Time Well Spent

 The three deeply felt learnings from this program I will take away with me were the following: 

1) What is early childhood education? How does it help the children we serve, and what governs how we implement curriculums, inclusivity gathering a community around them to become a productive asset to society? The answer to this is quality/effectiveness in, “early experiences affect the development of brain architecture, which provides the foundation for all future learning, behavior, and health. Just as a weak foundation compromises the quality and strength of a house, adverse experiences early in life can impair brain architecture, with negative effects lasting into adulthood” (Harvard University, 2019). Thus, this should be the reason for all humanity to stand for a positive cause regarding early childhood education. Our children of today are what our world will reflect tomorrow. Therefore, it is necessary to include all factors of the child. Some examples are families, their health, and the implementations of culturally responsive individually appropriate practices to create the perfect specimen. This will show how great and successful a child can become when things are in place to help him/her along the way. Early childhood program's quality/effectiveness addresses the needs of children from infancy to 8 years of age and beyond. This research is what confirmed my passion for pursuing the early childhood education field. 

2) Parents are the core value of why we are highly victorious with the educational achievements that are created. We discuss concrete actions and environmental factors that are necessary for laying the foundation for a parent-teacher partnership. Adults are aware of all the strengths, weaknesses, and dreams that each child holds (Hillman, 2012, p. 12). When parents and teachers work together it establishes the following: 

· Security in a New Environment for both the parent and child.

· Creates a sense of self-worth for a child knowing that there is a community collectively concerned with his/her success.

· Parents and Children knowing that knowledgeable and consistent responses will ensure that what is being taught and practiced at school can also be worked on at home to create a child-centered approach. It increases the knowledge for effectiveness by the teacher. It will allow the teacher to create an Individualization plan maximizing a child’s potential geared solely towards them. Positive feedback increases confidence and provides enriched learning experiences for the child. (Gestwicki, 2015, p.118-126).

3) The final class allowed me to invest in the early childhood field by creating a business plan and showing me how to bring my goals to fruition.  

I enjoyed this program immensely because it combined practices I am currently doing in the early childhood field with goals I inspire to carry out. The one long-term goal I have is to standardize free early childhood education for all ages 0-4. 

To end this experience on a high note, I will leave you with this quote; The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as that every child should be given the wish to learn. (John Lubbock, 2021). I believe this is what education brings to the world, and it is now time to make it standardized.  

           I wish you all the best, and I truly enjoyed this journey with you all. Best of Luck! Be Safe and take care! 

 References

Carol Gestwicki. (2015). Home, School, and Community Relations: Edition 9 

 

Harvard University. (2019). InBrief series: Early childhood program effectiveness. National        Symposium on Early Childhood Science and Policy. http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/inbrief-early-childhood-program-effectiveness/

Hillman, C. B. (2012). The intangibles in the early childhood classroom. Exchange, (204), 12-14.

TOP 25 EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION QUOTES | A-Z Quotes

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

          International organizations or communities of practice that appealed to me are the following:

1. Center on the Developing Child. (2020). Saving Brains: A partnership led by Grand Challenges Canada, Saving Brains seeks to improve outcomes for children living in poverty through interventions that nurture and protect early brain development in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life. The Center on the Developing Child is part of a team that supports a dynamic learning community of Saving Brains innovators to help them advance the impact and scale of their work in countries around the world. (Harvard University, 2020). https://developingchild.harvard.edu/about/what-we-do/global-work/saving-brains/.         
2. RAND Corporation- is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decision-making through research and analysis. For seven decades, RAND has used rigorous, fact-based research and analysis to help individuals, families, and communities throughout the world be safer and more secure, healthier, and more prosperous. Our research spans the issues that matter most, such as energy, education, health care, justice, the environment, international affairs, and national security. As a nonpartisan organization, RAND is widely respected for operating independently of political and commercial pressures. RAND's research is commissioned by a global clientele that includes government agencies, foundations, colleges and universities, and private-sector firms. Philanthropic contributions, combined with earnings from RAND's endowment and operations, support innovative research on issues that are crucial to the policy debate but that reach beyond the boundaries of traditional client funding. (RAND Corproation, 2021).   https://www.rand.org/about/history.html. 
3. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)- is at the heart of international cooperation. Our Member countries work with other countries, organizations, and stakeholders worldwide to address the pressing policy challenges of our time. (OECD, 2021). https://www.oecd.org/about/.  
4. The Early Care and Education Consortium (ECEC)- is a non-profit alliance of the leading multi-state/multi-site childcare providers, key state childcare associations, and premier educational service providers, representing over six, 500 programs in 48 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and select international locations. Our members serve as the unified collective voice for providers of high-quality programs and services that support families and children from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. We are advocates for strong federal and state policies that bring quality to scale. (ECEC, 2021). https://www.ececonsortium.org/about/providers/.

