Time Well Spent

            I entered the Early Childhood program wanting to become the director of Head Start.  I love the program.  Like some programs, they have downfall and so do Head Start.  Now that I am finishing the program, they are doing many cut. I feel that I have been well prepared to be the Administrator, Leader, or Manager of any childcare program.  From the beginning of this program, I have acquired the ability to advocate for the childcare program.  There are many issues that are targeted and need attending.  I have gone to my local capitol advocating for parents to keep childcare funds and protest against fingerprint machines. 

            In order to do a job and to do your job well, you have to have great passion.  I started working with children about thirteen years ago.  I never wanted to work with children, because I had three of my own and I just did not want to work with children. Everything I did even at church I ended up the children.  My mother is the mother of all children.  She worked with children all her life.  When her health had begun to fell, I started working with her.  Since then I have grown to learn children and their ways. Taking these classes has shown me that children are different and we must nurture our children to help them grow and learn.

            The last deep felt learning I learned was how to be a good leader.   There are many styles of leadership but the class brought out in us many leadership styles.   The leader that much characterized me is being a transformational leader. One that learns to set goals inspires others, motivate other, and lead and transform others.  This is my goal as I complete this class.  I want to lead others not be afraid to do what is they think is correct. I want to teach parents to set goal and plan their goals out with their children. Also, teach parents to never give up and do not quit whatever goal they are trying to reach.

            Dr. Teri, first thank you for all your inspirational messages on your newsletter.  The messages as well as the pointer on how to complete this class helped me say “I think I can”.  You have taught us all, TO READ THE INSTRUCTIONS.  We have one book, the Bible, with instructions if we do not follow those we will go wrong.  But you gave a newsletter that helped us think, grow and learn something.  For this I say thank you and I have enjoyed being in this class although I said “I never would have made it’ without you.

            To my fellow colleagues, thank you for your post in the discussion and feedback.  Your feedback has helped me to accept criticism; your help in offering resources; your help in comments in the blog.  Also thank to some of you feeling the way I felt that we were not going to make it but we did. We let one go, but others has kept going. I want to thank you all for if you want to send an email I am at hairstonmyrj@aol.com.  Best wishes to all and whatever your goal is remember…..

 

 

 

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community:  Internationally

As I research the different organizations, I considered Save the Children as an organization that I feel that they are handling many issues concerning children over 120 countries.  Save the Children has been in existence since 1919. They have launched many efforts to help in children’s rights, help during World War II, and they have organization that is sowing seeds all ove the nations.  This organization is committed to help children and raise awareness to others to help the need of children; this is my goal to help the need of children.   

CAREER OPPORTUNTIES

CHILD PROTECTION ADVISOR

            The Child Protection Advisor will be a member or the Programme Development & Quality Team.  They will be responsible for providing technical guidance to field-based and ensuring that high-quality activities are implemented and develop proposals for funding.

QUALIFICATIONS

            The candidate must have a master degree in Social Work or relevant field.  I feel that since I had to take a leadership class then I was qualified. Also, they must be a good fundraiser, and work well under pressure. They must have good communication skills one that can be influencing and negotiating and coaching. The candidate must have good advocacy skills. The qualification required are some of the techniques that we have been studying in early childhood. 

UNICEF

The organization that I chose was the UNICEF.  The organization was created to help children that are in poverty, violence, disease, and discrimination. They promote education for girls; make sure that all children are immunized against common diseases; and make sure children are be nurtured. This is what I chose this organization because I have worked with many children that live in poverty and would like to further my assistance further.

CAREER OPPORTUNTIES

CHIEF CHILD PROTECTION

            This position is located in Dakar, Senegal.  I chose this position because it has some of the qualifications that I feel that I have those qualities.  The duties are doing analytical reports, development, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of the Child protection within the country.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

 The qualification must have a degree in social sciences, or relevant field; have eight years of experience in national child protection and talk English and French.  The candidate must communicate effectively to varied audiences; able to work multi-cultural environment; and process leadership skill.

            The UNESCO is an organization focusing on the countries that are less fortunate that other or that live in poverty, focus on establishing peace, and mobilizing for education; building and supporting diversity; and protecting ones freedom expression. What this organization is why I chose this organization.  As a person, we need to focus on peace, and building a relationship that all people in the country will have a lasting and stable world of peace.

