Time Well Spent

Time Well Spent

“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions”(Oliver Wendell Holmes)

Completing my Master’s degree has been a goal I set out to accomplish in the last three years due to the changing credentials demands of the workforce.  After working as an owner/director in childcare, I realized that I wanted to remain involved in children’s life.  My goal was to become a consultant or early care specialist assisting other providers with quality improvement of their program.  That goal changed because I realized that by teaching adults in early childhood education I would make an impact on the lives of children. Therefore, I did some research at the local community and two year colleges and realized that my bachelor’s degree was not enough to teach at that level.

My journey started and now it is ending, which is bitter sweet because I will miss my classmates, the blogs, discussions, research, writing assignments and receiving comments, and inspiring feedback from everyone involved. I also realized that the knowledge and experience I bring to this program have been inspiring to my classmates as they start or continue their early childhood journey in the field.

A deeply felt learning experience from this program is my passion for early childhood education will never end because children and family without a voice need someone to be that voice.  Also that I must continue working with educators, researchers, advocates, and policy makers to safeguard the well-being of children.  The disparity and inequality that is current in low-income communities must end.  Advocates are feverishly collaborating with nonprofit organizations, state government and researchers to improve curriculum, professional development and funding opportunities to early care providers so that they can improve the quality of care they provide to children and families.

I learned that as an educator, my education may be complete for now, but I will continue learning as I move on to teach students at the local college.  I know that continuing to advocate for young children to influence their lives is still my number one mission.  I will accept any opportunity to collaborate and advocate for the well-being of children.  Thank you for supporting my journey.

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty.  Anyone who keeps learning stays young.  The greatest thing is to keep your mind young” (Henry Ford).

 My long-term goal is to remain focused on how to improve opportunities for all children especially those that are undeserved. I also want to have an impact on the lives of young teachers entering the early childhood education field, by passing on my knowledge and experience.

As this course comes to a completion, I want to say that it was a privilege working with Johanna Darragh and classmates in every course at Walden University.  You all have been my computer friends every week as I look forward to discussing and blogging with you.  You inspired me to excel in my research and writing assignments to ensure that I present the information so it makes sense.  Instructor Darragh, you have been a constant wealth of information with your comments and feedback. Thank you.  I know that future students will have a great instructor.  My current classmates, I wish all of you nothing but the best as you continue you early childhood education journey now and in the future. Each of you have a challenge that you will accomplish now or in the near future.  If you need to collaborate with me, please feel free to contact me.  I wish you all much success with your future endeavors in the early childhood education field.  My hope is that in the near future we can collaborate on a project that will improve the lives of children.  Keep in touch!  Missing you all!

Emily.carter2@yahoo.com – (404) 867-4799 

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

The job opportunities at the following international organizations that appealed to me are:

1. Save the children – Save The Children

This organization offers educators the opportunity to focus and work with others to keep our promise to children and families.  The mission is to “inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children” (Savethechildren.org). It is also “investing in the future of children by empowering families to support themselves” (Savethechildren.org).

The job opportunity I found interesting was a Nutrition Program Technical Director to work in Anta kaya, Turkey, overseeing the Infant and Young Child Feeding program in Northern Syria.

This sounds like a fascinating position because it aligns with my experience as an early care provider and with my current job as a Monitoring/trainer/education advisor to early care and adult providers that are participating on the Child and Adult food program.  “A key priority of this role is to work day to day with the National Technical Coordinator building their capacity in technical and program management skills, with the aim of transferring this capacity to the Nutrition field team” (savethechildren.org)

The educational requirements are a Master’s degree in nutrition or related education field and the ability to be fluent in Arabic. The candidate will be responsible for providing day to day coaching on technical and program management skills and dissemination of capacity building to field personnel.  It also requires identifying and providing learning and training opportunities for the staff and partners, which includes functioning as a mentor and role model for the less experience staff.  I would need to learn Arabic and take a few nutrition courses to be a successful candidate.

2. United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO.  The United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), goal is to “work to create the conditions for dialogue among civilizations, cultures and people” (UNESCO).  The focus is to have sustainable developments through mutual respect and globally alleviate poverty. This organization appealed to me because the mission is to bring about world peace by eradicating poverty through educating people and governments on how to work with each other culturally.  I have lived in a country with poverty-stricken communities and wish this organization were around to assist the people and the government.  As an educator, I believe that understanding cultural diversity will be a tremendous to the nation as they become more acceptable of others through education and dialogues. I want to make a difference in the world and UNESCO would allow me to travel to regions of the world that need my experience and knowledge.

The career opportunities varies with specific requirements such as, the candidate must be “competent, dynamic and flexible, professional with creative thinking skills, proactive and responsive. They must also have strong personal integrity, fair-minded, impartial, and respectful of cultural diversity” (UNESCO). The educational requirements are very strict in that you must have an advance degree in culture, education, social, and human science, communication and business.  You have to be fluent in other languages such as English and French and a working knowledge Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, or Russian. You must have integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity and culture. I know I possess some of these requirements but learning another language will be the challenge.

3. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD

The organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) mission is to “promote policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world” (OECD).  This organization appealed to me because it provides a forum for governments to work and share experiences that will improve the economic and social environments of their country.  If this goal can be accomplished it will have a positive affect the daily lives of people.

The position that appealed to me was the Junior Research Assistant to the Secretary General – Implementing strategic vision for the organization by ensuring that the policies of the organization is on the cutting edge of what is needed by the stakeholder at the G20.  This sounds like a fascinating position although it is temporary, I believe it will allow me to learn what other governments are concerned about regarding the social well-being of their people.  I will also have the opportunity to research policies and provide resources to the secretary general as he presents new and corrective policies.

The responsibilities are to support the Secretary General in preparing materials, talking points etc., including working closely with directors as the coordinate imputs for the missions and meetings.  Remain abreast of all global policies and economic agenda. The educational requirement is an advance degree in economics which mean I would need to further my education to add economics, including having a good command of English or French.

I would welcome the opportunity to work for any of these organizations.

Reference

Save the Children. (2011). Retrieved from

http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official 

_ Site.htm

United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). (2011). Retrieved

from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/about-us/who-we-are/introducing-unesco/

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (n.d.). Retrieved November

28, 2011, from http://www.oecd.org/home/0,2987,en_2649_201185_1_1_1_1_1,00.html