 

          These corporations are national and international, offering knowledgeable information that will help obtain free early childcare for ages 0-4, same as standardizing education from K-12th. They research the whole early childcare field and other variables that affect its being to see how they can help the field. Some examples of research areas are children, families, the communities, education and literacy, racial equity, healthcare, aging, social and economic wellbeing. ECEC partners with educational service providers such as Bright Horizons, The Goddard School, KinderCare Education, the Learning Experience, Childcare Network, and Sunrise Preschools. They invest in research and policies for the betterment of the early childcare profession and more.

           A corporation I find interesting is the Early Care & Education Consortium, which is affiliated with the North Carolina Licensed Child Care Association. NCLCCA is the only organization in the state I live in representing licensed childcare providers. It is a membership organization providing timely information and updates about issues impacting your center so that you can do your job each day and provide quality early education environments for children and families. Legislative representation on the ground in Raleigh and NCLCCA staff working hard on issues related to rulemaking, subsidy, rated license, NC Pre-K, and more. (ECEC, 2021). The NCLCCA did not have a direct tab online allowing you to apply for jobs. However, it does have a contact number (919) 609-6772 and email Director@NCLCCA.org so, I will call this number directly and be assertive to see what jobs are available and how I can apply. 

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

 Three national/federal organizations or communities of practice that appealed to me are the following:

 

1. Children’s Defense Fund. (DCF). https://www.childrensdefense.org/. The Children’s Defense Fund Leave No Child Behind mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, a Moral Start in life, and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. (Children’s defense fund, 2020). 

2. National Child Care Association. (NCCA).  https://nieer.org/. The NCCA is a voice and a resource for licensed childcare providers to make sure all children get the care and education that they deserve. (NCCA, 2021). 

3. The Pew Charitable Trusts. (PEW). Pre-K education. https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/topics/us-state-policy. State lawmakers play a major role in advancing the quality of Americans’ lives, from helping to protect the air we breathe and water we drink, to educating our children. By researching emerging topics and developing 50-state comparisons, Pew identifies innovative approaches states are using to help solve complex challenges. Pew also conducts extensive research and analysis to understand how states can better serve the public, and we work with states to develop data-driven, pragmatic solutions to issues such as dental health, the growing costs of incarceration, the need for cost-effective public pensions, protecting coastal habitats, and reducing flood risk. (PEW, 2011). 

 

           I chose these three because they work interchangeably. The Pew Charitable Trusts (PEW) and the National Child Care Association (NCCA) work together to confirm the best practices for early childcare and PreK settings. The Children’s Defense Fund (DCF) then aids in helping to execute early childcare and PreK best practices set by PEW and NCCA.

           The Pew Charitable Trusts. (PEW) has a list of job opportunities of interest available such as:

• Public policy research and advocacy
• Program strategy and evaluation
• Government relations
• Communications
• Fundraising/donor relations
• Human Resources
• Administration

 

The majority of the positions mentioned above are only available in the US-DC-Washington area. Since the pandemic, I hope they now see positions can be filled by anyone in the nation that does not necessarily reside in the immediate area. Meetings can be on zoom, and work can now be done from home, minimizing the cost needed to obtain office space. It will open doors to the entire nation for further research of early childcare education and philanthropy. The majority of the positions available asked for a Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent experience required advanced degree preferred. I am hopeful that acquiring my Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education/Administration will allow me to obtain a top-level position. Some requirements for these positions are, 

• the ability to perform proficient Microsoft applications,
•  manage multiple projects simultaneously,
•  and the ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively with all levels of staff and leadership. (https://jobs-pct.icims.com/jobs/6408/officer%2c-human-resources-business-partner/job). 

    At present, I have the qualifications to fulfill each of these positions. Due to the pandemic, I would love to see the revised version of open positions regarding travel. Currently, they have; this position requires occasional travel to develop and manage partnerships, attend conferences and meetings, and perform other business (PEW, 2020).  

    I look forward to venturing out into the working field to see what employment endeavors are available to obtain.  

 

Resources

 

Children’s Defense Fund (CDF). (2020). Leave No Child Behind.

            https://www.childrensdefense.org/

 

National Child Care Association (NCCA). (2021). Empowering Child Care Providers

            https://nationalchildcare.org/

 

The PEW Charitable Trusts. (2020). Pre-K education. Pre-K Now.

            https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/projects/archived-projects/pre-k-now

 

            https://act.pewtrusts.org/yyBKqqM?_ga=2.37962659.1447055002.1617491600-376303908.1617491600

 

The Pew Center on the States. (2011). U.S. State Policy.

            https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/topics/us-state-policy

            https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/projects?status=active&sortBy=relevance&sortOrder=asc&page=1

            https://jobs-pct.icims.com/jobs/6408/officer%2c-human-resources-business-partner/job

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

    I have several local organizations of practice that appealed to me, and they are the following:

 

