EXPLORING JOBS/ROLES IN THE NATIONAL/FEDERAL ECE COMMUNITY

NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Teaching for Change

http://www.teachingforchange.org/

Teachers for Change is a national website that provides resources and tools for teachers and parents to create schools that encourage students to not only read and write, but change the world.  They recognize the need for children to be prepared to be global citizens. "Teaching for Change encourages teachers and students to question and re-think the world inside and outside their classrooms, build a more equitable, multicultural society, and become active global citizens" (www.teachingforchange.org, 2015).

The Teaching for Change website has a section just for anti-bias education that offers a book list, videos, articles, and a blog by Louise Derman-Sparks.  They offer professional development resources as well as opportunities to participate in advocacy efforts.

Anti-Defamation League

http://www.adl.org/

The Anti-Defamation League has a link to connect with my local ADL in Detroit, Michigan.  The Advocacy Center section allows me to see current legislation that fights injustices specific to my state.  The Education and Outreach section of the ADL provides resources specific to anti-bias education.  I am particularly interested in connecting with the Miller Early Childhood Initiative that works to provide anti-bias education trainings for teachers and families.  This could potentially give me a model for trainings or provide more personal training for myself.

National Association for the Education of Young Children

http://www.naeyc.org/

NAEYC is one of my favorite national organizations.  The website provides so many resources for visitors and members.  There is access to early childhood journals, publications from early childhood practitioners, accreditation programs and standards, conferences and professional development opportunities, public policies issues, and articles and information on current issues and trends.  The organization also provides information on current policies and issues in your state.  They provide government links so that you can search state representatives and senators, as well as view congressional voting records.  Their position statements on current issues and trends are among my favorite resources.  You can use these research-based statements to support your own advocacy efforts.  NAEYC is nationally recognized and respected as an authority on early childhood.    

Teaching Tolerance

http://www.tolerance.org/

Teaching Tolerance is a free resource for classroom teachers, librarians, school counselors, administrators, professors of education, and youth-serving non-profit organizations.  They have a free magazine, online professional development opportunities, film kits with DVDs and related lesson plans, publications, and other classroom resources.  

JOBS/ROLES

Ever since I went through the accreditation process I have thought it would be fun to be a NAEYC field assessor and work with child care programs to guide them through the process.  NAEYC is has a job opening for NAEYC Academy for Early Childhood Program Accreditation Reliability Specialist.  This person supports the accreditation program throughout the U.S.  They work with child care staff, field assessors, and other NAEYC accreditation staff.  Minimum BA in Early Childhood Education/Child Development, experience in the field working with young children in an early childhood program and a sound understanding of its ECE practices is required.

Teaching for Change is seeking volunteers for a special curriculum project regarding anti-bias, multicultural resources for early childhood educators.  Volunteers are needed to: review and organize archived lessons and resources; update materials where possible; and prepare lessons and resources for digital distribution. Ideal candidates will be strong writers and have experience with teaching or research in the curriculum area.

EXPLORING ROLES in the ECE COMMUNITY

To truly commit to the early childhood field it is important to participate in local and state collaboratives that are working to improve the lives of children and their families.  The following are organizations that making a positive contribution to the field of early childhood in Grand Rapids, Kent County, and Michigan.

Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children

http://miaeyc.org/

The MiAEYC helps children, families, and early childhood professionals with training, materials and services.  They uphold the standards and ethical code of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.  In April there will be a state conference provided by MiAEYC (http://www.miaeyc.org/conferences/earlychildhood.htm).

First Steps

http://firststepskent.org/

First Steps is a collaborative of local organizations that work together to provide access for children and families to early learning opportunities and healthcare.  Their Welcome Home Baby program connects new parents with local nurses that provide informational home visits.  Other programs address healthcare and educational needs of children in Kent County, Michigan.  

Michigan's Children

http://www.michiganschildren.org/

Michigan's Children is a state site that promotes advocacy for children in public policies.  The site provides videos, articles, blogs, and resources that help to inform parents, families, and educators about current public issues and policies.  This site also provides opportunities for involvement in making, changing, and promoting current and future policies.

This video informs voters about the upcoming proposal and how it will effect Michigan's children.

Kent Regional 4C: Your Community Child Care Connection

http://www.4cchildcare.org/

The mission of the Kent Regional 4C's is "To provide Leadership, Resources, Services & Education which create, improve, & promote quality child care".

Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative

http://www.elncgr.org/

In Grand Rapids there are significantly more children in need than available early learning spots.  The mission of ELNC is to "create and provide targeted neighborhood collaborative partners with technical, developmental and educational support in order to increase the accessibility of early educational resources for vulnerable children."

https://youtu.be/upa3iCpZYww

I am currently teaching at one of the preschool sites that collaborate with ELNC.  I am interested in becoming one of the Early Childhood Specialists that work to ensure that every site is providing quality early childhood programs for the children attending.  This position coordinates monthly professional development meetings intended to provide training and opportunities for teachers to share ideas, resources, and materials.  This position also informs teachers and directors of resources in the community that help address the needs of children and families in the community.   

My early childhood teaching experience helps to provide real world strategies for teachers that are in the classroom.  It would be important to be outgoing and willing to work with all types of people and personalities.  This position requires good listening skills and effective communication skills.  In order to be in this position you must recognize that it takes a team effort to grow in this field.  The current early childhood specialist is open to new ideas and does not treat people like she knows more than they do.  She is ready to hear new ideas and willing to grow in the field.