Eploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local & State Levels

http://www.naeyc.org/

One of the most influential organizations that appeal to me and perhaps to every early childhood educator is the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Throughout my professional career, I have always maintained membership with NAECY due to their dedication to improving the quality and accessibility of early childhood education programs and enhancing the development of children and families. Unfortunately, employment opportunities with NAEYC are all available at their headquarters in Washington, DC and would require me to relocate.

One of the job opportunities available and would be of interest to me is a system integrity specialist. This person is responsible for supporting the System Integrity component of the NAEYC Academy by monitoring child care programs' compliance with NAEYC Accreditation Standards and Criteria.

In order to meet the qualifications for this position, I would need to gain more experience in the field preferably in a NAEYC accredited program in order to fully grasp the accreditation process.

http://ccld.ca.gov/PG411.htm

My second choice would be the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD). This agency is responsible for the licensing and monitoring of home and center- based child care facilities. When I established the preschool program for our non-profit organization, I was assigned a Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) who was in charge of reviewing my application, approving my license, and conducting follow up inspection visits.

Similar to the previously mentioned position by NAEYC, both a system integrity specialist and a LPA are responsible for quality control. A system integrity specialist’s guidelines are NAEYC’s accreditation process, whereas a LPA’s guidelines are the licensing regulations set by the State of California,

This work appeals to me because I enjoy quality control insuring that all children are being served within safe, quality, and nurturing environments.

There are currently job openings for a LPA position. To qualify for the position, I would need to pass a state civil service examination.

http://www.ecementor.org/index.html

The California Early Childhood Mentor Program is also a program that I would love to belong to. It is a state program funded by the California Department of Education, Child Development Division. Having had a personal experience with the program when I first started my new position as a preschool director, I saw the effectiveness of the program and the impact it had on my work. The program provides opportunities for classroom teachers and program directors to be mentored by qualified teacher and director mentors.

According to the program website, the qualifications for a director mentor position are:

·         At least three years of administrative experience

·         Current or former employment in child development programs

·         Participation in a half-day information session

·         Completion of a full-day Director Mentor Institute

To fulfill this role, I would need at least two more years of experience as a director at my center.

http://www.rcc.edu/riverside/index.cfm

Finally, it has always been a career goal for me to become an early childhood educator at an educational institute; either college or university. The impact my early childhood teachers have had on me has been tremendous and it continues to be as I progress through my Master’s program. I am passionate about educating future teachers and impacting their contributions to the field.

I was able to find one job opening at a nearby community college for an early childhood education instructor. The requirements were a Master’s degree in early childhood education and some teaching experience. At the university level; however, a Doctorate is a must in addition to the years of teaching experience.

As far as education, I am on the right path to achieving this position and as I continue to grow in my current position as a program director, I am sure that I will accumulate the needed experience one day.