1. National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). https://www.naeyc.org/. NAEYC is the premier membership association for early learning professionals. Whether you're a teacher, assistant teacher, program director, higher ed faculty, student, family member, researcher, policy maker, administrator, or somewhere in between, NAEYC is here to help YOU on the journey to improve educational opportunities for all young children. (NAEYC, 2021). 
2.  Durham’s Partnership for Children. (DPFC). http://dpfc.net/. Ensures every child in Durham enters school ready to succeed, we lead community strategies for children birth to age 5 and their families that promote healthy development and learning and enhance access to high-quality care. (Anon, 2021).
3. Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI). https://acei.org/about-us/how-we-work/. CE International works for the education of all children but has a special interest in ensuring that our energies are focused on meeting the education needs of the most fragile and vulnerable children (ACEI, 2021).
4. National Head Start Association (NHSA). https://www.nhsa.org/. Head Start is the national commitment to give every vulnerable child an opportunity to succeed (Caitlyn, 2021). 
5. National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC). https://nafcc.org/About-Us/. The National Association for Family Childcare (NAFCC) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting high-quality childcare by strengthening the profession of family childcare for nearly one million paid home-based early learning programs serving almost 40% of the 6.7 million children who receive care from a nonrelative (NAFCC, 2021) regularly.
6. Families & Communities Rising. (FCR).  https://fcrinc.org/. We educate and empower children, families & communities (FCR, 2021).
7. Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2020). https://www.zerotothree.org/. To ensure that all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life. At ZERO TO THREE, we envision a society that has the knowledge and will to support all infants and toddlers in reaching their full potential.
8. North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation. https://buildthefoundation.org/.  Each North Carolina child has a strong foundation for lifelong health, education, and well-being supported by a premiere birth-to-age-eight system. To marshal North Carolina’s great people, ideas, and achievements to build a foundation of opportunity and success for every child by the end of third grade. (NC Early Childhood Foundation, 2021).
9. The UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute. https://fpg.unc.edu. The UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute transforms children's and families' lives through interdisciplinary research, evaluation, implementation, technical assistance, and outreach. We generate knowledge, inform policies, and support practices to promote positive developmental and educational outcomes for children of all backgrounds and abilities from the earliest years. Our ultimate aim: to help each and every child reach their full potential. (unc.edu, 2021).

 

            As a parent and Chair of Policy Council for Families & Communities Rising (FCR), most of the associations mentioned above held a seat on our Policy Council Board and brought different contributions to the organization. All contributed to either helping our teachers, children, and families with any difficulties that may arise or educational advancements for the better for the children we serve. Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute states its goal is to help each and every child reach their full potential (unc.edu, 2021). All organizations mentioned above have the same goal, which is to serve the needs of children.  

            The job that is unavailable at this present time, but I aspire to achieve is; the title of Founder for establishing standardized schooling for ages 0-4, same as K-12. I would use the same steps Families and Communities Rising (FCR) created. Anne Sanford, the founder, received a small grant from the US Department of Education to develop strategies and materials to assist with the education of young children with disabilities. With this funding, FCR became part of a national effort to address this overlooked and underserved population's needs. (FCR, 2021).           

           FCR became involved with Head Start in 1973 when it was asked to create a network for training Head Start staff in Region IV. Its involvement increased when it began to provide Head Start services directly to families and children in its local areas. Its KidSCope program serves children with disabilities in Orange and Chatham Counties and its FRIENDS and ARCH programs serve national priorities in community-based child abuse prevention and respite care for all ages. (FCR, 2021). I intend to take early childhood education to the next level and become a lobbyist. I hope to obtain funding by applying for grants from The US Department of Education in North Carolina to help reach the goal of early childhood education being free for all. Working at The UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute will allow me to simultaneously assist in transforming children’s lives (unc.edu, 2021). 

          I am obtaining the skills of a Master's degree in Early Childhood education to help me accomplish the work I have to do. I will continue my education to a doctorate level so I can participate in a greater variety of opportunities in the Early Childhood Education field. I hope there is a position available for me as a CEO or Executive Director position in a Durham Early Head Start Program. 

 

Resources

 

Caitlyn. (2021). National Head Start Association (NHSA).

            https://www.nhsa.org

Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI). (2021).

            https://acei.org/about-us/how-we-work/  

Durham Early Head Start- Durham’s Partnership for Children (DPFC). (2021). Durham   Partnership for Children.

            http://dpfc.net/our-work/durham-early-head-start/

Families & Communities Rising (FCR). (2021). Families & Communities.

            https://fcrinc.org

The UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute. (2021).

            https://fpg.unc.edu

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). (2021). NAEYC.

            https://www.naeyc.org/get-involved/membership/join

North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation. (2021). North Carolina Early Childhood      Foundation.

            https://buildthefoundation.org/

ZERO TO THREE. (2021). Early connections last a lifetime.

            https://www.zerotothree.org         

EDUC 6990- Capstone: Practical Application in the Early Childhood Field