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

 

ZERO TO THREE is a national nonprofit organization that provides parents, professionals, and policy makers the knowledge and know-how to nurture early development. Their mission is to ensure all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life (Zero to Three, 2014). This organization has been known for many years of supporting military families projects, providing staff training to early childhood coordinators, and hosting professional development conferences. ZERO TO THREE became appealing and of interest due to the nature that they are passionate about children cognitive, emotional, social, language and physical development. They don't just uplift professionals but they uplift families. Currently, a Community Coordinator, Safe Babies Court Teams Project position is available. This position consist of collaborating and coordinating with stakeholders of New Haven and Milford Teams to put together safe practices for infants and toddlers in foster care. Requirements to fulfill this position are: knowledge of issues related to child abuse and neglect, knowledge of infant/toddler social-emotional development Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education, and related experience in social work. 

Association for Early Learning Leaders is nonprofit organization committed to excellence by promoting leadership development and enhancing program quality through the National Accreditation Commission's standards. There purpose and goal is to strengthen the knowledge, skills and abilities of early care directors , owners, emerging leaders and other early learning professionals to ensure quality child care programs for young children (Early Learning Leaders, 2014). This organization provides training, resources, and networking opportunities for early childhood centers to become accredited. This organization is appealing because it helps early childhood centers, parents, and children. It allows center the opportunities to grow and have high-quality education for all children. Currently, Early Care and Education Coordinator position is available. This position is to provide safe residential housing for women and children who are awaiting their due process before immigration courts. The role of the coordinator is maintain safety in residents, provide healthy meals for mothers and children, assist with recreational activities for children and to provide care for children. Requirements are High School Diploma, commitment of  pre-service training, one year experience working with children, flexibility, and driver's license. 

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood National Center is a center that develops, implements, and sustains programs and strategies that result in a well educated, fairly compensated and stable early childhood workforce to ensure the long term success of our nation's children in school and in life. This center operates projects in 23 states in which they help states avoid costly mistakes, help identify and advocate for new funding opportunities, and keep states informed about training and compensation innovations and changes in other T.E.A.C.H. projects around the country (T.E.A.C.H., 2014). This center is appealing because it helps early childhood center manage and budget finances so that their center won't fail. It prepares center for financial situations that may occur without notice. Currently, there are no positions available. However, their are many ways to volunteer and get early learning centers involved. 

Listed below are the links to the organizations if you choose to do more reading.....

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood National Center 

Association for Early Learning Leaders

ZERO TO THREE

Exploring Role in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels (Week 2)

Community of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly (Wenger-Trayner, 2006). This blog entry will discuss three local or state organizations that are of interest, job opportunities (current or not available) that are of interest, and skills and experiences need to fulfill each of the roles. 

Teach for America is an organization that not only service Pennsylvania but also many other states in the east, west, and Midwest area. Teach for America is an organization who mission is to continue growing leaders who will work to ensure that kids growing up in poverty get an excellent education. I like this organization because they want to change the statistic that just 8% of kids growing up in low-income communities graduate from college by the age 24. This organization create change in all the communities that they teach in. This organization was of interest to me because I want to create change in the low-income community that i reside in. I want children here to be well educated and be prepared for college. There are several teaching positions that are available but all of them are outside of Pennsylvania. Many of the western stats have a greater need for teachers. In order to become a teacher for this organization you must hold a Bachelor degree, high school diploma, GPA of 2.5 or higher, and US Citizenship or National/ Permanent Resident Status. 
http://www.teachforamerica.org/

PA Keys is a organization that manages state wide professional development programs. PA Keys works with Office of Child Development and Early Learning to provide statewide leadership in the development of an integrated and coordinated system of program quality improvements and professional development supports for early childhood education. This organization was of interest to me because it hold early childhood centers accountable to certain standards and early learning practices. This organization helps and promotes high-quality education through early learning standards in the curriculum that is taught to the students. Currently, a PreK Counts Director position is available. The requirements for this position is a Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field allowed by the organizations guidelines. Masters Degree in Education is preferred.  
http://www.pakeys.org/

United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey is an organization whose mission is to harness, leverage strategically invest the collective power donors, advocates, and volunteers, to drive measurable results that improve the lives of people in our region. This organization believes that education is the community responsibility which includes parents, teachers, and caring adults. United Way provide funds that help early learning children age 0-5, early grade literacy, middle grade success, graduation for all, and post secondary success programs. This organization was of interest to me because its a organization that gives back to the community. Education programs need funds to survive and government assistance is not enough. This organization does not currently have any job openings available. However they do have volunteer opportunities available. 

https://unitedforimpact.org/