Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

I chose to look at UNICEF because my mother is a volunteer and organizer for her company.  Their mission statement for employment really appealed to me, "We're passionate about our cause and committed to our mission: to promote the equal rights of children, and to support their full participation in the political, social and economic development of their communities. That's our vision. And it's the world we'd like to build with you," (UNICEF, n.d).  There are limited job opportunities currently available.  There are many temporary assginments available, none of which interested me.  They are located mostly in Europe and Asia. 
The International Step by Step Association is an organization that I have never heard of before.  The association focuses on promoting high quality early care and education, providing resources and information for caregivers, and strengthening alliances with other organizations such as UNICEF.  I couldn't find a particular section for employment, but the association is comprised of the governance, secretariat, regional anchors, and the program committee.  I am interested in the program committee, they typically do the following: "Peer Support, Member Exchanges, Technical Assistance and general framework for ISSA meetings with professional content, the Program Committee is also a decision-making body, (ISSA, n.d.). 

The Academy of Educational Development looks at education and human development with a "360 view".  Their mission is "Everything is connected. Health. Education. Nutrition. Environment. Economic development. Civil society. Gender equality. Youth. Research. Technology."

The Director of Grants and Operations is currently available, I did a grant writing internship and loved it.  The following skills and qualifications are needed for this position:

Minimum of Bachelor’s degree (Master’s degree highly preferred) in a management discipline or related field;

Minimum of 10 years of experience in the international development field managing the grant, contractual, operations and financial aspects of donor funded projects;

Knowledge and expertise with USAID rules and regulations, especially those pertaining to sub-grants and procurement;

Experience managing USAID-funded sub-awards (grants and subcontracts) and operations in the field;

Effectiveness working with and coaching teams;

Experience with FHI 360 procedures and policies is preferred;

Experience working in the Middle East is preferred;

References

 

Academy for Educational Development. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.aed.org/en/index.htm

International Step By Step Association. (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://www.issa.nl/index.html

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

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

In my research of jobs and roles in the ECE community at the national and federal level, I found the following organizations and agencies:

1. U.S. Department of Education - I chose this because I ultimately want to work for the Department of Education at either the state of national level. This agency not only advocates for increased educational excellence, but controls most of the public policy efforts in education. The U.S. Department of Education also provides information on federal student loan and grant programs and gives valuable data that can be used by members of the education community.

The following job openings have been posted on the Department of Education website, but more jobs can be found at USA Jobs:

Associate Education Research Scientist/Analyst, AD-1730-00

requires a doctoral degree or equivalent experience in an appropriate field pertinent to the needs of IES (e.g., cognitive, developmental, educational, or social psychology; economics; education; statistics). Associate Research Scientist must have experience conducting research in education-related fields or topics (e.g., reading, teacher professional development, psychology); and demonstration of research skills and knowledge.

Legislative Director (Supervisory) GS-0301-15 (All Sources)

Experience to oversee a staff Experience with regulations, programs, policies, operations, and procedures as they relate to elementary and secondary education.

Experience with interrelationships of the Department with the White House, Congress and other Federal agencies in order to identify emerging issues and conduct analysis.

 

2. Child Care Aware – Provides information for parents and child care facilities about quality education programs and how to locate them.  According to their website, “we lead projects that increase the quality and availability of child care, undertake research, and advocate child care policies that positively impact the lives of children and families,” (www.childcareaware.org).  

 

The following job opportunty that I am interested in is:

Chief of Public Policy and Research

A Master’s degree or higher in public policy, early childhood or related field, and a minimum of 10 years of directly related, progressive work experience in child care or related policy areas.

A successful record of creative leadership in the development and implementation of comprehensive policy, research and communications programs in a complex, multi-layered, work environment.

 

3. National Education Association – This organization is the largest agency aimed at connecting professionals in the field and advancing educational efforts for children from early childhood through college (www.nea.org).  All of the teachers that have insprired me and I have deemed amazing educators are all members of the NEA.  

The employment opportunity that I am most attracted to was Senior Program/Policy Specialist/Analyst, this position is an internal applicant only position.  The following qualifications are required for this position,

A Master’s degree in Public Policy, Education, Communications or other discipline related to the position, or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge or skills may be obtained. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Five years progressively responsible professional experience in policy analysis. Extensive professional writing experience for research papers, informational pieces, articles and professional pieces. OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Samples of recent work products may be required at time of interview. Must be able to occasionally work extended hours on evenings and weekends. Some travel required, (www.nea.org).  

 

 

 

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

 

The first organization that I want to share with my colleagues would be PAEYC (Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children); it is a local affiliate of NAEYC.  I am currently a member and enjoy the trainings, sessions, and resources that this organization provides to its members.  The communities members are close knit, the majority of directors in the Pittsburgh market are members of PAEYC.  PAEYC allows members the opportunity to become board members, currently one of my colleagues at work is a board member!  I would love the opportunity to become the Community Outreach Specialist or Director of Community Engagement, but these opportunities are not currently available.  Based on the knowledge I have about the people currently in these positions, advanced degrees in Early Childhood or Human Resources are needed, proven experience in community related organization and or special projects. 

