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