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

The three national/federal organizations or communities of practice that appealed to me are as follows:

 

National Association for the education of young children.

http://www.naeyc.org/resources/research/overview 

I chose the National Association for the Education of Young Children because of the applied research to make a stronger connection between early childhood research, practice, and policy. The research will assist with a variety of communication resources for educators, policy makers, and students. The research will help support the development, access and interpretation of certain knowledge that will enhance their lifestyles. The job opportunity that I would like to explore at the National Association for the Education of Young Children is Communications and Information Manager. The skills and experience that I would need to be a successful candidate and employee is B.A. in Communications or related field and 3-5 years experience in developing and writing communications is required. Experience in the field of education, early childhood education, human service, and/or association experience a plus. Candidates must have effective oral and written communications skills, the ability to identify, analyze and resolve problems, must be able to multi-task, work in a fast–paced environment, have strong MS Office computer and database management skills (National Association for the education of young children, 2013).

 

National Education Association 2003-2013

http://www.nea.org/home/18163.htm 

I chose the National Education Association because of the dedication, commitment and promoting the purpose of early childhood education. The National Education Association brings together many state affiliates to provide the tools and resources as well as funding to help promote growth opportunities, quality education, teaching and diversity, cultural responsive teaching, bullying prevention, rights for children and no child left behind act. The job opportunity that I would like to explore at National Education Association is a Senior Research Analyst. The position will require that I have Extensive knowledge and practical experience in conceptualizing, designing and conducting survey-based and secondary analyses on topics pertaining to K-12 and higher education. Training and experience in advanced statistical methods, such as demographic modeling, economic estimation techniques, forecasting, multi-level regression analysis, discrete data analysis, meta-analysis, etc. Training and/or experience in designing complex samples and computing appropriate tests of significance for complex designs. Extensive knowledge of key education policy issues, research literature and data sources relevant to public K-12 and higher education. Expertise in analyzing large data sets using SAS, STATA, or SPSS. Proven project management skills and ability to allocate time and resources toward the completion of multiple projects with overlapping timelines. Demonstrated ability to synthesize and interpret quantitative research documents for professional and lay audiences. Proven oral and written communications skills. Minimum Education Requirement: Ph.D. in Sociology, Economics, Statistics or related discipline, including advanced graduate studies that provide a solid foundation in research methodology and statistics. Minimum Qualifications: Five years of progressively responsible experience in education research involving the application of advanced statistical techniques in the analysis of complex data sets; experience in heading major research projects; experience writing for professional and scholarly journals and in public speaking, with proven ability to communicate complex ideas to professional and lay audiences (National Education Association 2003-2013).

 

National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education

https://sites.google.com/a/naecs-sde.org/www/aboutus

I chose the National Association of Early Childhood Specialist because of the advancement in improving instruction, curriculum, and administration of programs to meet high quality standards. I also chose this organization due to the collaboration and shared ideas to overcome the issues and trends in early childhood education. The organization supports policies and legislation that can have a negative impact on the education, health, and welfare of children and their families. The employment opportunities that I would like to obtain within the National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education is State Early Childhood Specialists. The reason that I chose this position is to assist children and families at state levels and to devote my time, passion and be committed to diversity, collaboration and inspiration to all children around the world. This position holds a wide variety of positions within their respective state education agencies. These positions typically include fiscal responsibility, programmatic decision making, and assuring program compliance with state policy. Among these responsibilities are many programs with federal ties: Title I, Even Start, Head Start Collaboration, Federal Class Size, Special Education, Homeless, and Schools of the 21st Century. Additional responsibilities often include state-funded preschool programs; at-risk programming; school-age child care; school administration and improvement; curriculum and assessment in the early grades; and data collection about the health, education, and well-being of the young children in the state. There are no special job requirements for this position (National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education, n.d.).

.

 

 

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

The three local and state agencies that I chose to explore opportunities are

 

Division of family and children services

http://dfcs.dhs.georgia.gov/

The position that I would like to hold at Division of family and children services is a

 Social Services Protect and Placement Specialist.  The reason that I would like to be a

 Social Services Protect and Placement Specialist because there are so many families and children in need of protection, a voice, housing, families, food, and clothing. I want to protect and assist children and families in anyway. I also want to be part of saving some of the families and children that are being abused and neglected. The skills that I would need to be successful and competent in this role is Case management experience in child welfare of foster care,

Case management experience that involves working with individuals, families, groups, organizations and/or communication of the goal of behavioral changes,  and law enforcement experience in areas related to DFCS (e.g., family/domestic violence, investigations or interventions involving children or substance abuse.

