High Scope (www.highscope.org)
High Scope is based in Michigan but serves the early
childhood field nation-wide and around the world with resources, training and
research. Their mission is to life lives through education; creating a
world where all educational settings use active participatory learning
so everyone has a chance to succeed in life and contribute to society. I work extensively with their Program Quality
Assessment tools for preschool, infant-toddler and family child care in
Michigan’s quality initiative. There were several open positions on their
website for positions in early childhood settings nationally and around the
globe in such places as Shanghai, Beijing and Milan, Italy. The position that
caught my eye however, was one for an early childhood specialist for a school
district here in Michigan. It would require me to relocate downstate however.
Another I found intriguing and may not require relocation was for a research
associate. Personally, I think I would prefer being in charge of a study,
responsible for the design and structure of it and overseeing its implementation.
Though not listed, I would be interested in being a trainer for High Scope on
the PQA tool as I am well experienced with it and training adults in the field.
The Center for the
Child Care Workforce (CCW)- (www.ccw.org)
CCW’s mission is to improve the quality of early care and
education for all children by promoting policy, research and organizing that
ensure the early care and education workforce is well-educated, receives better
compensation and a voice in their workplace. CCW believes that the
front-lines workforce is needed at the decision-making table, providing input
on structure, staffing and wages. Their aim is to value, respect and honor the
voice of those who care for and educate these vitally important professionals. Visit
the links portion of the website for dozens of valuable early childhood
websites that share this vision for quality child care for all families. There were
no job postings on this site but I would welcome a position with this
organization as a contact in Michigan. Though the focus has been on quality,
equitable and respectful decision-making to benefit child care teachers and
providers has not been as extensive as it could, and should be. My skills in collaborative
leadership and professional development would serve me well.
Erikson Institute (www.erikson.edu)
Erikson is an independent institution of higher education
that prepares child development and family service professionals for leadership
through academic programs, applied research, and community service and
engagement. Erikson aims to improve our
ability as practitioners, researchers and decision-makers to improve the life
for children and families. They bring the latest scientific research and
theories on child development and learning into the classroom and out in the
community so that we can serve children and families more informed, inspired and
responsive. There values include relationship-based education, a commitment to
social justice, diversity, complexity and high standards and excellence. I was
especially intrigued by their National Fussy Baby Network (http://www.erikson.edu/fussybaby/)
as I thought it would be a fantastic resource for single parents, my capstone
focus. Regarding job postings, the only one at this time was for an Early
Childhood Program Services Coordinator for Cook County. As relocation is not
ideal, I would instead like to pursue being the first affiliate in Michigan and
even this portion of the country to offer these services to professionals and
families. It would cover all of the
areas I am passionate about: Quality early childhood care and education, family
support, and the development of the early childhood workforce through higher
education.
Hi Tammra, first of all, thank you for posting early in the week; it makes a huge difference. Like you, I found quite a few jobs that stirred my curiousity but location proved challenging. At this stage in my life, I would consider a move but it would have to be for the 'right' position. This week's research has certainly made me aware of the wealth of early childhood jobs available in areas that I never knew existed; the opportunities go way beyond classroom teaching. In many ways, this validates my pushing towards a Master's Degree, because my passion for making a difference doubled.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, thanks for sharing the National Fuzzy Baby network. I do many workshops for infant teachers, and I am certain this web page will have much to offer. It's always exciting, for me, to find new avenues to travel on. Thanks for sharing!
Dear Tammra,
ReplyDeleteAwesome resources. The HighScope link might be very helpful for my Capstone project. But that link for the fussy baby network is fabulous! I will share with my colleagues and the mommy groups I belong to. Caring for a baby can be soooo daunting, whether you are mom or a caregiver, having a place to call for support can be extremely helpful.
Thanks for sharing!
Angie
Hi Tammra,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post about the resrouces that you found. I am very familiar with Erikson Institute because I considered attending their program and I have many co-workers that recieved a dual degree from one of the programs that they offer. I will be reviewing some research from students at Erikson for my capstone project and I look forward to learning more about litearcy and poverty. The Center for the Childcare Workforce seems to provide the support that professionals need in the field. Thanks for providing these resources.
Tammra
ReplyDeleteAs always I enjoyed reading you blog, I think the resources you chose are very good ones, I especially like Erikson Institute. I also like CCW mission statement.
Thanks
Naquetta