Opportunities on the National Level

Jobs/Roles in Early Childhood Education on the National /Federal Level

                Since my background in early childhood has been varied over the past 25 years, there are several dream jobs I would feel I could do well and make a difference in the lives of children and families.  I was somewhat surprised to actually find some postings when I began to research opportunities for this assignment.

                The first position I would consider as a Grantee Specialist for ICF International. This is a large corporation that meets the training and technical assistance needs for many different industries and service organizations, including Head Start.  As a Grantee Specialist, the person works with Head Start programs that have been identified as having a program deficiency.  Their base is in their own home and there is considerable travel involved with the position. Grantee Specialists also facilitate professional development at the request of Head Start programs they are assigned to.  ICF International is a well-respected organization that prides itself on being   innovative.  For this position, a Master’s degree with a strong concentration in program design and management is preferred along with five years’ experience as a Head Start director. I enjoy trouble shooting, educating adults and helping with the strategic planning process so I think this would be a good fit for me.

                The next position I would consider would be as a Director for the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s Academy for Early Childhood Education (NAEYC). This job supports programs completing the NAEYC accreditation process.   I think I could use my years of experience working in the field to help directors prepare for the process.

                I would also consider a position as a Program Specialist in the Region 3 office of Head Start.  This position supports the direct service providers of Head Start within a specific geographic area.  As a Program Specialist, you provide guidance and support to program directors as they formulate school readiness goals, family engagement strategies and general program management concerns.  Having been on the other side of the position as a program director, I feel I would have not only formal education in early childhood but also working knowledge of the challenges directors face.

                The last position I found as I researched jobs on a national level would be a Grant Reviewer for the Administration for Children and Families which is a component of the Department of Health and Human Services. This Federal department reviews all applications for Head Start funding. After being trained on site in Washington, DC, most the reviewing is done virtually with a cohort of specialists.  The group includes experts in the early childhood field as well as financial experts and health nutrition experts.  Again, having written several grants over the years, I feel I would be a working knowledge to the process.

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

                I feel that part of my responsibility as a Head Start Director is to be connected to organizations that support the early childhood community.   Locally, I have been involved with East Penn Association for the Education of Young Children.  It is an affiliate of the national organization.  The group provides a venue for connecting with other early childhood professionals in my community.  Over the years we have planned conferences, attended Early Childhood Action Day in Harrisburg, the state capital and worked together to keep local legislators informed about early childhood issues.

                I also am a member of the Pennsylvania Head Start Association (PHSA).    This group is an affiliate of the National Head Start Association.  The main purpose of the group is to be a voice for Head Start in Pennsylvania.  It is an active advocacy group.  PHSA also facilitates Director’s Round Tables quarterly which provide opportunities for networking which is helpful. I participate in this group because it is a good way to stay informed especially on political issues that affect Head Start.

                Having come to understand what a Community of Practice (COP) is, I realized my participation in the Berks Early Care and Education Council (BECEC) is an example of a COP.  This group came together informally with a shared mission of providing services more efficiently for young children in our community that have special needs.   As the group evolved, we also began to work together to plan and carryout a conference each Spring that is not only for practitioners in the field of Special Education but also parents.

                 The three organizations I have listed have unique purposes in my life as an early childhood professional.  I have made connections with others in my field that are beneficial in many ways.  I also feel that I have made some friends who share the same passion I do for the work we do.

                I reviewed the job opportunities in Pennsylvania by doing a general Google search and found several that were interesting.  One was a collegiate teaching position at Millersville University.  The opening is for an instructor for their Elementary Ed/ Early Childhood Program.   One of the things that motivated to acquire a Master’s degree was to someday teach on the college level. 

                Another job that I found interesting was that of Keystone Stars Specialist.  Keystone Stars is the quality rating system in Pennsylvania.  Early childhood programs of all sorts have the option of participating in Keystone STARS.  There are five levels of excellence that can be attained.  There are perks for programs that reach STAR  5 including additional program funding.  The program is known throughout the state by parents and provides a rating scale that parents can use to help them choose a child care facility.  The Specialist helps programs prepare for each STAR level and evaluates the quality of their work. 

                The other job that seemed interesting to me was also a teaching position.  It was part of the continuing education program at Northampton Community College.    I think working with non-traditional students would be interesting and take a different set of skills than what would be needed in a more traditional college setting.

                In all three positions, a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood was preferred as well as at least three years direct experience in an early childhood program.   The STARS position also required administrative experience preferably in an early childhood setting.

                Exploring options in the field of early childhood education is not something I typically do since I am content to finish out my career in my role as a Head Start Director but it gave me insight as to other options I will have at the completion of my degree.