Master’s degree in social work from a School of Social Work accredited by the Council on Social Work (www.cswe.orgbased ) in an approved accredited college or university

‐or‐

Bachelor’s degree in social work from a School of Social Work accredited by the Council on Social Work (www.cswe.org) based in an approved accredited college or university

‐or‐

Behavioral Science degree (any level) from an educational institution accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (www.chea.org) and/or the US Department of Education and one (1) year of social services work experience or a DFCS internship that involved a caseload

‐or‐

Behavioral Science degree from an educational institution accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (www.chea.org) and/or the US Department of Education  

 

Georgia department of education

http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/Pages/Home.aspx

 

The position that I would like to hold at the Georgia Department of Human Services is Family Engagement Specialist because I would like to provide learning and technical support and resources to families, school staff, children and the community. I would like to be in partnerships at local, regional, state and national levels to support family engagement activities. The qualifications I would need for this role is Bachelor’s degree in education, communication, management, planning, public administration, business management, or a field directly related to the area of assignment and four years of experience in providing family engagement professional learning and technical support activities. Experience working with public and/or private agencies/organizations to incorporate family engagement in activities, services, or programs. Excellent oral and written communications skills and excellent presentation skills.

 

Children's Advocacy Centers of Georgia 

http://www.cacga.org/

 

The position that I would like to be in at Children’s Advocacy Centers of Georgia is a children and family advocate to be a part of the healing process of so many innocent victimized children and families due to sex trafficking and sex exploitation. The reason that I want to help is because this is an issue that have been going on for so many years and many young children are being taken advantage of due to being trustworthy, vulnerable, homeless, and not having a support system. The qualifications that is required for a children’s and family advocate is Two or more years experience working with families. Bachelor’s degree in social service or related field, from an accredited college or university. Knowledge in family systems and child development and experience with crisis intervention.

 

 

Reflecting on Learning

My most passionate hope for your future as an early childhood professional and for the children and families with whom I work or will work is to be the best that I can as far as competent, resourceful, supportive and understanding to each families situation. I hope that I can fulfill the commitment of being the best teacher wherever I go and to be the most respected, anti-bias, intelligent and compassionate person that all children and families will encounter. I want to give thanks to all of my colleagues for their support, ideas and feedback throughout the course. I wish everyone the best in success in their career path.

Impacts on Early Emotional Development

The country I chose was Mongolia. The challenges that the children and families face is that they are without quality healthcare, education or jobs. The other challenges that the children face is a high risk for malaria, HIV and AIDS due to lack of healthcare resources, demographics, poverty and unhealthy environments (UNICEF, 2010). There are more than 35% of the population below the poverty level and children ranging from newborn to age 16 that are living in poverty with single mothers. These children are taking on responsibilities as adults at home, which are causing many of the issues in the education field. The children are not able to attend school due to their responsibilities of trying to survive at any means necessary. The children are forced into the streets at an early age (Children Poverty Research and Policy Centre, 2012).

I learned that children all across the world are dealing inequalities and if the priority of children is given by government officials and policy makers that this can help mend the gap on the inequality in education across the board and around the world. The goal is provide equal quality care, resources, access to affordable healthcare and education for the children of all ages. 

Reference

Children Poverty Research and Policy Centre. (2012). Mongolia. Transition and Poverty. Retrieved on January 21, 2012 from http://www.childhoodpoverty.org

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (2010). Mongolia. Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/eapro/media_3719.html

The Sexualization of Early Childhood

My reaction to the topic was not surprising because I see sexualization everyday and in my community in which young girls as early as age 5 dancing like Biance Knowles, wearing short dresses or skirts and exposing other body parts. It is sad because as I was growing I never seen young children behave in such a manner. I see that as time changed along with technology such as use of internet, facebook, twitter, television ads, music, and cellphones, that children are influenced in by so many forces. This topic demonstrates that sexualization is hitting every race, ethnic group, economic status, and gender (Levin & Kilbourne 2009). The message that commercials, music, movies, and games are sending is outrageous because the younger children are the future and this type of behavior is being viewed as acceptable even by some parents.  The reason that I say this is because for example small children are able to listen to certain explicit songs on the radio while driving in the car with parents, who make the child feel it is ok to repeat and demonstrate what they hear and see. I see parents dressing to sexy in front of the children and the children especially little girls want to dress like mom. From my experience of witnessing mothers dress too explicit and hang out with their kids is a bad example. There are boys that see their fathers go from woman to woman and even laugh about with their sons, giving them the idea that it is ok to have multiple sex partners. Girls want to be popular and it seems that if they see that dressing inappropriately for their age and conducting certain behaviors is getting that attention, than they are all for it. I believe boys want attention in another way; boys want to be viewed as heroes and bad boys.  

I believe that when the boys are influenced by video game violence and see how girls express their interest in boys that conduct negative behavior and get all the attention, boys do whatever they can. Early childhood professionals can take preventive action, however educators cannot do alone. Educators need the parents to be involved in monitoring, education, communicating and demonstrate a positive lifestyle and environment for the child to understand what is appropriate (Levin & Kilbourne 2009). The educator can assist in communicating with children on the consequences of unsafe sex, violent activities, drug and alcohol abuse and soliciting their body for acceptance and approval of someone else.  

