Making the Connection!

This week’s blog assignment was so much fun!  I enjoyed learning about the different international organizations that serve children and families.  I have listed my three favorite ones below:

1.     Save The Children – this organization employs over 14, 000 people in 120 countries, including the United States.  Although I am an advocate for all children, I like to see programs that also care about children in my country.  I also like that 89% of funds raised go directly to services to save and improve the lives of children.  I thought all of the jobs sounded worthwhile but I would most like to work with the education and child development department that is based out of Westport, Connecticut.  In order to apply for any job with Save The Children you have to create an account and upload your resume.  I tried to search US Jobs, but the site kept showing an error.  I did look at the international jobs available but none of them were directly related to early childhood so they did not seem to fit my skill set. 

2.     FHI 360- this organization sounds like a perfect fit for me!  They are committed to improving the lives of all people and they focus on many areas, including education.  I like that they understand that to truly make a difference they have to look at the whole picture, hence the 360 connection.  One job that sounded very interesting to me was Director of Programs (US Based).  I believe that I have many of the qualities needed for this position.  With my combined experience in Head Start, as well as for-profit child care centers, I understand budgetary constraints as well as how to design and implement effective programs, work well with many types of people, and I possess important managerial skills to aid in developing teams.  I do, however, believe that this would be a very challenging position and that it would take many years to learn how to be effective within this position. 

3.     UNICEF- this is still one of my favorite organizations.  Although I previously wrote about working with UNICEF in the US branch, I would also consider working abroad.  Their mission to build a world that protects the rights of every child is awesome!  I would love to be part of an organization that strives to meet the needs of every child so that they can have happy and healthy lives.  One of the jobs that interests me is that of Education Specialist in Senegal.  This position if responsible for planning and implementing education programs that identify and address gender inequalities in education.  It requires an advanced degree in education or social sciences, five year of experience in a relevant position, knowledge of gender disparities, and fluency in English and an additional UN language.  Although this job interests me, I am not qualified.  I believe that a position of this caliber would be worth of working towards but I am not sure that it is something I would pursue at this time in my life. 

Thanks for reading and please let me know of other international opportunities that may be available!

Jobs in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is one of the organizations that I would love to work with.  Their mission is to ensure that children have a safe, healthy, and happy childhood.  I always thought that their main concern was nutrition and safe water, but upon researching further I have discovered that they also have a strong focus on education.  They believe that is a child’s right to have adequate education.  They do many different projects in places such as Asia, Africa, and Afghanistan, as well as the US.  They also have developed a School-In-A-Box kit, which provides all the resources to hold class in virtually any place.  These have been used after natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina, and also in the aftermath of devastated war zones.

One of the jobs that I am particularly interested in is the Global Citizen Fellowship in Atlanta, Georgia.  This position is through the U.S. fund for UNICEF and is a 13 month program that prepares one to be a leader in public service.  It requires a knowledge and passion for those less fortunate and a commitment to learning about resources for others and the knowledge to link others to needed services.  The position is largely online but does also require the ability to travel for trainings and seminars.  An undergraduate degree is required and the position pays a $30,000 stipend for the 13 month period with a reimbursement of $3,000 for health insurance.  Although this is unlike any job I have ever help, I would love to apply and see what happens!

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is another organization that I am very interested in finding out more about their job possibilities.  NAEYC has been one of my go to entities for many years in the early childhood field and I would like to explore further opportunities with their organization.  I believe strongly in their mission and feel my passion for working with young children would be fostered by their ideals and activities.  The position of Communications and Information Specialist is currently available.  I have the qualifications, such as early childhood experience and good customer service skills, as well as an undergraduate degree so I believe that I would be a good match for the position.  This job requires helping those who are working on NAEYC accreditation by providing technical assistance and links to various resources.  Although it is not my dream job, it could open the door to other possibilities.

My third choice would be the Administration for Children and Families in the Office of Head Start.  I worked with Head Start, locally, for 13 years and it was one of the most rewarding times of my professional life.  I have always been interested in working with them on the national level and this week’s research confirms that my interest is still warranted.  Although there are not any available positions open at this time, I would like to work it the training and technical assistance department.  This would allow me to offer my expertise and experiences to other Head Start grantees as they strive to meet the requirements that are mandated.  My years with Head Start in a variety of roles, including:  assistant teacher, lead teacher, child development coordinator, center director, transportation coordinator, disabilities coordinator, and director, offers many perspectives and would be a valuable asset to this department.  I will have to keep an eye out for future employment opportunities!

I enjoyed this week’s assignment as it gave me a chance to dream and think outside of my little rural box.  I hope you enjoyed reading my blog and I have provided links below for all of the organizations that have me curious and hopeful!

Monette

UNICEFUSA

http://www.unicefusa.org

NAEYC

http://www.naeyc.org

Office of Head Start

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ohs

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community

There are many roles in the field of ECE that I am interested in.  I have worked in many different roles but I want to try some different things as I continue working in the field.  

