Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

Head Start and Early Head Start are within my current communities of practice.  My program collaborates a lot with the two programs because we have shared families.  We offer dual services to children that are enrolled in Head Start and Early Head Start by providing developmental screenings, home-visitation services and early intervention services in their classrooms.  We work with each teacher individually in order for them to be familiar with them with the target child’s IFSP or IEP goals.  Their classroom lesson plans are discussed and integrated into our service plans as well.  Together we bridge the school to home connection.  We share the same goals, passions and beliefs that the parents are their child’s first teacher and we are there to assist along in their journey. 

Head Start is my first love as it is where I began my career.  I have been a Senior Program Manager in the past and would love to work at a different level in my career.  I have been in Arizona for almost three years and have not connected with any of the local Head Start Groups.  I would love to continue my passion with Head Start and possible one day be a reviewer.  Head Start Parent Center in Arizona would be a great place for a connection. 

FACE is another program that we work closely with.  Although they have a home-based program we don’t currently have any duly enrolled children.  We do however share some center-based children.  They are within my community of practice because we share children.  Together we work to provide children with early intervention services.  The duly enrolled children are receiving home-based services from one Parent Educator and the Exceptional Student Services Parent Educator provided itinerant services in the classroom.  Our interactions and staffing’s on the children are highly important because we have the same goals and passions.  We both focus on school-readiness for the children.  Our meetings focus on the children and how we can better improve our services together.

There is a national training program from Bureau of Indian Affairs for FACE programs.  I am only familiar with the dual service model that were are still in the process of building stronger.  It would be a greater opportunity for coordination of services if I was able to be apart of their national planning team.  I only know the little about working with our local team.

Mesa Public School district is the strongest community of practice.  They are our legal educational agency providing education to our children.  The school district is where we refer children too that require further evaluation.  We have a memorandum of understanding with them to provide the evaluation services as well at provide itinerant services in the Head Start classrooms.  The school district provides teaching services, speech and language and physical therapy.  For children that need further services they offer self-contained preschool classrooms and will pick up the children on our reservation.  We have strong partnerships with classroom and evaluation staff which eases all of our interactions.  Our passions to serve children shines and we work strongly together to meet the needs of the children.

Being apart of the local school board would provide me with more insights of how the districts functions and would form a stronger connection to the MOU that we share on the reservation with MPS.

Positions of Interest

Sr. Subject Matter Expert – Preschool Specialist with Zero to Three

Skills and Experience

· 10 years minimum experience in early childhood professional development systems work · Strong knowledge of early childhood development birth to five, with particular focus and experience with services to preschool aged children ; · Strong knowledge of CLASS Pre-K observation tool and other program, teacher and child-level assessment tools commonly used in early childhood preschool programs · Strong knowledge of Head Start program development, the Head Start Program Performance Standards, Head Start Outcomes Framework, and HS technical assistance resources; · Strong knowledge of CCDF and Public Pre-K programming trends and regulations in states and territories · Excellent conceptual, written and oral skills; · Experience with organizing, developing and providing technical assistance resources to a variety of audiences; · Ability to work with a team as well as independently; · Strong oral, written and computer skills; · Strong interpersonal skills; and · Ability to read, analyze and interpret complex documents. · Reliable CLASS Pre-K observer preferred

Integrated Service/Regional Team Manager with Zero to Three

Skills and Experience · Minimum of ten years of experience in the field of Early Care and Education. · Minimum of two years of experience supervising staff. · Minimum of two years of experience with project management (e.g., identifying tasks, tracking progress, etc.) · Strong knowledge of early childhood development birth to five; · Strong knowledge of CLASS Pre-K observation tool and other program, teacher and child-level assessment tools commonly used in early childhood preschool programs; · Strong knowledge of Head Start program development, the Head Start Program Performance Standards, Head Start Outcomes Framework, and HS technical assistance resources; · Knowledge of CCDF and Public Pre-K programming trends and regulations in states and territories; · Solid understanding of adult learning principles and strategies for coaching/supporting adult learning (e.g., practice consultation), · Excellent conceptual, written and oral skills; · Experience with organizing, developing and providing technical assistance resources to a variety of audiences; · Ability to lead a team; · Ability to work as a team as well as independently; · Strong interpersonal skills; · Ability to read, analyze and interpret complex documents; · Solid knowledge/experience with data collection, analysis, and display;

Zero to Three. (2015). Available Jobs.  Retrieved January 16, 2016, from http://www.zerotothree.org/about-us/careers/jobs/senior-subject-matter-expert-pre-k-specialist-nc-ecdtl.pdf

Zero to Three (2015).  Available Jobs.  Retrieved January 16, 2016, from http://www.zerotothree.org/about-us/careers/jobs/integrated-services-regional-team-manager-nc-ecdtl.pdf

Child Care Partnerships Program Manager I with Olympic ESD 114

Required Education and Experience: 

·         Bachelor’s degree in child development or related early childhood education; or Master’s degree and/or teacher’s certificate.

·         Two year’s supervisory experience in early childhood education.

·         Experience and knowledge of Washington State child care licensing for both family child care and center based care.

·         One year’s experience working with infants, toddlers and pregnant mothers.

·         Experience with staff development training.

·         Experience working with low income families, diverse cultures and ethnic backgrounds.

·         Required Skills, Knowledge, and/or Abilities:

·         Knowledge of early childhood developmentally appropriate practices.

·         Knowledge of the development of infants and toddlers, and of parent/infant attachments.

·         Must have good human relations, interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.

·         Experience working on a management team preferred.

·         Knowledge of infant, toddler and early childhood assessment and curriculum systems.

·         Demonstrated excellent written communication and computer skills.

·         Ability to work effectively with parents, staff, community, advisory groups and boards.

·         Demonstrated understanding of adult learning principles.

·         Ability to organize and manage multiple projects and timelines.

·         Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills.

·         Ability to travel; reliable transportation.

·         Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends.

·         Required Licenses and/or Certifications:

Early Childhood Knowledge Center. (2016).  Early Childhood Job Center.  Retrieved January 16, 2016, from http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/hs/careers/Region10/Washington/Child-Care-Partnerships-Program-Manager-I.html