Practice

Maryland Association for the Education of Young Children (MDAEYC)
The first organization that appealed to me is my local affiliation chapter of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), MDAEYC. The reason why I chose this organization is because I feel they do exceptional work for and with the early childhood professionals in my state. There are always opportunities to work with other professionals in my area and discuss common problems that are sometimes relative only to the state of Maryland or my specific county.  The mission statement of this organization is very inspirational to me as an adult educator: "To empower those who care for and educate young children." It is also a good source for what is happening in the field and in the community. They are very hands-on when it comes to advocacy and public policy. There are always opportunities to get involved with public officials and fight for children and families.

Working at MDAEYC is mostly voluntary, which would be a great way for me to explore advocacy and public policy.

Family Services, Inc.
I chose Family Services, Inc. because of the services they offer the community, schools, children, and families. Family Services is committed to supporting the needs of families in Montgomery County, Md. through early childhood, educational, clinical, and behavioral health programs. They support children and teenagers struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues. They support teachers in the classroom and build relationships between home and school. They also provide training and workshops for early childhood teachers.
This organization provides valuable social services to residents who otherwise would not have access to  counseling and therapy. The therapists and trainers have been very beneficial to my work in supporting teachers and children in the classroom with behavioral and learning issues.

Positions within this organization that interest me:

Early Childhood Trainers-Master's Degree in Early Childhood; Completed the Train the Trainers Course and Orientation; experience working with children 0-8 years old; knowledge of child development and best practices.

Available position:
Residential Advocate-provides support at facility serving women and children who are fleeing domestic violence. Duties include assistance with intake and orientation to shelter life, recreational activities, food service, transportation and facility upkeep. 
Qualifications: High school graduation or equivalency and two years experience in relevant program area. Oral fluency in Spanish language preferred, Must have valid driver’s license and availability for evening and weekend shifts. Must be able to lift 30 pounds, stand, sit, stoop, bend at the waist and knees and possess overall body flexibility. 

Maryland Family Network

The mission of this organization is to ensure that young children and their families have resources to learn and succeed. They provide programs to promote high quality child care, family support and services. They have taken initiative to develop a statewide, comprehensive system of support for pregnant women, children (birth-5yrs), their families and caregivers. This is my go to organization for early childhood resources.

They are currently looking for a Director, Baltimore City Child Care Resource Center, which I find very interesting.
The requirements for this job include:
• Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field; Master's preferred;
• Minimum of 10 years progressively more responsible experience in early childhood education, program management, and supervision;
• Strong communication and marketing skills in one-on-one settings, in large, diverse group settings of public and private entities, and in all situations in between;
• Knowledge of child development and the profession of child care;
• Proven ability to recruit, train, and supervise staff;

For more information, please visit:

http://www.mdaeyc.org/

http://marylandfamilynetwork.org/

http://www.familyservicesagency.org/index.html

From Passion to Action

I am hoping this Wordle will remain on my page. My Wordle communicates my passion for equitable inclusion for ALL children and families and the actions needed to provide high-quality care for ALL children.