Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

There are 3 government/federal agencies that stuck out to me while doing my research for this blog assignment that I thought were important in the world of Early childhood and Education in general her they are:

NAEYC (The National Association for the Education of Young Children) -  This is probably one of the highest in early childhood education, the reason I chose this one is because it is focused solely on the growth and development of young children from birth to age 8.  They have a clear and focused mission on promoting high quality education for young children.  

http://www.naeyc.org/content/about-naeyc

NEA (National Education Association)- This organization is focused on the advancement of public school education and the reason I chose it was because I feel it is an important organization and I feel that advancing public school is important because I went to public school and saw so many things that we lacked and I feel all children should have an equal opportunity for quality education all over the world.  

https://www.nea.org/home/2580.htm 

NCCA (National Childcare Association)-  This one stuck out to me because its mission is to support policies that are beneficial to children, such as Equal opportunity, funding, regulations and Early childcare in general.

http://www.nccanet.org/ 

Job Opportunities in The field:
Head Start Child Development & Education Specialist

Los Angeles County Office of Education, Head Start - State Preschool Program, has two immediate openings for Head Start Program Development Specialists. Our Head Start - State Preschool Program is the largest in the nation and contracts with 17 delegate agencies to provide services directly to children from birth to five years old and their families within diverse communities throughout Los Angeles County. The Head Start Program Development Specialist is responsible for assisting in the development and implementation of ERSEA processes and procedures, which includes community assessment and eligibility, recruitment, selection, enrollment, and attendance; maintaining accurate program development and planning information; and reviewing monitoring data to ensure program compliance. The incumbent in this position will also be responsible for collaborating with representatives from outside organizations to improve the outreach and recruitment process for eligible Head Start families. The Well Qualified Candidate Will Possess the Following Knowledge • Methods in assessing and evaluating the quality and delivery of child development services • Related local, state, and federal regulations • Child development with an emphasis on social emotional, cognitive, and physical development of children in infancy and childhood • Ethics in relation to child and family-child development • Staff development and in-service methods and techniques • Early learning and parenting curricula • Community resources including family support services, emergency and crisis services, and child protective services • Cultural differences that influence parenting skills and family environments • Qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques • Operations of applicable computer hardware and software as related to report writing, record keeping and analysis. • Confidentiality of records Competencies: • Professional & Technical Expertise - Applying technical subject matter to the job • Analyzing & Interpreting Data - Drawing meaning and conclusions from quantitative and/or qualitative data • Critical Thinking - Analytically and logically evaluating information, propositions, and claims • Decision Making - Choosing optimal courses of action in a timely manner • Legal & Regulatory Navigation - Understanding, interpreting, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations • Using Technology - Working with electronic hardware and software applications • Adaptability - Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires • Oral Communication - Engaging effectively in dialogue • Writing - Communicating effectively in writing • Professional Impact - Presenting self as a positive representative of the organization • Relationship Building - Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships • Group Facilitation - Enabling constructive and productive group interaction • Cultural Proficiency - Modeling communication and interaction that respect and include all individuals and their languages, abilities, religions and culturesRequired Education and Experience Education: A bachelor's degree with major coursework in child development, early education, education, educational psychology, or a closely related field from an institution of higher learning accredited by a regional accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, with an additional 40 hours of training on topics related to early learning and development such as:: CLASS certification, Environmental Rating Scales, prenatal development, parenting, families in poverty, children's literacy and social-emotional development, Creative Curriculum, DRDP A master's degree is desirable. Experience: Three years of child development experience in a multi-disciplinary setting, including at least two years' experience in administering and/or coordinating comprehensive child development programs or child development departments in a Head Start program or similar agency providing services to low-incomevfamilies. One-year experience assessing quality in early learning settings using research-based assessment tools. Additional Requirements: Certification as a Teachstone CLASS™ reliable observer is highly desired. A valid California driver's license, proof of insurability, and the availability of private transportation or the ability to provide transportation between job sites is required. Selection Process Candidates who meet the minimum requirements above, will be invited to participate in an examination that may consist of Traninig and Experience evaluation (T&E), Performance and Structure Interview examination.