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

The National Center for Family Literacy is an organization of which I was introduced through my research on emergent literacy.  The organization supports the development of family literacy because they recognize the research based findings that families are the true catalysts for their children's education.  One of their roles is to provide training through the Professional Development branch of their organization which is where I could use my teaching skills as well as my developing knowledge of programs to foster emergent literacy.  Currently, there are no openings in this area: they are in need of an ESL Specialist or a Development Associate (National Center for Family Literacy [NCFL], n.d.).


I belong to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and have used their website to find out their positions on policy regarding pertinent issues in the early childhood field, and to research articles in the YC: Young Children and Teaching Young Children publications.  I have also used their Message in a Backpack handouts for my preschool parents.  Currently there are only two job openings with NAEYC: Senior Meeting Planner and System Integrity Assistant (NAEYC, n.d.).  Neither of the openings interest me, however I would like to be a contributor to their Message in a Backpack efforts.

Zero to Three is a nonprofit research-based organization that focuses on supporting healthy development of infants and toddlers (Zero to Three, n.d.).  They have a Center for Training Services (CTS) which supports professional development for early educators which is where I would look for a job opportunity.  There are currently no positions available.

Since there were no job descriptions and qualifications available for any of three organizations I was interested in I contacted Zero to Three for a job description of a Senior Writer/Training Specialist which would provide a good idea of qualifications needed for any of the three jobs I would be interested in.  Their job description for Senior Writer/Training Specialist follows:

Job Title: Senior Writer/Training Specialist
Department: Program Division
FLSA Category: Exempt
FTE: 1.0 (Full-time)
Reports To: Director, Center for Training Services and Special Projects
Work Location: Washington, DC (Travel required)
Summary
The Senior Writer/Training Specialist is responsible for project activities including but not limited to content development and facilitation of online learning and community of practice sessions for the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Capstone project. This involves incorporating existing ZTT content such as the Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect:Parent-Provider Partnerships in Child Care (PCAN) curriculum and parent-provider discussion-guiding handouts into on-line learning sessions that will be used by multi-disciplinary professionals participating in this project.
The Senior Writer/Training Specialist also provides training for trainers using ZERO TO THREE’s training curriculums, including PCAN and Cradling Literacy. The Senior Writer/Training Specialist will be responsible for developing high quality written and electronic products, assisting in collection of evaluation data and contributing to the team’s overall goals. This Senior Writer/Training Specialist will also provide training and technical assistance related to supporting parents and meeting infants’ and toddlers’ developmental needs to programs and providers through fee for service work. This position will require presentations at state, regional and national conferences and active participation in state, regional and national meetings. Much of the work takes place throughout the country, at times requiring extensive travel.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
• Convert previous written materials into on-line electronic training modules.
• Train trainers with backgrounds in early childhood education, child welfare/child abuse prevention, and early intervention.
• Contribute to high quality written content (curriculum, trainings, journal articles, etc.)
• Travel as needed to provide training
• Research, design, develop and deliver workshops and technical assistance for multi-disciplinary professionals
• Collect and organize data related to both on-line training and in person training and TA work
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• Assist in maintaining records of team’s activities.
• Assist in developing reports for funders.
• Co-facilitate training for trainers with other ZERO TO THREE trainers and consultants
Skills and Experience
• Strong knowledge and experience in training adults, extensive knowledge of infants’ and toddlers’ development and behavior.
• Expertise in a strengths-based and family-centered approach to working with infants, toddlers and their families.
• Excellent writing skills with a proven ability to write articles, develop materials, and communicate in writing with multi-disciplinary professionals on infant-family issues
• Experience organizing, developing and providing in person and on-line training for a multi-disciplinary audiences serving infants, toddlers and their families
• Minimum three years of experience developing online storyboard content for adult learning.
• Ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary team
• Expertise in prevention of child abuse and neglect.
• Minimum ten years of experience as a writer and trainer,
• Presentation skills using PowerPoint and workshop design skills.
• Some knowledge of Excel
• Excellent conceptual, written and oral skills
• Proficiency in using Word
• Proficiency in use of World Wide Web to gather information
• Experience with distance learning
• Ability to manage multiple tasks
• Ability to travel
Essential Qualities
• Encourages and practices critical thinking
• Is self-reflective and empathetic
• Recognizes the influence of workplace relationships on outcomes and results
• Maintains a respectful and accepting approach to others
• Awareness of the influence of the larger context on individual behavior
• Ability to integrate conceptual information and develop practical applications for professionals
Education
Master’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology, special education, early child childhood education or related field. Equivalent combination of degree and experience will be considered.
Physical Requirements
While performing the responsibilities of the job, the employee is frequently required to use finger dexterity as well as sufficient hand dexterity to use a computer keyboard and be capable of reading a computer screen. Also may need to remain seated for long periods of time, have the ability to perform repetitive motions, stand, walk, communicate verbally and hear well enough to detect nuances and receive detailed information. The employee may be required to grasp objects, push or pull objects, bend, squat, reach, or kneel. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision for preparing and analyzing data, and expansive reading. May need to lift up to 30 pounds.
Working Conditions
The work conditions described here is representative of those an employee encounters while performing this job. The employee is expected to travel and will be exposed to outside environmental conditions during those times. The incumbent typically works indoors in a heated and air-conditioned office, with a mixture of natural, incandescent and fluorescent light with low to moderate noise levels.
ZERO TO THREE: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families is proud to be an EEO/AA: M/F/D/V Employer

