First and foremost I learned probably the hardest lesson thus far in my career.  I consider myself a big picture thinker, and motivator of others.  However, this class I learned that paying attention to detail and instructions will go a long way as a professional.  I always thought so long as we reached our goal it didn’t matter how we got there. Defiantly not the case.

 

I also learned that the problem and challenges of our chosen profession extend far beyond that of just those inside the classroom.  It was eye-opening to learn that issues and trends begin with children and their early stages of development.  All issues and trends society are facing are compounded by our ability to support families and children in the early years.

 

Lastly, the most important lesson I learned is that though I am defined and perceived in my job as a hard, rule follower, and firm.  I never wanted any of my employees to fear the idea of me.  I believed that fear fed discontent.  I learned that sometimes fear can be good.  As each week passed during this course my fear of what was to come grew.  It was not the fear of not knowing it was the fear if disappointing my professor and myself.  She gave me everything I needed in order to be successful yet I let fear get in the way of my true potential.  I need to remember that as a leader and a supervisor I need to know how to inspire each of my staff.  Every person is inspired or motivated differently.  I realized that as Dr. Teri is an extremely challenging professor she pushes beyond what you think you are capable of.  I appreciate everything that I have gained from this program.

 

My long term goal for myself is to become a more positive and effective communicator.  I want to be able express my passion with less emotion and more confidence.  I hope to challenge others and earn the respect of all I work throughout the rest of my career.

I want to thank you Dr. Teri for redefining that true educator and passion for our field still exists.  Your support and guidance has been unmatched by other instructor in this program.  Thank you for taking my passion and love of children and helping make it my profession.

 

Thank you to all of my collogue who have taken this journey along with me.  I am so inspired by each of your stories and feel blessed to have been part of your journey!  Best of Luck to Each of You!!

 

I really felt like after I achieve a Master’s degree in this field I would qualify for a lot more diverse opportunities.  Not only did this assignment give me incite to the wide variety of extended opportunity that relate to my passion for early childhood education, but I realized  that  there is more  to learn in order to become a  valued member of a community of practice.  Most of the jobs that appealed to me prfressionally, were set outside my comfort zone.

My first organization choice was UNICEF.  I began my childcare experience with school age youth and I would love to work with that age group again.  Youth age groups are very creative and have wonderful thought and ideas to share if someone is willing to listen.  I would love to leave the administrative headaches behind and rekindle my love of working with children.  Helping children find their voice is something I have always been committed to.

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_70910.html

 

Temporary Appointment: Youth Engagement Specialist, P-3, Myanmar

 QUALIFICATION and COMPETENCIES:

1.       Education
Advanced university degree, preferably in the social sciences.

2.       Work Experience Five years of professional work experience at national and international levels in youth development including international work experience.

Background/familiarity with child protection is considered a strong asset.

 

3.       Language Proficiency 

 

Fluency in English and a second UN language (IP)

 

4.       Competency Profile (For details on competencies please refer to the UNICEF Professional Competency Profiles.)

        i.            Core Values (Required)

·         Commitment 

·         Diversity and Inclusion 

·         Integrity 

      ii.            Core Competencies (Required)

·         Communication  [ III ] 

·         Working with People   [ III ]      

·         Drive for Results   [ III ]  

      iii.            Functional Competencies (Required)

·         Formulating Strategies and Concepts [ III ]

·         Analyzing   [ III] 

·         Relating and Networking [ III ]

·         Deciding and Initiating Action [ III ]

·         Applying Technical Expertise [ III ]

     iv.            Technical Knowledge  

a)      Specific Technical Knowledge Required

•       Youth Participation and Engagement qualifications and experience

•       At least 5 years of working experience including research and engagement with young  people, including a sound knowledge of best practice for child, adolescent and youth participation;

•       Possess strong communication and analytical skills and proven ability to coordinate and work effectively with all stakeholders;

•       Demonstrated understanding of child protection.

b)      Common Technical Knowledge Required (for the job group) [  ]

•       Methodology of programme/project management

•       Programmatic goals, policies and strategies for sectoral programmes

•       Knowledge of global human rights issues, specifically relating to children and women.

•       In depth understanding of youth development and participation in different international contexts.

c)       Technical Knowledge to be Acquired/Enhanced (for the Job) [  ]

•       Government development plans and policies

•       Knowledge of local conditions and country legislation relevant to UNICEF programmes

•       UNICEF policies and strategy in child protection and youth.

•       UNICEF financial, supply and administrative rules and regulations.

•       Rights-based and Results-based programming in UNICEF.

•       UNICEF programme policy, procedures and guidelines in the Manual.

•       Mid-Term Strategic Plan

•       UN guideline on sexual exploitation and abuse by UN staff and partners.

•       Gender equality and Diversity awareness.

•       UN policies and strategy to address international humanitarian issues and the responses.

•       UN common approaches to programmatic issues and UNICEF positions

•       UN security operations and guidelines.

•       UN guideline on sexual exploitation and abuse by UN staff and partners.

•       UNICEF strategic framework for partnerships and collaborative relationships.

•       UNICEF policies and strategies promoting and supporting gender equality and diversity.

