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

This week we are assigned to find 3 national/ federal childhood organization that appealed to us. I found the following:

First is National Association of Education for Young Children (NAEYC).  

 I read lots of research and monthly publications from this non-profit organization. They “promotes high-quality early learning for all children, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy, and research” (NAEYC, 2005a). Their core beliefs are: excellence and Innovation, transparency, reflection, equity and Opportunity, and collaborative relationships (NAEYC, 2005a). NAEYC dedicates to improve the quality programs for young children from birth through age 8 through conference, publications, professional development, advocate in public policy and etc. (NAEYC, 2005b).  They also have accreditation systems to support programs and institutions with a goal to improve the quality of early childhood education.  Additionally, they publish books, journals, articles and quarterly early childhood research publication with different current trends topics to diverse audience such as teachers, families, and practitioners. One of their publications Voices of Practitioners is authored by child development educators, teachers, practitioners, which makes the articles more realistic and practical to child development educators (NAEYC, 2005c). 

 One of their openings that is interested to me is Early Learning Systems Director, Quality Assessment and Assurance. The position is “responsible for managing all aspects of the accreditation assessment and assurance process  with attention to  high quality customer support, accreditation integrity, assessor support, and use of assessment data to drive quality improvement” (2005d). Lead the quality assessment team, oversees the systems, process and responding to incidents and complaints, manage and ensure the quality of the assesoors and etc.  The qualification includes bachelor’s degree, master’s degree a plus, minimum 3 years supervisory experience leading staff, contractors, ability to positively, motivate and engage staff and other stakeholders, of course with NAEYC accreditation preferred ( NAEYC, 2005d). I think with my over 4 years supervision experience, education background and the ability to influence my colleagues would qualified for this job. I am always interested to work on the quality assessment related job to help improve the quality of education in a different way. I believe that assessment helps us learn about our strengths and area to improve. Yet, I would like to learn more about NAEYC so that I could support the team to ensure the system and quality is developed appropriately and adhere to the NAEYC standards.

West Ed is a “nonpartisan, nonprofit research, development, and service agency working with education and other communities throughout the United States and abroad” (West Ed, 2015a). Their focus is “on creating positive, innovative, and sustainable improvements in education and human development” (West Ed, 2013a). They also published books, articles and publications like NAEYC. Their area of services and focuse also have some similairity like NAEYC such as assessment, early childhood development and learning, English Language Leaner, literacy and etc. Yet, West Ed. also provide services and supports on content in health, safety & well-bing, science College & career, early childhood development & learning, English language learners, Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM), special education, and etc. (West Ed., 2015b). Each of these content provides variety of services, support systems and links to different research or articles related to different audience, such as teachers, students, leaders, etc. For example, in the Area of Work for Teachers & Leaders, one of their services is a Mathematic Seminar for K-12 teachers (West Ed, 2015c). They also have a service to partner with districts or school nationwide to “provide comprehensive transformation services aimed at achieving rapid and sustainable improvement in the face of the most far-reaching reform initiatives in the nation’s history” ( West Ed, 2015d).

Similar job posting that I am interested is the Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) Coordinator. This position “will coordinate the implementation of the Santa Clara County Quality Rating and Improvement System. The QRIS Coordinator will coordinate multiple stakeholders and programs to ensure that the QRIS system conforms to the requirements of California’s Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) Grant” (West Ed, 2015e). Their qualifications included Bachelor Degree in ECE, experience with tools for measurement of CLASS, ERS family, familiar with QRIS and etc. I think I am qualified to this position as part of current job is to support teachers in the CLASS assessment and the Environment Rating tools.

            It is a nationwide organization supports low-income children from birth to five and their families. Their services and area of focusese include: mental, social, and emotional development of children from birth to age 5 ( Head Start, n.d.,a). Once the program become the grantee, Head Start will assess them through a monitoring system to ensure the quality of the program and monitor if they are compliance with the Head Start performance standards such as Environmental Health and Safety, Management Systems and Program Governance, fiscal Integrity, Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance (ERSEA), comprehensive Services and School Readiness, and  Teacher-Child Interactions ( Head Start, n.d., b). They also have assigned consultant to provide training and technical assistance to the programs and their teachers.  The office of Head Start also partner with various federal agencies in expanding the services, resources and funding available to programs and their local partners. For example, they partner with The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) partners on improving health and equity in health equity. One of the program is called Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program, which is a program to support pregnant women to develop skills they need to raise children who are physically, socially and emotionally healthy and ready to learn (Head Start, n.d.c).
            One of the position that interested to me is the Assistant Director position. The duties include oversight and monitoring of Education, Health, and Disability/Mental Health program activities, Participate as a lead in annual Self-Assessment of HS/EHS program, Develop plans of utilization of community and Agency resources; initiate and maintain needed liaison with public and private agencies to Head Start families etc. I am qualified to the qualification of this position with at least 3 years management expeirnece in Head Start and a Bachelor’s Degree. I also think that this position would help me learn more about the behind the scene work, for instance, working closely with the Director to develop policies for the programs, budget and other critical management decision.

References 

Head Start (n.d.a). About Head Start. Retrieved from:  http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/hs

Head Start (n.d.b). Introduction to Monitoring. Retrieved from http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/grants/monitoring/intro-to-monitoring.html

Head Start (n.d.c). called Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program. Retrieved from  http://mchb.hrsa.gov/programs/homevisiting/

NAEYC (2005a). Our Mission and Strategic Direction. Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/about/mission

NAEYC (2005b). Home Page. Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/

NAEYC (2005c). Voices of Practitioners. Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/publications/vop

NAEYC (2005d). Job Opportunities. Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/about/jobs

West Ed (2015a). About Us. Retrieved from http://www.wested.org/about-us/

West Ed (2015b). Area of Work. Retrieved from http://www.wested.org/areas-of-work/

West Ed (2015c). Area of Work Teachers and Leaders. Retrieved from http://www.wested.org/areas-of-work/teachers-leaders/services/

West Ed (2015d). A Comprehensive Approach to School and District Improvement. Retrieved from http://www.wested.org/service/comprehensive-school-and-district-improvement-services/

West Ed (2015e). West Ed Position Announcement. Retrieved from http://careers.wested.org/cs/jp/view/hr_pos/4809