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

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

1. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is a national organization that interests me due to their focus on improving professional practice and working conditions in early childhood education as well as efforts to achieve a high-quality system of early childhood education. Although no employment opportunities are available I could benefit from becoming a member to receive reduced registration fees for NAEYC sponsored conferences and training opportunities, voting rights in NAEYC elections to help shape the future of the early childhood profession, and access to members only area of the website which features exclusive digital benefits and content.

NAEYC Mission Statement is to serve and act on behalf of the needs, rights and well-being of all young children with primary focus on the provision of educational and developmental services and resources.

 

2. Race to the top: Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) challenges states to deliver better coordination, clearer learning standards, and meaningful education and training for early educators. This program represents an unprecedented opportunity for states to focus on early learning and development systems in their states and build a more unified approach to supporting young children and their families. The overarching goal of the Early Learning Challenge is to make sure that more children, especially those with high needs, enter kindergarten ready to succeed. I am interested in working with this community of practice because of the focus on building high-quality, accountable programs that align and raise standards for existing early learning programs, including Head Start, public pre-K, childcare, and private preschools, as well as provide information to parents about the quality of programs.    

 

3. The National Education Association (NEA) which supports Strong Start for America’s Children Act would promote high-quality learning opportunities for children from birth the age 5. This vital legislation would help states fund high-quality prekindergarten for 4-year olds from low-income families; encourage states to support prekindergarten from moderate-income families; and encourage learning opportunities for even younger children-for example, through partnerships with Early Head Start programs. Being a part of this community of practice interests me because the president of the NEA believes that high-quality early childhood education and full=day kindergarten are fundamental to a student’s long term success and shouldn’t be determined by their parent’s income….and promotes research which shows that providing a high quality education for children before they turn 5 yields significant long-term benefits.

Exploring Roles in the Early Childhood Education Community

Mississippi Child Care Resource and Referral (MCCR&R) is an organization with Mississippi State University that appealed to me because they offer services to parents by referring them to local high quality childcare providers and help them select the provider that best meets the needs of the family. They also assist early childcare professionals with continuing education units, training opportunities, licensing requirements, information on obtaining Child Development Associate certificate, etc.  The job opportunity that interests me is the Regional Technical Assistant Supervisor. The necessary skills are as follows:

1. Knowledge of federal and state financial regulations, and university financial policies and procedures.
2. Ability to use technology and experience with Microsoft Office software suite. Interview candidates will have to demonstrate their ability to use a computer to create a PowerPoint presentation and share that presentation with the hiring committee.
3. Ability to work with and adapt research materials for educational use which can be effectively communicated orally and/or in writing.
4. Good verbal and written communication skills
5. Demonstrated ability to work as a team player

Ability to travel out of the local area; Overnight travel will be
required; Use of personal car required; A travel allowance will be provided.
Frequent - Externally imposed deadlines set and revised beyond one's control; interruptions influence priorities; difficult to anticipate nature or volume of work with certainty beyond a few days; irregular hours may be anticipated; meeting of deadlines and coordination of unrelated activities are key to position.
Job frequently requires walking, sitting, reaching, talking, hearing, handling objects with hands.
Job requires standing, stooping/kneeling/crouching/crawling, and lifting up to 30 pounds.
Vision requirements: Ability to see information in print and/or
electronically.

 Pinebelt Association for Community Enhancement (P.A.C.E.) appealed to me because they, like me, believe the parents are the child’s first and most important teacher. The job opportunity that interests me would be an Early Headstart Home Visitor. The requirements for the position are to be able to provide in-home education, support and monitor for Early Head Start participants and group socialization experiences, conduct weekly home visits of at least 90 minute duration to Early Head Start children and their families, encourage parental involvement in curriculum planning, program governance and other aspects of the Early Head Start Programs.

The Barksdale Reading Institute appealed to me because along with their attempts to improve literacy skills in Mississippi, deepening teacher’s knowledge of reading instruction and enhancing the quality of Mississippi’s early childhood education programs they stress the importance of parental involvement in the schools in which they work. No job opportunities are currently available or interest me. Employees with this organization focus on several other areas that are of importance, but not the one in which I am most interested.