CAREER OPPORTUNTIES

FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

            This job is located in Addis Ababa.  I did not see any jobs that maybe open in the early childhood or dealing with children.  I chose this job because I have done finance work for ten years, and currently handling the finance of the business now. Also, the last class we studied budgeting and finances.

QUALIFICATIONS

This position requires one to handle the finances internally and have a university degree in finance, business administration, or accounting.  I have a degree in business administration and has worked as the city clerk for ten years.  This person must be able to organize and identify issues for recommendations; ability to work with multicultural environment; interpret rules and administrative guidelines; have knowledge of English and have worked international level.

References

http://savethechildren.org

http://en.unesco.org/

http://www.unicef.org/index.php

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

I have found some interesting community of practices.  One is a national organization the National Parental Information and Resource Centers (PIRCs).  This is a national organization that support centers in practicing parental involvement and parental training to help improve student academic achievement. I chose this organization because it focuses on helping parents become involved in their children’s academic and students in the low income community.   In the state of Mississippi, this is a local organization located in Yazoo, Mississippi.  The purpose of the Mississippi State PIRC is to implement statewide parental involvement programs, strengthen partnerships among parents, and find strategies for parental involvement.  The local director is Mr. Henry Luckett and board members consist of parents, a regional service officer, PTA presidents, and special advisory committees.  This organization does not have any positions available national or local.

Second community of practice is a national program which is Head Start program. This program services low income students and their family. They offer many services for parents and students such as educational services for 3-and 4 year old children, mental health services, health services, disabilities services, nutritional services, family services, parent engagement/volunteer and literacy programs.  There are many other services Head Start offer, but these are just a few of these.  This national and local organization is an organization that works with parents close to get them involved.  The local director is Mrs. JoAnn Richardson, and the executive director is Mrs. Eloise McClinton. The job opportunity that interests me is an Early Head Start Educational Specialist in FL.  This position requires bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education with two years’ experience preferred.  The job applicant must provide monitoring/oversight/technical assistance/professional and support for Head Start; plan and assist providers with training in implementing educational curriculum; demonstrates teaching techniques in the program and assists providers in selecting equipment and supplies.

Third community of practice is The Children’s Defense Fund (CDF). This organization is a non-profit organization that is an advocacy for all children.  It provides a voice for children in particular those that have disabilities and are low income.  I chose this community of practice because it offers to help children to successful starting with many organizations such as Head Start.  At this time there are no positions open. There was one position that was open as a Chief Development Officer in Washington, D.C. This position requires the applicant to help to raise funds for different organizations.  At this time the position is closed.

Resources

National Parental Information and Resource Center.  http://www.nationalpirc.org/directory/MS.html

Institute of Community Services, Inc. (ICS) http://www.ics-hs.org/

Family Center Inc. http://familycental.applicantpro.com/jobs/I

Child Defense Fund. http://Ch.tbe.taleo.net/CH04/ats/careers/requisition. http://www.childrensdefense.org/about-us/

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Level

As I explore the early childhood education organizations in my state, Mississippi, I found three that appealed to me.  Currently we do not have any local organizations. These organizations are the MS Early Childhood Association, Southern Early Childhood Association, and the Mississippi State University Early Childhood Institute.   Each of these organizations collaborates with early childhood professionals to become leaders and advocates helping the well-being of children and families. 

The MS Early Childhood Association (MsECA) is state organization that preparing early childhood educators for leadership.  SECA is YOUR professional association and they offer opportunities for growth as an early childhood professional. SECA is actively working to recruit early childhood professionals who want to serve their colleagues, their communities, and their profession to become involved in the mission of serving early childhood professionals and the children and families of the South. Finally, Mississippi State University Early Childhood Institute works to development of early childcare programs to become high quality childhood programs.   Although they are great organizations for collaboration of early childhood information, none of the organizations have any jobs openings.  There are no job openings, but if there was one I would love to be the director of a Head Start program.  I feel if there were openings I would be qualified because I have the work experience and will have a master’s degree in December. I have been an active parent in their program and I like their organization.

I feel each of these organizations can help me grow in my profession and also help other child care providers grow to become better professionals.  They can help programs establish great learning environments, professional development, parental involvement, and most of all help develop great leaders.