National Organizations and Job Opportunities

National Organizations and Job Opportunities

            This week I have had the opportunity to explore some new websites and review one that I visit more frequently.  I am a member of the National Head Start Association, but I do not visit their website as often as I should.  At this time they have a job posting for Training/Technical Assistance within the United States (NHSA, 2013).  Because I have worked with Head Start for eight years, this interests me.  To obtain this job I would have to be willing to travel, have examples of how new material might be presented successfully and answer questions that might arise in relation to the material that is presented.  At least 5 years of experience working in the Head Start program is required.  An acquaintance of mine actually applied for and got a job as a Training/Technical Assistance worker.  She just graduated from Walden in June.

            Another job that interests me is being a Consulting Editor for Young Children and NAEYC Publications (NAEYC.,  n.d.).  This job interests me because I love learning new things in the early childhood field.  I also love to read!  Being a consultant requires reading material that is submitted and writing your thoughts about what has been written.  Being able to objectively critique writing is an important skill.  An applicant also must seek out writers that could submit work for publication in the publications listed above.  Once I have completed graduate school, this is a job I might seek out.  I might also like to collaborate with other people to write an article for a publication.

            A third job that interests me is an Education Program Specialist (U.S. Department of Education, 2013).    This position interests me because it requires writing of federal policies in regard to education.  It also requires that the individual gather and disperse data in relation to school performance.  An Education Program Specialist also focuses on key educational issues in order to inform others of the importance of that issue to the future success of the U.S.  They would also prohibit discrimination.  To apply, a person must be a U.S. citizen and have experience and postgraduate education in education or experience working in the field of education and government.  I would enjoy this position because there are changes that I would like to see implemented in regard to education.  I would welcome the opportunity to speak to groups about the data collected.  The one area in which I lack experience is working for the government.

            I am looking forward to making some changes in my professional life once my degree is complete.  I have applied for a local Head Start Director’s position nearer to where I live and am working to update my résumé so that I can apply to teach either at a community college or on the college level.

References

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) (n.d.)  Retrieved from

            http://www.naeyc.org/getinvolved/consultingeditors

National Head Start Association (NHSA) (2013). Retrieved from    

            http://www.nhsa.org/?e=jobBoard.index&categoryFilter=1

United States Department of Education. (2013).  Retrieved from

            http://washingtondc.jobing.com/education-program-specialist-gs-1720-14-ed/job/employment/49644034

Job Opportunities in Early Childhood

Opportunities in Communities of Practice

            I am excited about the opportunities that will be afforded me once my degree program is completed.  One opportunity is to become a preschool director.  A position just opened in Hanover County, VA for a Head Start Preschool Director (Hanover County Public Schools, 2013).  I am hoping that I can be considered for this position.  The qualifications include a teacher’s license, a master’s degree in early childhood with a specialization in Administration and Supervision, recent successful experience as an early childhood teacher or experience as an administrator.  Because I have been the Education and Disabilities Coordinator for nine years and for one and a half years acted as the Director where I am currently working, I am excited about the prospect.   It would also shorten my commute which my family would appreciate.

            Another opportunity is to teach at a community college, a college, or at an online university.  A Master’s Degree is required to teach at the college level.  Some online universities require a Doctorate to teach, but Averett University only requires a Master’s Degree for some classes.  I could also teach evening classes at University of Richmond (2013) or Virginia Commonwealth University (2013).  At this time there are no openings in the areas of administration or education at the community college or college level closest to where I live.  I am working on my résumé to include all of the activities in which I have experience.

            A third opportunity is to become a mentor for the Virginia Star Quality Initiative (Virginia Star Quality Initiative Mentor Toolkit, 2012).  To be considered for this job, a person has to have at least a Bachelor’s Degree in early childhood, be certified in CLASS observation tool and ECKERS, have at least five years of experience in early childhood education, and have good interpersonal skills to help guide the practice of teachers and teacher’s assistants.  Our program has been through ratings twice, and I am currently the chair of our local Smart Beginnings Program.  These skills give me experience and a working knowledge of the Virginia Star Quality Initiative.

References

Hanover County Public Schools (2013, September 11). Retrieved from

                http://hanover.k12.va.us/human_resource/vacancy%20flyers/Coordinator%20Federal%20Progr

                ams%20(2).pdf

University of Richmond (UR) (2013). Retrieved from  http://education.richmond.edu/faculty/index.html

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) (2013). Retrieved from

                http://www.pubinfo.vcu.edu/facjobs/facjobNew.asp?Item=5193

Virginia Star Quality Initiative (VSQI) (2012). Virginia Star Quality Initiative Mentor Toolkit.  Retrieved

                from http://www.smartbeginnings.org/Portals/5/PDFs/VSQI/Mentor_Toolkit