National Level: Jobs/Organizations in the EC Community

National Organizations:

National Head Start Association (NHSA):  The NHSA’s goal and vision is to lead the early childhood field in providing vulnerable children with the education, health, and family support they need to be successful in life.  They also advocate for the need for all children to receive an early childhood education.  I chose this association because its mission and vision align very closely with my own.

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC):  NAEYC’s belief’s are also similar to mine in that they feel all children should have access to a safe, high quality early childhood education.    In this, they support families, staff, and children at the local and national levels.

The National Association for Protecting Children:  This organization focuses on the well being of children in their families and communities.  They assist and encourage families in providing their children proper nutrition and education, and also work with communities in coming together to make neighborhoods a safe place for children.  This organization appeals to me because I have always felt that the focus on ‘problems’ in the education field are focused solely on the schools and teachers.  Many have abandoned the idea of ‘it takes a village.’  This organization focuses on the ways the communities and families can work to provide for the needs of young children.

Job Opportunities:

Classroom Teacher:  This is still and as far as I can see my number one job interest in the field of early childhood.  I feel that the best way for me to work to improve the lives of young children is to work with them daily in a hands-on manner.  Skills for this job include passion, dedication, patience, time management, knowledge of content and young children, and enthusiasm just to name a few.

Neighborhood Watch Coordinator:  With this, I can work with in my own community to improve the safety of our neighborhood children, while bringing unity between neighbors.  Skills for this job include leadership qualities, communication skills, organization, and the ability to rally others into working towards positive change.

Local or state organizations or communities of practice:

1. The River Bend Association for the Education of Young Children (RBAEYC):  The RBAEYC is an organization that works to create high quality early childhood education through education, professional development, and advocacy.  They currently hold meetings, discussion groups, and conferences throughout the eastern boarder of Missouri.
2. The Association for the Education of Young Children (AEYC-MO):  This is an organization for early childhood professionals in Missouri.  Their goal, much like the RBAEYC, is to work to improve the well being of all children by focusing on quality early childhood education and developmental services for children birth through age 8.
3. The Child Day Care Association works with families to help find quality child care, keep their children healthy, and maintain a work/family balance.  They focus strongly on working with the families in identifying quality childcare as well as maintaining a state of good nutrition among their families.  They also work with Early Childcare Professionals, Employers, and Community leaders.

I chose these organizations because they all work to improve the quality and accessibility of early childhood education in my area.  This is a common goal of mine.

Job opportunities of interest:

• Early Childhood Teacher- This is my current job, and not one that I ever plan to leave.  I feel that working daily with young children is the best way to ensure that they are receiving a quality education.

• Parents as Teachers Parent Educator- I would love to work in the homes of underprivileged families to help them work with their children, foster development, find needed resources, and identify any problems or varying abilities at as early of an age as possible.

Skills and experience needed to competently fulfill these roles:

Both of these jobs require a strong passion for children.  They also require a large knowledge base of how to best foster development, teach children, and guide families.  Knowing how to seek out and utilize resources is another skill that would be needed to fulfill these roles.  Patience and respect for children, families, and coworkers are imperative skills in any job in the early childhood profession.  Also, the ability not to judge others, and instead attempt to aid others.

References

Association for the Education of Young Children-Missouri (AEYC-MO) (2008).  Retrieved from

www.aeyc-mo.org

Child Day Care Association (2012). Retrieved from http://www.childcarestl.org/joom/

The River Bend Association for the Education of Young Children (2009).  Retrieved from

            http://www.rbaeyc.org/about.htm