Levin, D. E., & Kilbourne, J. (2009). [Introduction]. So sexy so soon: The new sexualized childhood and what parents can do to protect their kids (pp. 1-8). New York: Ballantine Books. Retrieved from: http://dianeelevin.com/sosexysosoon/introduction.pdf

Evaluating Impacts on Professional Practice

The consequences I might expect for the children and families with whom I work while I experience specific "–ism(s)" in my own life is racism and classism. The reason that I chose racism and classism is due to my previous experience as a professional and as a African American who came from a low income family. The consequences is that in certain areas in which I demonstrate my professionalism there are still people out there that view me as just a black woman who will not be anything more and is always looking for a hand out. The other consequence that I might expect is classism due to where I live, the salary I make and that I might be a single parent or divorced. I have been labeled so many times with the specific isms that I cannot count them. I really want to change that view of labeling due to a person’s social or economic status and their culture. I have learned in the previous courses that I have to be self-aware and focus on my passion as well as be a positive role model and be mindful of any hidden biases (Derman-Sparks & Olsen Edwards, 2010). I would not take any frustration or previous insults as a target for a child or parent to view me the same because we are all individuals and all have different views, hearts and minds. I also have learned in this program that it does not matter what your gender, race, sexual orientations, culture, age or religious beliefs that we all deserve the same respect, understanding and support to be successful and viewed as a individual human with feelings (Derman-Sparks & Olsen Edwards, 2010). Since the courses in this program, I have been empowered, encouraged and motivated to spread the joy of being different and being who we are, because we do not choose our color of our skin, DNA, culture or age and that this is something that we are born with. We as people create and change our given identities as we develop and mature into adulthood (Derman-Sparks & Olsen Edwards, 2010).   

If I allow the negative views and personal experience interfere with my profession, children will also feel the negative experience because it will be demonstrated through my behavior, interactions and communications. The consequences of any isms can negatively affect a child and family if the educator is not self-aware or have hidden biases that will not allow the educator to be fair, understanding, respectful, supportive and be open of acceptance to all people. The relationship between the educator, caregiver or parent is very important when it comes to making and sharing ideas to make critical decision that is in the best interest of the child. The children need the support for motivation, compassion, understanding, dedication and inspiration (Edelman, 2004). Understanding our own biases is critical to developing effective partnerships because, when it comes to any profession especially children, we must acknowledge the true facts that we all differ in some way, our purpose and that professional educators respect all cultures, ages, and genders of each child and family (Laureate Education Inc, 2010).  

Reference

Derman-Sparks, L., & Olsen Edwards, J. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, D.C.: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Edelman, L. (2004). A relationship-based approach to early intervention. Resources and Connections, 3(2). Retrieved November 8, 2011, from http://olms.cte.jhu.edu/olms/data/Resource/1144/A%20Relationship-based%20Approach%20to%20Intervention.pdf

Laureate Education Inc, (2010). "Learning about Fairness: Culture, Language, and Economic Class"

 

 

 

 

 

Observing Communication

My observation was conducted as a preschool. I asked if I could sit in during the morning just to observe the class. During my observation, it was picture day on a Friday morning. All of the children from ages 3 had to wear uniforms. The children all sat around the table eating their breakfast and talking. Before breakfast was over, there was one child that seemed very upset. The child starting crying out of nowhere and the teacher asked "what's wrong." The child stated "I don't want to take my picture." The teacher asked "why" the child then just fell out on the floor and starting kicking and screaming. The teacher stayed very calm and went over to the child and picked him up and sat the child on her lap. The teacher was trying to comfort the child and calm him down. It was amazing because the teacher treated the child as if the child was her own. The child eventually calmed down. Once the child had calmed down. The teacher told the child "it will be ok" do you want me to stand beside you while you take your picture?" The child said "yes." The teacher then asked "are you afraid to take your picture?" The child responded "yes". The teacher then asked "why are you afraid"? The child stated "I don't like when everyone stares at me." The teacher told the child "it is ok, everyone just want to see your pretty smile." The child said "is that why"? The teacher said "yes because you have a beautiful smile." This made the child feel better and the child took his picture with no problem.

 The communication between the teacher and the child was awesome because she listened, understood and was very empathetic. The observation of this type of communication is what children need to make them feel comfortable and safe, their needs are being met and that they are special regardless of who they are, what they wear, or what they look like (Laureate Education, Inc, (2010). The observation and communication helped build the child's self esteem and motivated the child to feel good about themselves. I have learned that it takes a good listener to be an effective communicator, and ask questions so that you can respond appropriately to the question or issue. I have learned that I have always been a good listener, a positive role model and a person who can enlighten a situation by focusing on something positive regardless of what is going on.

Laureate Education, Inc (2010). "Communicating with Young Children"