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Job opportunities/National Association for the Education of Young Children(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/about/jobs

National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL). (n.d.). Careers.  http://www.famlit.org/careers/

Zero to Three. (n.d.).  Areas of expertise.  Retrieved from http://www.zerotothree.org/about-us/areas-of-expertise/

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

I mentioned the Christian Early Childhood Association in my discussion post this week.  It is a Community of Practice (CoP) of which I have been a member for 16 years.  I have gained practical teaching strategies, networked with other directors, and benefited from shared resources through this organization; and therefore I plan to continue to be a part of the CECA CoP.

I also just renewed my membership to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).  This CoP keeps me abreast of current research and position statements regarding important issues in the early childhood field and links me to quality professional articles through their publications, YC: Young Children and Teaching Young Children; membership also means discounted NAEYC conference rates and discounts on NAEYC bestsellers.

I participated in classes sponsored by the Midwest Whole Child Development group and checked out learning materials from their resource library.  The classes were set in round-table forums to foster discussion and sharing of ideas. I participated in their Director's Toolbox workshop which helped me develop practical skills needed in my role as preschool director and gave me an opportunity to network with other local preschool directors. I have lost touch with them, but would like to re-connect with that CoP.

I am currently a preschool director/teacher and am not looking for a new job for the upcoming school year; however, I am considering taking a teaching position as a kindergarten teacher the following school year. One of the articles I read in our Issues and Trends class, Graue's (2009)  Reimagining KINDERGARTEN really struck a chord with me and has planted the seed of interest in making a difference in a kindergarten classroom.  I plan to update and renew my teaching license this Fall and to submit my resume to local school districts.  I will be monitoring job openings on a regular basis.  I also plan to observe some kindergarten classrooms during the upcoming school year.

I have searched Kindergarten positions currently available and found a concise summary of job qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from a four-year college or university

MO State Certification in Early Childhood (B-3) or Elementary Education (K-6) or (K-8).

According to the Kansas City, MO school district (https://kcmsd.cloud.talentedk12.com/hire/viewjob.aspx?jobid=2774):

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  include the following.  Other duties may be assigned.

• Prepares course objectives and outline for course of study following curriculum guidelines or requirements of state and school.
• Lectures, demonstrates, and uses audiovisual teaching aids and to present subject matter to class.
• Prepares, administers, and corrects tests, and records results.
• Attends data-team meetings and implements research-based instructional strategies
• Assign lessons, corrects papers, and hears oral presentations.
• Teaches rules of conduct.
• Maintains order in classroom and on playground.
• Counsels pupils when adjustment and academic problems arise.
• Discusses pupils' academic and behavioral attitudes and achievements with parents.
• Collaborates with parents, colleagues, and other stakeholders.
• Keeps attendance and grade records as required by school.
• Coordinates class field trips.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

This job requires that the employee be able to: sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, use hands, fingers, reach with hands and fingers; bend, stoop, lift objects of at least ten pounds.  Job requires the employee occasionally to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.  Visual ability requires mono and color vision, close vision, distance vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. 

Christian Early Childhood Association. (n.d.) Christian early childhood association.  Retrieved from http://www.CECAkc.org  

Graue, E. (2009).  Reimagining KINDERGARTEN.  School Administrator, 66(1), 10-15.  Retrieved from Education Research Complete database. 

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) (n.d.).  National association for the education of young children.  Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org   

 

My Wordle

http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/6864827/Early_Childhood_Education