What are you Going to Teach the World?

My mother always tells me I can't save the world. While I may not be able to save the world directly,  I can work to save the children. Before beginning this program, I knew I wanted to ensure we were progressing down the right path for children. Now as the program comes to a close, I have learned that:
              **Diversity is much more than what we see. Diversity also connects in ways we are not even remotely aware of.  I strive to be the leader who looks at disabilities with the realization that each person has the ability for greatness despite their outward appearances.
             ** Listening will move our field so much more than talking. If we would just take the time to listen to children, families, stakeholders, peers, everyone, we will have the ability to meet one another's needs without conflict.
             ** While my experiences are in the state of Pennsylvania, I have connected with other students from other corners of the United States and the world. We were all children once and we share many of the very same struggles. I have learned so much from the student and faculty of this program through the sharing of possible solutions to these problems.
             ** I have learned to trust in myself. In looking back, I wanted to throw in the towel after the child development course. The instructor held the highest expectations of any course I ever had and I honestly thought "It's child development. It will be a cakewalk." I was sadly mistaken and grew in my ability to push forward. I am so glad I did not give up.

Looking forward, I truly see myself as self-employed. I have learned so much from the administrators I have worked under and created numerous connections in this field. My plan is to begin researching my options for opening up my own early learning facility. The choices are limited where I live and the options that are available are low quality. Locating start-up funding will be the biggest hurdle I foresee. In the event this dream does not come true, I will look to become an in-service educator and consultant. I enjoy my role as a CDA PD Specialist, but I know I need the connection with children.

To my past instructors: I thank you for challenging my belief system and encouraging me to think outside the box. The resources that were provided on this journey were completely amazing and I look forward to sharing what I have learned with my peers and staff. I thank you for the endless hours of grading papers and posting on discussion boards. Thank you for always correcting my APA format. I honestly won't miss that at all. You have truly made an impact in my life and I hope that our paths may cross again someday.

To my colleagues: Thank you for your honest and candid feedback. You may not have always agreed with everything, but in doing so, you helped me grow into the leader I hoped to be. From the discussion boards to the blog posts, you were always there to support and provide insight. I found it reassuring that we often shared the same struggles and achievements. I wish each one of you continued success.

 

Arlene McMahon

mcmahonclan5@aol.com

Across the Ocean...International Opportunities

I must admit I found this assignment a little intimidating because of the scope of this project. I reviewed several sites and could not come to terms with applying for a position that was not located in my hometown. Then it hit me, that this is my time to dream and learn. What if I could just pick up everything and move to Paris while improving education for young children? I have now let go of being grounded and begun to dream.

I am currently with working with refugee children and families. I hear the stories of how they left their war-stricken countries and have been uprooted. They have left so much behind in hopes for a better future in the United States. I am eager to learn more about how to assist these families in transition and feel that the organization Save the Children would be an ideal agency to work for. I am intrigued by the Human Resources Generalist position posted on their site. I have a passion for HR work and creating positive work environments. This position would bring together many of my passions in the field. This position would require a BS with HR experience in recruiting, learning, compensation and HR practice. The applicant would need to be proficient in Office and ideally understand the Ceridian, SharePoint, and Cornerstone applications. I am familiar with none of them.

I also enjoyed reading about the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators. I learned that this organization provides platforms for communication amongst teachers (NAECTE, 2014). I know it's hard for teachers to network with one another with ratio standards, but this venue may provide them with the platform they need. While the job positions that were posted appeared to be from a variety of local colleges and centers. One such position, Preschool Instructional Assistant, appealed to me and I meet the qualifications of the position which include possession of a BS in Education or higher degree as well as the ability to teach nature lessons regardless of weather.


My current position is with a local diversity center in which I work with families from all over the world. Upon reading about the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), I found they work to ensure ....They have a variety of positions available from temporary consultant work to secretarial and professional positions. Under professional opportunities, various sectors are listed. The Educational sector appealed to me as it entails working to ensure educational quality for all children across the globe, celebrating diversity and ensuring the protection of human rights. I see so many families come to the United States and listen to their stories of their lives in their home country. I believe a position such as this would permit me to grow in my knowledge and share my compassion for helping people. The position requires an advanced degree in education, or a variety of other specialties along with the ability to communicate fluently in English and or French with a working knowledge of the other language. There are experience levels indicated for various positions along with management experience (UNESCO, n.d.).