 

In Pennsylvania, child care centers, family daycares, and group centers can be accredited through KeyStone Stars (PA Keys).  Centers are rated based on certain criteria and then awarded 1 to 4 stars.  Participating Keystone Star centers need to have a certain percentage of their students receiving subsidy care.  Each year these centers also receive a substantial grant to be used for center improvements, professional development, etc.  Teachers are also required to complete 24 hours or more of professional development each year.  I would enjoy working for PA Keys as a technical advisor; this person goes into centers and conducts their assessments for KeyStone Stars.  Typically, to become an advisor you must have at least a Bachelors in education, experience with the KeyStone Stars accrediting process, and have been a Director of a program for more than 3 years. 

 

The last organization I found is through a program called LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities and Related Disorders).  The program is called Early Childhood Partnerships (ECP), it is “a University-Community service and research collaborative dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable children and families, especially those at developmental risk and/or with disabilities (birth to 8 years) and to enhancing the practices of the professionals who support them” (www.lend.pitt.edu, 2014). This program is comprised of professionals and students from the University of Pittsburgh who are in the Schools of Education and Medicine.  As far as career opportunities all I was able to find was the following, “Early Childhood Partnerships (ECP) has unique opportunities for ongoing practica and internships for Masters and Doctoral students from local and state universities; and some professional staff vacancies for skilled and committed professionals who thrive on interdisciplinary teamwork with community partners,” (earlychildhoodpartnerships.org). 

 

References

Early Childhood Partnerships.  (2014).  Retrieved from www.earlychildhoodpartnerships.org

            PA Keys.  (2014). Retrieved from pakeys.org

           

            PAEYC.  (2014). Retrieved from paeyc.org

Profile of a Volunteer

I have elected to profile my work as a volunteer.  My volunteer efforts started when I was younger.  I loved working with children and animals.  I was never old enough to volunteer at an animal shelter, so I started volunteering at a local hospital in my town.  I delivered meals to rooms, read books to sick children, sat and talked with patients and their families.  I also helped check in visitors to the hospital and learned so much about the hospital system and how important it is to be a volunteer.  In college, my sorority and I were active in volunteering and fundraising efforts.  This compelled me to continue giving back to the community.  I joined Big Brothers Big Sisters in 2011 and was matched with the most incredible little girl.  We are more alike then I could have imagined, she's my mini me.  I know that as a big sister, I would teach her a lot, but she has taught me more than I thought possible.  I bring her to every community event my center hosts or decides to participate in.  I think it is important for her to understand her role in giving back to the community and making a positive impact on others.  She enjoys these events just as much or even more than I do.  We often talk about other ways we could get involved and she is excited to start her role as an advocate and volunteer, once she is old enough to join. 
My role as a volunteer and the experiences I have had, influence others to get involved.  Several of my friends have started their own volunteer journeys, even my mom has become an active member of UNICEF, holding monthly meetings and fundraisers at her corporation.  My work as a volunteer has helped show my little sister that people out their care and has given her the strength, courage, and drive to continue to be a productive and good member of our society. 
The vital "take-away" message relative to this work in terms of my own volunteer efforts and advocacy work in the fostering the well-being of children and families is, it only takes one person to make a change.  One donation, one hour of your time, one hug, one encouraging word, to start the cycle of giving back to our communities. 

Using Social Media to Get Connected

I have been using social media for years, some experiences have been positive and others have been downright awful.  But, for the most part I can say that the majority of my experiences have been beneficial.  I have connected with lost friends and family, become more aware of things going on in the community, country, and world, and have had the chance to really educate myself on the inner workings of social media.  Social media tools like basic search engines, blogs, FaceBook, and certain apps have allowed advocacy efforts to strengthen and flourish.  I know that on FaceBook, I am able to get hourly updates from advocacy groups that I follow such as "Pre-K for PA".  The ability to access this and easily share this information with others has helped others get involved.  I am also able to show and share major accomplishments or issues affecting early childhood which then brings others into the world of early childhood. 
What are some other ways that would be effective in getting others involved through social media?

Advocacy Messages

I found the following ads that are effective in communicating their advocacy messages:


http://bcove.me/p9imoggq

This video is short and simple.  A mother is making a teachable moment while at the laudry mat with her infant.  The video shows that learning is not as complicated as most make it out to be. 

http://bcove.me/sb2p8r2i

I am sucker for military home comings, this video shows the importance of a father being involved in their child's life. 

http://bcove.me/53pdh287

And this video is just adorable.  Again a short and sweet PSA about the little moments of being an involved father!

Reference:National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD). (2009). Safe sleep for your baby: Reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Retrieved from http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/safe_sleep_gen.cfm

My Role as an Advocate

• What motivated you to start advocating for very young children?
• My whole life I was more concerned about whether or not things were fair than really finding a solution or answer to why this happened.  After getting involved in early childhood education, I realized the disadvantages that very young children have. 
• Why is it essential to acknowledge and foster advocacy efforts at the micro as well as the macro level?
• It takes more than just a child's immediate environment to give them the best possible opportunities in life.  So, involving the outside environments, including local and federal government bodies, can open up more doors and opportunities for children. 
• What does it take to be a community leader on early childhood issues?
• It takes committment, drive, passion, and the ability to connect with various people. 
• What resources does it take to be a state leader on early childhood issues?
• You have to be able to connect with all people, you must have the financial resources to implement new programs or efforts, and above all be passionate about truly doing what is best for young children. 
• What tactics or strategies do you use to mobilize others?
• You have to get people to see your vision and then follow through with your ideals.  I am a very outgoing and passionate person, I encourage people as I can but also provide constructive criticism with coaching. 
• What advice would you give to someone who was interested in taking a leadership role in advocating for young children and their families?
• Read, research, and go for it!  Tomorrow is too late!