One organization that I am interested in is the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education.  This state organization is responsible for licensing child care centers and family child care homes in NC.  One of the job opportunities that interests me is that of NC Child Care Consultant.  This job requires a bachelor's degree in early childhood education or a related field and some field experience.  This job involves visiting established childcare centers and homes to regulate compliance with licensing laws.  It also involves helping interested parties set-up new childcare centers and homes.  I believe, with my 22 years of experience in the early childhood field, that I have much to offer and could be a great resource for the centers and homes as they strive to meet and maintain standards.  I would like to be able to use what I have learned, as a childcare owner and director, to help others.

http://www.ncchildcare.nc.gov

Another organization that I am interested in is Smart Start/North Carolina Partnership for Children. This organization focuses on services for children and families 0-5.  Their mission is to provide every young child the opportunity to become successful and ready for school.   In the past I worked for our local partnership for children as an early childhood specialist, but I would love the chance to work at the state level.  One of the positions that interests me is:  Programs Director.  This position involves providing technical assistance to local partnerships throughout the state and helping to identify and develop strategies and programs to promote quality early childhood services.  I think that I would love this position as it plays on my desire to work with both children and adults.  It requires a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field, as well as seven years of professional business experience in the early childhood field and five years of supervisory experience.  I think I am a perfect match!

http://www.smartstart.org

The third organization that I am interested in is the North Caroline Community College System.  I am teaching a couple of classes this semester, at my local community college,  but I am under the direct supervision of the department head and must have all of my assignments and interactions approved and monitored due to my status as “student teacher”.  I absolutely love teaching these classes and look forward to each new week.  I am able to share my experiences with others and I feel comfortable and competent discussing early childhood issues.  I have four community colleges within 60 miles of my home and I would be open to teaching at any of them.  According to the website, teaching early childhood courses requires a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field with at least 18 hours of early childhood courses.  I know that I have the experience and passion for teaching early childhood educators and hopefully, with the obtainment of my degree, I will fulfill my lifelong dream of teaching at this level.

http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/

Thanks for reading my blog!

Monette

Moving forward.....

I am so excited about my last class at Walden University.  The Capstone project promises to be very interesting and I cannot wait to see what lies ahead.  Although this is the "beginning of the end", I am sure that the journey as I move forward will be filled with just as much promise.

Thanks for reading and stay tuned.........

Farewell and Good Luck

I have enjoyed sharing this class with all of you!  I have learned so much about myself and how important communication is to beginning and sustaining lasting relationships.  I wish the best of luck to all of you and hope that I get to share more classes with you on this last leg of my journey.

Thanks for reading!
Monette

"Never Can Say Goodbye"

Saying good bye, or "adjourning" has always been particularly hard for me.  I think my struggles with leaving others or having others leave me are grounded in my particular childhood experiences.  Other than having to say a worldly goodbye to those who have died, and farewell to a marriage of 18 years, the hardest goodbye I have ever said was to my friends and co-workers in Head Start

I worked with Head Start for a little over 13 years.  I worked with basically the same group of managers for the entire time and leaving that group was bittersweet.  I wanted and needed to move on but leaving the familiarity of working together and our routines was very difficult.  I think that because we worked together so closely, were all very passionate about the program, endured several years of tough decisions and programmatic changes, and shared the experience of 2 of our team members dying,   leaving was extra hard.  I raised my kids with this group of women and men, sought their advice as a young married woman, learned how to be a professional, and learned how the real world of a non-profit works.  I don't think that I would be the woman I am today if not for this group of people and our shared experiences.  When I left we had a huge party and we all promised to keep in touch.  Sadly, life got very busy, I moved on, and we only see each other occasionally.  Although they are not in my daily life, they will forever hold a special place in my heart.  

Thanks for reading!

Monette

Conflict, conflict, conflict!

Conflict is something that I struggle with on a daily basis.  It seems as if I am always having some type of situation arise.  It is tough being a busy wife and grandmother as well as operating my center, teaching part-time, and helping with our homeschool co-op.  Between all of these roles is it any wonder that I experience some conflict?  Thankfully, conflict in my personal life really is minimal.  I may deal with minor issues but that part of my life is comfortingly boring.  My professional life, however, is a horse of a different color!

The most recent conflict that I experienced was with a parent at our center.  She has a little boy who is in our toddler room.  She left a note on my message board that she needed to speak with me when she picked up her son that afternoon.  I hadn't planned on being in the office at that particular time, but I rearranged my schedule to be available for her.  Upon arrival in my office she told me that she was very upset with our menu.  She was mad that we had offered her child black beans and hummus.  She proceeded to tell me that we should not be feeding him foods that clearly were not meant for children but were more suited to adult's likes.  I explained to her that we had recently received a grant to improve the quality and nutritional value of our meals and that black beans and hummus were 2 of our new foods that we were introducing.  I asked her if she had received the last 3 parent newsletters which detailed the grant and also had copies of upcoming menus and a list and timetable of when we would be introducing the new foods.  She stated that she had read the newsletters but she didn't think we would keep giving the children these crazy foods.  I asked her if her son had liked the foods and she stated that the teachers said he ate them but she didn't believe it and she didn't know if he liked them or not but that she didn't think we should feed this to him.   I VERY patiently, although I did not feel very patient, explained, again, how we were trying to make our menus healthier and working towards completely eliminating any processed foods.  Then I asked her if she minded if we looked at the video camera to see if her son ate the food.  She agreed and upon review of the camera, we discovered that not only did he eat both items but he also requested a second helping of the beans.  She could not believe that he was eating the food.  I gently told her that sometimes children eat different things at the center because they see their friends and teachers trying the foods and they want to try them too.  She never agreed that the foods were appropriate but she did finally say that maybe he just liked weird food.

I used several strategies during this conflict and I believed they helped me resolve the conflict with dignity and respect.  One of the strategies that I used was the 3 R's.  I treated the parent with respect, and responded to her in a timely manner by clearing my schedule to meet her needs.  Another strategy that I used was nonviolent communication.  Even when she was raising her voice at me and becoming very agitated I just kept calmly and patiently explaining the situation and trying to understand her concerns.  I think that one of the most important strategies that I used was the cooperative strategy.  By asking her questions, explaining our goals for the center, and offering different ways of looking at the situation, we were able to adequately resolve the conflict.  

How would you have handled the situation?

Thanks for reading!