References

National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators (2014). Job opportunities. Retrieved from http://www.naecte.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29&Itemid=42

Save the Children. (2014). Careers. Retrieved from http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6226565/k.BFEA/Working_at_Save_the_Children.htm

United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (n.d.). UNESCO Careers. Retrieved from http://en.unesco.org/careers/professional

Federal/National Job Opportunities

A close friend of mine recently became employed through our local Head Start office and has raved about the resources that are available for families and children. I reviewed the National Head Start site for their job openings and found that I would need to become a member to fully review the postings (National Head Start Association, 2014). There were a variety of options available across the nation for positions from everything for health consultants, teachers, and human resource analysts. My friend shared that there will be a professional development coordinator position opening up in my area. This person will facilitate the professional development of the teachers as well as other trainers. As a past CDA trainer and with my upcoming graduation, I feel I would be an ideal applicant for this position because I have served as a certified trainer for over five years. This position was the most appealing to me as it would continue to permit me to work in the field, but without the stresses of staffing, enrollment, and budgets.

My journey for a position with a national agency took me to the Association for Early Learning Leaders. I had never heard of this agency prior to this research. This agency exists to bring early learning leaders together in our pursuit for quality by collaborating with other national agencies (Association for Early Learning Leaders, n.d.). Under their "Professional Development" tab, there is a link for careers which sends users to a brief survey. I did find that this agency is not recognized by the state of Pennsylvania for accreditation, but did find that a preschool teaching position in Illinois was available for candidates with a Bachelor's in ECE. I would have preferred to find something more administrative but felt this site would have amazing resources to assist in my professional growth as a leader.

My final stop was at the National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA) site. Here I found the opportunity to become a verifier. While specific education requirements were not listed, it was evident, candidates must possess a knowledge and passion for the early learning field and be willing to travel consecutive days. Candidates can apply online and if approved in the first phase, will receive an study pack that the candidate must become fluent in. Once mastered, applicants complete three site visits with a lead verifier (NECPA, 2013). I find this position appealing because I could travel and observe a variety of programs. I find it so rewarding to be a part of the continued growth of a center. In this position, I could provide resources to ensure they were on their path to quality and provide the feedback needed to improve practices.

References:
Association for Early Learning Leaders, (n.d.). Career Center. Retrieved from http://www.earlylearningleaders.org/networking/opening_search.asp

National Early Childhood Program Accreditation, (2013). Verifier. Retrieved from http://www.necpa.net/positiondetail.php

National Head Start Association, (2014). Job Board. Retrieved from https://www.nhsa.org/professional_development/job_board

ECE Roles - What I want to be when I grow up...

I feel that I am at a crossroads in my career as I question the business practices of my current employer. Through exploring the possible roles I could potentially see myself in, I have looked into the NW Regional Key which assists in setting the quality rating standards for our state. I actually interviewed for a position with this organization over the summer. Applicants were to possess a BS in ECE or a related field, possess a working knowledge of Pennsylvania child care regulations as well as STARS standards. I was offered the position and felt that I would have exceled in this role, yet the position required a tremendous amount of time away from home and my family.

I also found PACCA (Pennsylvania Child Care Association). This agency is an advocacy agency for child care centers in the state of PA. This membership driven organization is comprised of a board and offers a variety of committees to serve on. It appears that past experience with child care is helpful to serve on committees. While employment information was not listed on the website, I did read that they provide information to determine public policy as well as links to governmental officials.

The final agency I found was the Erie County Co-operative Extension. While this agency has departments that cover everything from farming to 4-H and child care, there is a wide variety of topics that can be covered. Under the early learning area, I found the option to order instructor modules. As a certified instructor for Pennsylvania, I found this option a possibility. As a certified trainer, I need to prove my experience and expertise in particular areas as well as possess a BS in ECE. Better Kid Care is a department under the auspice of the Co-Op Extension. Through ordering their materials, I would ensure a quality training without the stress of planning the coursework.

