Cari's Journey Comes to an End

The idea that this program is complete is shocking and feels a bit surreal.  I have sacrificed time with my family, friends and many many hours of sleep.  My perspective has been changed and my passion has been ignited.  For this last assignment, we have been required to identify three major things that we have learned so here they are:

1- Diversity is a strength for any group.  This realization was perspective changing for me and I will hold on to it for my whole life.  I used to think that diversity might mean only conflict but now I can see that differing perspectives can be an asset and can make a group stronger.

2 - Anything that requires a sacrifice will be worth it in the end.  Whether it is earning a master's degree, losing weight or hiking a mountain, all are rewarding but all require sacrifice.  Actually, I would venture to say that the most rewarding things in life come as a result of a sacrifice made by someone.

3 - SET THE BAR HIGH.
As a preschool teacher, I am constantly raising the bar for my students.  I want them to continuously grow and achieve new accomplishments.  As soon as they master something, I raise the bar.  We need to do the same thing for ourselves as adults.  We need to never be satisfied with what we know or have already mastered because there are always more things to learn.  If we do not set the bar high for ourselves, we will not grow in our understanding.  I hope to be a life-long learner.  I hope that each and every opportunity that arises before me will result in me expanding my knowledge in some way.

A Goal For the Future

The only goal I feel I can share is that I hope to always follow my passion.  I want to work in an area where my passion lies.  I want to be excited everyday when I wake up to go to work because I know I will make a difference and I am passionate about my job.  I do not know where my next place of employment will be or when I will change jobs, but I know that when I do change jobs, it will be because I find something that I love to do.  

My Colleagues

To those of you who have gone through this process with me.  We did it.  It has been rewarding, challenging, at times frustrating and exhausting.  We have all made sacrifices and gone through difficult times but we made it.  We now have the tools to go from here and to make a real difference in the field of early childhood.  

I hope you are proud of yourselves!!

It has been quite a journey and now that it is coming to an end, a new journey begins.

Good luck to you all and remember:  

Stay focused on your passion and your job won't feel like work! :)

Capstone - Week 6 - International Agencies

This week we are charged with finding three international early childhood agencies that interest us.  Then we need to explain why they interest us and list at least one job opening in one of the agencies.

The first international early childhood agency that I found interesting is the World Bank Group because their mission is to work to reduce poverty.  Poverty effects so many children around the world and it is such an important topic for the field of early childhood.  The website is:

http://www.worldbank.org/

The second international agency that interests me is the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI).  They state their mission as follows:

"Our mission is to promote and support the optimal education, 

development, and well-being of children worldwide, 

and to influence the professional growth of educators 

and the efforts of others who are committed to the needs of children

 in a changing society. We have consultative status with the United Nations."


This is a mission I can support fully.  Their website is:

http://acei.org/ 

The last agency I found interesting is called Learn 4 Good.  It is an international job finding website for early childhood.  The link is:  http://www.learn4good.com/jobs/e/98136/employer/search/  

There are many jobs listed at that last site but I am more interested in local openings.

There actually is a director position open in a small town near my hometown.  The only requirement I do not meet is a minimum two year requirement for supervising people.  Officially (meaning a paid position), I have not supervised anyone.  This is the only area where I am not qualified for the position.  I still think I would apply if the timing was right.  The link for the position is: http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?Job_DID=JHS80M6ZHWR05TYVSWZ&siteid=CBSIMPLYHIRED&showNewJDP=yes&ipath=EXGOO

Capstone - Week 4

If I were going to choose any three national or federal early childhood organization to work for, I would choose the following:

1- The Center for the Childcare Workforce

 http://www.ccw.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=41

The reason I would like to work for them is because I have a desire to change the field of early childhood for the better, not just one child at a time.  Right now I am a preschool teacher (which I love) but I know I do not want to be a teacher for ever.  There is much that could be improved in the field and I would love to be a part of that (especially the wage issue).

2- The second national agency I would love to work for would be NAEYC (The National Association for the Education of Young Children).  The reasons are self-explanatory because of who NAEYC is and who they have been for the early childhood field I appreciate them.

http://www.naeyc.org/

3- The third agency I would like to work for would be the Association for Early Learning Leaders.  Their focus is to promote and support leadership qualities in early childhood and in turn, they support high quality programs.

http://www.naccp.org/

If I were going to picture the ideal job for me in the field of early childhood, it would be related to advocating for the teachers in the field.  I also would love to be the person who comes in to help motivate teachers or better yet, administrators who need encouragement and focus.  We all know that people do not get into this field for the money. We all want to make a difference for a child or for a family.  Based on what I have been learning, it seems like people in the field who are unhappy and complaining about the money, have lost their passion and focus.  I would love to help people regain their passion because I feel like the best way to improve the quality of early childhood everywhere would be to have professionals in the field who are devoted and focused on high quality interactions, education and relationships with children and families.  

In order to have a job like this, I believe I would be qualified now.  The thing I lack is a history of speaking on topics related to the field of early childhood.  Most of the public speaking experience that I have had is related to motherhood not early childhood education.  That being said, I believe I would be able to speak on any topic, I would just need to prepare.

Another job I would be interested in would be a behavioral interventionist.  Or at least I think that is what they are called.  The job description I am thinking of would be someone who comes into the classroom to help with a behavioral issue of either an entire class, or a specific class.  I know where I teach now, some of the teachers, who did not have any kind of behavior modification training or classes, have a difficult time with class management.  Simple techniques would really help them with behavioral issues that could change the environment of their entire classroom.  I may be qualified for this job now but I would have to learn some techniques for observing and for documenting.  I actually have the opportunity to do something like this in a classroom next to mine so I will be able to see if I like it or not.  If I do, I will either need training, or maybe just research.  I am truly a behaviorist at heart so I am looking forward to my future.

Week 2 Capstone

Communities of Practice that appeal to me:

1- Torrington Early Childhood Collaborative - http://discovery.wcgmf.org/partners/communities/torrington

I chose this group because they are in my area and their mission is something I can identify with.

2- Connecticut State Department of Education - http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/site/default.asp

State Dept of Education seems self explanatory

3- Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance - http://www.earlychildhoodalliance.com/

One of the best parts about living in a small state is that each of these organizations is close enough for me to visit and hopefully small enough to call and interview someone.

Job Opportunities that are Available:

Most of the job opportunities that are posted on normal job searching websites are for early childhood teaching positions.  I am qualified for basically all of them.  The problem is, the job I want is probably not even listed and if it is, I do not know where to look because I don't know what I want.  Right now I know I want to be a part of the positive change in early childhood in my state.  This week I will be attending a forum that is related to my capstone project and I am so excited because I would like to meet some of the people who do what I think I want to do.  Right now I am qualified to be a head teacher (as I am a co-teacher for head start right now) but I do not think I want to teach anymore.  Time will tell!

Here we go!!

We are finally there.  The last eight week class before we graduate.  I hope you all are looking forward to it as much as I am.  Here we go!