EDUC 6990 WK 4

For this assignment, I am to consider three national or federal organizations or communities of practice in the field of early childhood education, as well as job opportunities which may be of interest. As I am committed to remain working in a Keystone STARS ranked classroom for the next two years due to the grant which enabled me to pursue my Master's degree in the first place, job hunting is not really high on my list, but the information may be of use to someone.

The first organization I chose to consider is NAEYC, or the National Association for the Education of Young Children. They can be found that this link: http://www.naeyc.org/. Most people in the field of ECE agree that NAEYC is the ultimate source for all things related to the field. When it comes to best practices, new ideas, and upcoming trends, this is the place to get the information. In addition to the national organization, there are also state and local affiliates which can give information specific to your local area. Pennsylvania, for example, has the state affiliate, PennAEYC, and 13 local affiliates within PennAEYC. My particular affiliate is Northeast Pennsylvania AEYC 292. As state funding for early childhood education continues to be a major concern in Pennsylvania, these organizations work to advocate for funds and inform the population as to why funding is important and needed, as well as the latest news as to what our elected officials are doing.

For my second organization, I chose the National Head Start Association, found at this link: http://www.nhsa.org/. Like NAEYC, Head Start is a well-known and respected organization in the field of ECE. They have a long history in not only providing quality early childhood education for children in need, but also of advocating for the rights of these children and their families, and for change in our country. They encourage parents and communities to become involved in the education of our youngest learners for a brighter tomorrow.

For my last organization, I chose the Association for Early Learning Leaders, found at: http://www.earlylearningleaders.org/. I chose this particular organization specifically because I was unfamiliar with it and its works. At least I thought I was. By reading I found that this organization used to be known as the National Association for Child Care Professionals, an organization which I had at least heard of before. Like many others, this organization offers professional development, networking opportunities, access to appropriate research, and accreditation. Unlike many other organizations, this one is geared more towards the administrative end--directors, administrators, and center owners. As I have already served as a director and found I missed teaching too much, I found this site to be not as informative for me, although others who are planning to go into the administrative end of the field my find it to be very useful.

As for job opportunities, As I said I will be staying where I am for the next two years. I did, however, find a job opportunities link associated with NAEYC:http://careerforum.naeyc.org/jobs. Current offerings include  Director, Early Learning Center, The American School in Japan (Tokyo); Child Development Center Specialist III West Valley-Mission Community College District, Silicon Valley, California; and Early Learning Specialist, Seattle, Washington.

I wish all my classmates much success in putting their new degrees to work for them.

EDUC 6990 Capstone WK 2

For this week's assignment I am to share local or state communities of practice, as well as job opportunities that may interest me.

I decided to start with PennAEYC, the state affiliate of NAEYC. Their website can be found at this link:

http://www.pennaeyc.com/Pages/default.aspx

I chose this website because, frankly, NAEYC is the ultimate source in early childhood education. If I want to know what is new in Pennsylvania, or what the next big thing in ECE is going to be, this is the first site I check. They have the most up-to-date information pertaining to the newest NAEYC finding and how they apply in Pennsylvania.

I then chose PA Keys. Their link is:

http://www.pakeys.org/pages/get.aspx?page=home

I didn't really have to explore it because I am so familiar with it already. This is the site on which PA teachers record their professional development record, submit PD goals for the upcoming year, and see PD requirements for their positions. It is also where teachers can register for PD classes and apply for funding. PA Keys is the place to go to find learning standards and core knowledge competencies, as well as available communities within the Commonwealth. PA Keys provides teachers with contact information for people who can provide assistance or answer questions one may have with regards to early childhood education in PA.

The third site I chose was Pre-K for PA. The link is as follows:

http://www.prekforpa.org/

This organization is quite new, having been established in 2014. The previous governor made massive and crippling cuts to educational funding. Pre-K for PA was developed as a response to the budget cuts. They focus on highlighting the benefits of providing quality early childhood education for all children, and work towards making this possible. I have been keeping a close watch on this site lately because not only are there battles with the 2016 budget, PA has not yet passed a budget for 2015! I know this is difficult to believe, seeing as how we are well into 2016, but it is true. Our new Governor supports increasing funding for education, but many state lawmakers are fighting him.  In fact, I was asked to accept a massive pay cut in Sept. Funding to Rising STARS was delayed, causing me to temporarily withdraw from Walden University. In late December, the state agreed to release SOME funding for state programs, and I was able to get my back pay and resume my education. But the funding they released is running out and I am once again faced with a pay cut or possibly seeing my center shut down. This particular website has become one of my top-visited sites, as I am anxious for a budget to be passed and funding to early childhood education to be restored.

As one of the requirements of the grant I received to continue my education, I have committed to teach in a state ranked early childhood classroom for a minimum of two years following the completion of my studies. As I really love what I do and where I work, this is not really a hardship for me. However, with the lack of state funding, I do need to be informed as to other job opportunities should I find myself in the position of needing employment elsewhere.

Unfortunately, job searches for my area are dismal. There are very few positions available, and the ones that are have starting salaries near minimum wage. I am quite sure that the budget crisis in PA is largely at fault for this, as there are numerous centers which were forced to close their doors, leaving many ECE teachers unemployed. The centers that remain open are hesitant about hiring, as future funding is uncertain. Many centers are forced to run with the bare minimum number of staff members. I will continue to pursue my professional development, and advocate for quality early childhood education for all, but I also know in my heart of hearts that, at some point, it may become necessary for me to look for employment outside my field. This is a thought that breaks my heart, and I hope it never becomes reality, but unfortunately it is always in the back of my mind.