Continuing the Journey

     This course came in for a prime time for reflection for me and my career. I was displaced from my position as a child care director and upon reflecting about the reasons why, I found it boiled down to communication. Prior to this course, I was less likely to listen to other perspectives if they were not in line with the mission and vision of my center. I have learned to remove the emotion from decision making and ask more questions along the way. I have learned to listen closely and attempt to understand the other's point of view, which I had not done as well previously.I was also able to validate my leadership strengths and ability to collaborate with families and agencies. I am excited to apply these new skills and knowledge to the next journey that awaits me and feeling very excited to delve into the next course on team building.

    In closing, I wanted to share that it has been such a pleasure reading the discussion and blog posts each week. The growth that has occurred in all of us is truly amazing and much of that learning has been through supporting each other.

It's So Hard to Say Good-Bye

One of the most successful groups that I was on involved the planning for our high school reunion. Our class president stepped down from planning after our 5 year reunion and I took over and planned the next 3 reunions with different classmates each time. This last reunion, I worked with a classmate who lived in Michigan while I live in Pennsylvania. We had several face-to-face meetings over the course of a year and numerous online chats via Facebook. We had to work through the last minute cancellation of a DJ as well as last minute questions & reservations by classmates. All in all, the reunion was a success and classmates are still talking about the events three years after the festivities. Stephanie and I became close friends during the planning process despite the distance, but as the need to communicate on a regular basis after the reunion diminished, so did our connections. Gradually more and more time went between phone calls and chat messages to the point where we only see each other twice per year. Looking back, our goal was accomplished so it would be necessary to adjourn that part of our relationship, but our friend connection has continued in a different capacity (O'Hair & Weimann, 2012).

I've worked in other successful group projects at work and have found the same conclusion that while the work is done, it is difficult to transition to a different form of relationship. I also worked on a planning committee for an early learning expo where I had continual contact with other directors. During our planning process, we would talk about issues and successes at work while serving as a sounding board for one another. Once the expo ended, that personal connection also ended. I wish we would have set up further meeting dates just to connect with other administrators who "get it". This team was the hardest to leave as I felt that I would be returning to the role of director with no one to talk things through with.

There have been several names that I see continually in each of the groups I have worked in throughout my studies here. It is a pleasure to learn about their experiences and know that I am not alone in struggles. While graduation is not too terribly far away, I believe we will all need a sense of closure but also the ability to connect again if needed.

Adjourning brings closure to the team. There have been times where adjourning has been the only positive effect of the team as in the results being less than stellar. Other times adjourning can be emotional, either because the team has done so well and there is excitement about the accomplishment or because close bonds have formed and the team may not have the option to work together again.

Reference:

O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Real communication. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's

Conflict & Reflection

I believe that this week's lesson has come at an amazing time for reflection. I have recently moved on in my role as a child care director as managing people has proven difficult for me. A recent disagreement that sticks out regarded a person who was a long time employee. She was on leave for her protected time and needed additional time which was granted, but we also let her know that we were looking at applicants. Towards the end of her leave, she resigned and we hired her replacement. Her best friend approached me to talk about her feelings on the situation. She did not appreciate that I could so easily let a long time staff person go so easily and shared how much she brought to the program. She continued to question the management decisions that were made. I validated her feelings and shared that it was difficult to make the decision as I valued this person as a person as well. I shared some of the reasons I was close with this person as well. We then went on to discuss that this was purely a business decision. We needed to move the team forward and regroup as the team has suffered a high rate of turnover. She inquired why I never called the teacher and I explained that I was scared she wouldn't talk. I was also afraid I might say something that would violate HR laws and be perceived differently than intended so I avoided the conversation and let HR handle it. After the friend left the office, I needed a moment to collect myself and took her comments personally. I saw that this was a personal decision for her, yet for me it was a business decision. I talked with the Employee Assistance Counselor to walk me through these feelings and she explained I just needed to email myself to remind that it was for the better and the benefits of moving on. I would be curious to know what I could have done differently. I have facilitated an environment of the staff not trusting me which has resulted in my change in jobs. I felt I shared openly as best I could (without violating any other person's rights) and I listened. I asked probing questions and offered suggestions, yet I was painted as the bad guy and lost my job.

As part of the reflection process, I see that I could have been more open with all the staff in the process. With the many rules and laws that govern a person's rights, I find it hard to strike a balance. Everything I have learned about in leadership courses is to be transparent with staff. How do I be transparent yet protect confidentiality? What could I have done differently? I miss my role, my families, and the majority of the staff. I understand I need to work through these issues before I can take on another position.