Reflecting on Capstone Course

When I first started my classes with Walden University the idea of advocacy scared me. I thought it was too big for me. That it involved far too much politics that I did not want to participate in. Then I began researching policies and practices of early childhood education. 

 

With this course I was able to learn how to break down the stereotype of political advocacy as the only way to promote change. I now know that I can create positive change through small steps. 

I have learned that collaboration and communication through peers is the best way to refine passion into a measurable goal. 

I have also learned that everyone can make a difference if they become informed and strategically approach a problem. 

I hope to apply the research methodologies and applicable tips from all of my fellow colleagues as an early childhood educator. 

 

Thank you SO much to all who have struggled through each class with me! I might be crazy enough to keep going for a doctorate, who is with me!? Hahaha

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

Position: Step by Step Early Childhood Teacher

Though not currently advertised I would love to work for an association that promotes curiosity and creativity as cornerstones of their curriculum.

“The International Step by Step Association (ISSA) is a membership organization that connects professionals and organizations working in the field of early childhood development and education. ISSA promotes equal access to quality education and care for all children, especially in the early years of their lives. Established in the Netherlands in 1999, ISSA’s network today stretches across the globe from Central and Eastern Europe to Central Asia, Asia, and the Americas.”

“The role of the teacher is to facilitate children’s learning and create a community of learners. Teachers do not strive to be fountains of knowledge. Rather, teachers create a climate for learning, exemplifying the qualities that should be developed in children—intellectual curiosity, independent learning, enthusiasm, empathy and caring.

Teachers interact with children as they work and play. They observe and listen to children, record and evaluate their observations, and plan developmentally appropriate learning activities. In an environment where teachers encourage children to pursue their interests, children develop a strong sense of importance and self-initiative.”

Position: UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador

I would love to promote literacy through a worldwide organization.

“The UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors are an outstanding group of celebrity advocates who spread the ideals of UNESCO through their name and fame. They extend and amplify UNESCO's work and mission and have generously accepted to use their talent and status to help focus the world's attention on the work of UNESCO. Through their careers and humanitarian commitment they have made an important contribution towards the objectives and aims in UNESCO's four fields of competence, which are education, culture, science and communication/information.”

• Goodwill Ambassadors spread the ideals of UNESCO through their name and fame
• The Honorary Ambassador for the Decade of Literacy promotes
  education worldwide, especially for women and children
• Special Envoys support and raise awareness of UNESCO's activities
• Champions for Sport are truly outstanding sport personalities
• Artists for Peace come from the world of arts, music, poetry and literature

Position: Director, School & Community Services (Director I, Portfolio Management)

This position allows for growth and influence through a major worldwide corporation.

“FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in Health, Education, Nutrition, Environment, Economic Development, Civil Society, Gender, Youth, Research and Technology– creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today's interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 60 countries, all 50 U.S. states and all U.S. territories. We are currently seeking qualified candidates for the position of Director, School and Community Services (Director I, Project Portfolio) in Washington DC, New York, NY or remote.”

“The Department Director is expected to have a high level of technical qualifications, to demonstrate substantive and technical leadership for the department’s practice areas, and to be in a position to provide technical oversight of personnel within the Department.  The Department Director, supported by central financial and management services, is also responsible for the project financial management, executive and administrative staffing of the Department to meet the demands of each program and project.   The Department Director also has responsibility for maintaining the quality of staff in the Department, including training and staff development, so that there is overall professional development growth and opportunity for job satisfaction, and long-term professional growth of employees.”

National Early Childhood Advocacy Jobs

The Children’s Defense Fund

Position: Community Health Outreach Assistant

“To provide ongoing community outreach, education and training of key community groups and school leaders as well as individuals who have close contact with families of uninsured children.  The Community Health Outreach Assistant will:

• Assist in implementation of “train the trainer” modules, for key school and community members in providing education on children’s health insurance under ACA to other parents and community members;
• Schedule, facilitate and track training attendance;
• Educate general public on ACA benefits and enrollment processes through social media, traditional media and other channels as needed;
• Assist with enrollment of children eligible for health benefits under CHIP, Medicaid, and the ACA.

To coordinate ongoing outreach the Community Health Outreach Assistant will work with key community stakeholders to:

• Schedule, promote and conduct public outreach events promoting CHIP/Medicaid enrollment, utilization and renewal during regularly scheduled school activities and community events;
• Facilitate distribution of ACA informational materials and applications to the parents of uninsured children in schools, in the community, through media partners, and online.

To collaborate with CDF-Texas staff in developing and promoting accurate, timely and informative materials for families regarding ACA benefits. The Community Health Outreach Assistant will:

• Assist in the development of promotional and educational  material;
• Collaborate with CDF-TX staff on public messaging and dissemination of information”

Alliance for Childhood 

Position: National Advisory Board

“The Alliance for Childhood promotes policies and practices that support children’s healthy development, love of learning, and joy in living. Our public education campaigns bring to light both the promise and the vulnerability of childhood. We act for the sake of the children themselves and for a more just, democratic, and ecologically responsible future.”

National Institute for Early Education Research

Position: Senior Communications and Policy Specialists

“The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) at Rutgers has received a grant from the US Department of Education  to develop and carry out the work of its first ever Center on Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes (CEELO) , which will provide research-based support and technical assistance to the field on how to improve early education outcomes.  Will research and provide strategic and high quality technical assistance (TA) strategies to state policy makers on behalf of CEELO. Develops and organizes Webinars and Peer Learning Communities on topics related to current early childhood state policy issues.  Responsible for: coordinating and editing CEELO products for publication, including website, policy briefs, FastFacts, press releases, and blogs; generating data reports from the CEELO Tools Online Database to track technical assistance work and information requests and fulfillment.  Collaborates on the overall editorial, pictorial, and graphic concepts and plans for periodicals, book projects, publications, web sites, social media, and/or other publishing initiatives for NIEER, and coordinating and editing production of topical and timely blog posts, and other social media posting.  Contributes significantly to development and completion of NIEER's Annual State of Preschool Yearbook ("the Yearbook"), from data collection through publication and publicity. Responsible for checking and tracking data in the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), and/or other data file for the Yearbook, updating and composing entries for the Yearbook, and  communicating with state policy representatives regarding the data. In addition, the position will participate in research projects as assigned.  For NIEER, and as needed for CEELO,  will build industry relationships, identify and evaluate promising proposals, explore key area/issues/services for potential features, evaluate and determine appropriate articles to recommend, and present project proposals to unit for approval.  Provides editorial and acquisition expertise, and in-depth, subject specific advice to authors.  Facilitates the editorial review process. Collaborates with authors, oversees revision completion, and provides substantive editing of major research studies, reports, proposals, manuscripts, and scholarly articles for content, style, consistency, and clarity of message.   Recommends or determines illustrations, layout, design, and production of in-house and/or vendor print, web, or multimedia productions. Interviews, researches, writes, or otherwise creates original feature articles and editorials, text, graphic, audio, video, web-based, or other complex non-routine documents.”