Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

1.      Zero to Three (http://www.zerotothree.org/)

I chose this because it is a nonprofit organization and it helped me a lot earlier in the course with resources to know about children and issues they are facing. Also since this group “informs, trains, and supports professionals, policymakers, and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers” (Zero to Three, 2013), I feel that it has the power to really make changes in society. The job I found there is one for a Policy Analyst. It requires a Master degree in early childhood, public policy or social work. The skills they ask for the position are knowledge and experience in early care and education, family support, infant mental health and communication skills including oral, written and organizational communications.

 

2.      National Institute For Early Education Research (http://nieer.org/)

I chose this because I am interested in learning more about children after I finish my degree and they do research that are intended for use by policy makers. The job I am interested in there is as a Research Assistant at Rutgers University. The skills it requires are that candidates should be enrolled in education, child development, psychology, public policy or a related field, and have experience with early childhood practice, research or policy.

3.      AdoptUSKids (http://www.adoptuskids.org/about-us)

I chose this because I am interested in a job that makes a family for children and couples who need a new family. This organization is a service of U.S. Children’s Bureau and the missions are to “raise public awareness about the need for foster and adoptive families for children in the public child welfare system; and to assist U.S. States, Territories, and Tribes to recruit and retain foster and adoptive families and connect them with children” (AdoptUSKids, 2013).  The position available there is as an Administrative Assistant for the Executive Director. The skills it requires are a Bachelors degree, experience in child welfare and knowledge of adoption and oral proficiency in Spanish.

 

WK1: Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

 

The three organizations that appealed to me were Richmond Elementary School in Portland School District, The Doctors Luce Daycare, LLC, and Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO). I chose the first two because I can use my Japanese and knowledge of Japanese culture to help Japanese immigrant children build and keep the Japanese portions of their identities. These schools’ mission statements did not appeal to me because they only mention they are providing opportunities to learn in both English and Japanese. But I believe that learning in Japanese is more than a language issue for Japanese immigrant children.

IRCO’s work is not limited to Japanese immigrants or families, so it appealed to me. However, I think what I can do best in this organization is becoming an interpreter. They also have clear missions such as empowering immigrant families so that they can become self-sufficient and developing partnerships with other communities, government agencies and non-profit organizations.

 

The job opportunity I would like to seek at Richmond Elementary School is a Japanese immersion teacher. They do not have a position right now but there is an opening for a Spanish immersion teacher. The skills and experience the teacher needs is the Oregon TSPC license with Early Childhood Education, elementary or other endorsement and native or near native fluency.

 

 

The job opportunity I would like to seek at The Doctors Luce Daycare is also a teacher. For that, I need experience of working at a daycare for more than a year or a degree in early childhood education. The job I would like to seek at IRCO is for professional Interpreters in IRCO’s International Language Bank section. But they are currently only looking for interpreters for Karen, Somali, Nepali, Tagalog, and Cantonese. The skills I need for this position is at least 6 months of interpreting experience for any of the listed languages, a high school diploma (though higher education is plus) and any relevant training or education (health care or language)

 

EDUC 6990 Capstone: Practical Application in the Early Childhood Field

WK 8: Reflecting on Learning

My most passionate hope for my future as an early childhood professional and for the child and families with whom I work or I will work is that I will be able to use my knowledge and the skills I learned from this course to move children and families to think about who they are, be proud of who they are, respect others with differences and appreciate the diversity in our society. I learned that the biases and misconceptions that exist in people can be broken if people get a chance to know about the targeted groups of people, learn the facts that prove we are all the same in a way and that what negative consequences that biases and misconceptions cause for the targeted groups of people.

 

To my colleagues,

Thank you very much for giving great insights throughout the course. I hope we can make changes for children and family and their futures by our working as anti-bias educators. I am hoping your journey at Walden and your future careers will be successful.