Saturday, March 1, 2014

Time Well Spent


"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."
― Nelson Mandela
                                                     

When I began my journey at Walden in 2012, I never imagined what the experience would entail now that it is ending.  It has been a life changing experience. I am extremely grateful to Walden for the opportunity to study with colleagues globally and that alone has been extraordinary. Although I have experienced much adversity and personal losses during this process; this has definitely been time well spent.  From this program:
1.     I have learned a great deal about who I am as a person, educator, and leader.

2.      Personally, I have matured in my way of thinking as it relates to issues and trends affecting children and families in the early childhood field.

3.     Professionally, I learned what advocacy is really about and have a clearer understanding of my role as advocate in the early childhood field going forward. 
A long-term goal is to follow through with opening and operating the Look Again Organization that my husband and I started 4 years ago. The organization is to provide parent and family education and support for the at risk families in our local community and statewide. It has not developed beyond articles of incorporation and establishing the board. I can now shift my focus back to obtaining a 501C 3 non-profit status.
                                   
I would like to thank my colleagues who have made the experience richer in so many ways. I appreciate the new perspectives acquired through the discussions posts and blogs that will have a lasting impact on my professional career. I wish the best for each of you as you continue to operate in your passion of improving the lives of children and families. Feel free to contact me at audreymoye1@yahoo.com
God Bless!
                                     
I would like to thank you Dr. Dartt for your helpful feedback and the motivational weekly newsletters.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally


Three international organizations that appealed to me:
The Clinton Foundation/Clinton Global Initiative appealed to me because of its global collaborative partnerships with businesses, governments, and individuals to work for solutions to transform lives and communities. Issues are improving global health, increasing opportunity for women and girls, reducing childhood obesity, preventable diseases, creating economic opportunity and growth, and helping communities address the effects of climate change. Retrieved from http://www.clintonfoundation.org/our-work
Job opportunities
Membership Coordinator
Duties: Track and record invitation and response data, as well as report on member and participant statistics related to all Clinton Global Initiatives’ events.
Education/Experience
Skilled with data entry, management, detail oriented and well organized. Must have ability to work independently and as part of the team. Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills and have the ability to analyze data-based and apply creative thinking to the decision-making process.  A minimum Bachelor’s degree required and 1-3 years of work experience.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) appealed to me because of its commitment to diversity and inclusion within its global movement and dedication to improving the life of every child, workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, disabilities. The organization efforts to hold everyone accountable to the promises made for children to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease resonated with me.
Job opportunities
TA for an Education Cluster
Education/ Experience
Coordinator, P-3
Excellent advocacy skills for education provision in humanitarian crises, and excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Education
An advanced degree in selective disciplines relevant to the Primary Education, economics, social sciences, or fields relevant to international development assistance. United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/
World Vision appealed to me because it is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice (World Vision, 2014).
Job opportunities
Business Development Officer: Child Development and Protection
Education/Experience
Bachelor's degree and work experience in international relief and development in various geographical areas. Experience acquiring and/or managing grants from US Government agencies, institutional foundations or major individuals preferred. Proven work experience leading successful proposal development. There were several related job opportunities. Retrieved from http://www.worldvision.org/about-us/who-we-are

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Exploring the Context: Connecting With the Present


Three national/federal organizations or communities of practice that appealed to me:
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) appealed to me because of its mission and dedication to improving the well-being of all children from birth through age 8 and the principles of engaging their families.
Principle 1: Programs invite families to participate in decision making and goal setting for their child.
• Principle 2: Teachers and programs engage families in two-way communication
• Principle 3: Programs and teachers engage families in ways that are truly reciprocal
• Principle 4: Programs provide learning activities for the home and in the community
• Principle 5: Programs invite families to participate in program-level decisions and wider advocacy efforts
• Principle 6: Programs implement a comprehensive program-level system
There are job opportunities within the US Department of Health and Human Services which fall under the umbrella of NAEYC that varies according to regions.
Head Start appealed because of the work and services that are provided for at risk children and families. Head Start programs partner with local Smart Start Partnerships, braiding Smart funds to increase and maintain high quality, comprehensive services. http://www.headstartnc.org/about
Job Opportunity
The job opening is for an Education Coordinator in a community action agency that serves 600 children. Minimum educational requirement is a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Development and five or more years of experience in early education. The candidate also must have excellent interpersonal skill and exemplary verbal and written communication skills. Must also have the ability to review, interpret and analyze data to ensure individual child and programmatic goals are achieved. In addition, The Education Coordinator in this agency will provide training and technical assistance to more than 85 teaching staff members. www.wagesnc.org
National PTA/PTO appealed to me because of its’ strives to create and maintain family/school/community partnerships through higher teacher morale, active parent involvement for greater student success through National Standards for Family-School Partnerships.
Standard 1 - Welcoming All Families
Standard 2 - Communicating Effectively
Standard 3 - Supporting Student Success
Standard 4 - Speaking Up for Every Child

Standard 5 - Sharing Power

Standard 6 - Collaborating With Community
The National PTA has an opening for a Corporate Alliances Specialist. The Corporate Alliances Specialist is responsible for supporting National PTA in the area of resource development to expand the cause of supporting and connecting home and school. Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills are required. Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail is required.  Minimum Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience is required.
http://www.pta.org/about/content.cfm?ItemNumber=3907

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels


Local or state organizations or communities of practice that appealed to me:
Smart Start
I chose Smart Start it because brings together all the people involved in a young child’s life. The families, teachers, doctors, caregivers, social workers, and others to ensure children have all they need for healthy growth and development.
Child Care Network
I chose it because of its mission to provide children with the highest quality early care and education and to serve as a supportive network and resource for families.
North Carolina Food Bank
I chose it because of the high poverty and unemployment in my local area of North Carolina. The North Carolina Association of Feeding America Food Banks provides a collaborative, collective force for North Carolina Food Banks to provide access to healthy sufficient food to the hungry people in North Carolina. http://ncfoodbanks.org/about-us/
Vidant Health
Vidant Health is a health facility that offers many different services to meet physical and mental health care needs of families. It is also work in partnership with East Carolina University as well as the local community college through teaching and providing resource information to the community.
•Job opportunities that interest me are:
1.     Child Life Specialist

Qualifications are a minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in early childhood, human development or related field. Experience working with children and families in environment other than healthcare. Completion of Child Life Certification is received upon completion of one course.

·        Knowledge of behavior and child development

·        Ability to play and organize activities

·        Leadership & good communication skills
•Skills and experience needed to competently fulfill these roles:
I would need to take a course to receive certification to become Child Life Specialist. There are no jobs presently available for this position.

2.     I would like to teach adults at Lenoir Community College as an Early Childhood Instructor. They are working towards an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education or Early Childhood Diploma. Although, there are no available positions, I have been encouraged to submit resume and apply for instructor position.


3.    Position: Professional Development Coordinator – CCR

To provide, coordinate and manage both the professional development of early childhood professionals, as well as technical assistance services provided for child care centers and family child care homes by the Children & Family Resource Center. Partner and collaborate with community and/or state college and university programs to facilitate the availability of appropriate courses and programs for child care providers.
http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?Job_DID=JHM7YK696W36H39HT1V&siteid=cbindeed&showNewJDP=yes&ipath=EXINDsep_google_feed%2cEXGOO