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested candidates should send their applications with updated CV/Personal History form (P-11) (download here) by 28 November 2013 to email address: thoo@unicef.org

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

 

 The second organization that interested me was the World Teach organization.  This organization creates programming abroad that incorporates and teaches English to children in other countries.  I believe that children understanding English as well as respecting and preserving their native languages is essential for building a successful foundation of learning for any child.  I do not think that I have enough international experience to qualify for jobs that would really interest me but in order to get my foot in the door these jobs would be a great start.

http://www.worldteach.org/site/c.buLRIbNOIbJ2G/b.6150593/k.6341/Teach_English_Abroad_Jobs.htm

 

 

Updated: 13 November 2013

Teach English Abroad Jobs

WorldTeach Job Openings

OFFICE OF EDUCATION
Please send your resume and an Internship Application Form to the Director of Education, Jaime Bruce, at jbruce@worldteach.org to apply.

Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (1 position available):  Design and implement evaluation plans for WorldTeach programs in Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Chile, Namibia, Tanzania, India, Thailand, China, Micronesia and American Samoa.  The M&E Specialist will develop evaluation tools (including standards-based assessments), collect and analyze data, design training materials, and coordinate resources with field staff and volunteers. The internship is for the full academic year. Requirements include: experience developing or enacting monitoring and evaluating systems, non-profit work experience, teaching experience, strong writing and analytical skills, including experience with common software packages (e.g. STATA, SPSS, SAS), initiative and the ability to work independently on projects.

Program Assistant (1 position available):Reviewing, editing and organizing professional development materials, managing WorldTeachNet, our teacher training website, editing country-specific curricula and supplemental materials, and assisting with daily office administration.  Strong writing and administrative skills required. Previous teaching experience, as well as InDesign skills highly desirable. Semester and yearlong positions available

 

UNESCO is the third job that I found and really interest me the most.  I love that this organization uses education as a humanitarian effort.  Through collaboration through countries and their community all children and their families get an opportunity to learn.  I have not been able to figure out the international pay codes for certain types of positions. They salaries are on a tier system and I have not found what those salaries include.

I would hope that they would include medical, travel, and housing plus a salary.  Otherwise it would be impossible to uproot my family and move out of country.

http://en.unesco.org/careers/professional

 

 

UNESCO has two categories of Professionals:

·        International Professional staff are hired internationally and work in expert and/or managerial roles that require a significant level of technical expertise. Professional staff are expected to work across the globe.

·        National Professional Officers are nationals of the country in which they serve and perform functions of a professional nature requiring local knowledge, expertise and experience.

Who we are looking for?

We are looking for competent, dynamic and flexible professionals with creative thinking, who are proactive and responsive. We require individuals with strong personal integrity, who are fair, impartial and respectful of cultural diversity.

UNESCO employs professionals in :

Education

·        Sciences

·        Culture

·        Communication and Information

·        Administration and Management

·        Social Sciences

 Do you have the right profile?

Education:	An advanced university degree in education, culture, science, social and human sciences, communication, business administration or a related field.
Languages:	Fluent English or French (the two working languages of UNESCO) and a good working knowledge of the other language. Knowledge of Arabic, Chinese, Spanish or Russian is an additional asset.
Prior experience:	·        Junior level (P1/P2 or NOA/NOB): 2 to 4 years of experience; ·        Middle level (P3/P4 or NOC/NOD): 4 to 10 years of experience; ·        Senior level (P5 and above or NOE): 10 to 15 years of experience (including management experience).
Values:	Integrity, professionalism, respect for diversity and a strong commitment to UNESCO's mission.

UNESCO is committed to achieving geographical representation and gender equality within its staff.  Women and nationals from non-represented and under-represented Member States (see our current Geographic distribution table) are strongly encouraged to apply (for International professional positions).

 

 

 

 

 

NAEYC

NAEYC has been involved in my work since I started working with young children, their goals and mission have guided my career to a level of excellence.  I have a firsthand account of how the criteria and standards that NAEYC upholds improves the daily quality of young people in my different programs.

 

ZERO TO THREE

Zero to Three organization has many facets of training and education.  The goal of Zero to Three is to educate families and caregivers on early care practices of all children birth to age three. The Zero to Three work in child abuse and neglect prevention training and awareness is very important to my work.  It has given me many strategies and techniques to help identify early warning signs of abuse and to get families help and education to care for their young children. 

HEADSTART

Headstart is a national nonprofit organization that provides quality educational and health services to more than one million children nationwide.  To be able to provide quality education to all child regardless of circumstance would allow for me to use my education to give back to our community.  Reaching children that may never have the means to seek a better education without programming like this inspires me to educate families of all resources.

 

Job Opportunities:  I would love to have the experience to work as a NAEYC validator/assessor. This job would give me an opportunity to travel and see the different levels of early childhood education available and the progress our field in making. 

Assessor Qualifications

 •            A minimum of a baccalaureate degree with; o Credit bearing hours of specialized college-level work addressing both:

o Child development and learning from birth through kindergarten. Courses may be in early childhood education, child development, elementary education, early childhood special education; and administration, leadership, and management.

 

•             Relevant professional experience in a setting serving children from birth through kindergarten;

•             Understanding of the NAEYC Accreditation process gained through experience or training;  

•             Demonstrated observation skills, including ability to use observation tools; 

•             Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills;

•             Demonstrated technological skills, including the ability to use tablets for data collection;

•             Basic administrative skills and professional communication utilizing technology. 

 

Career Opportunites to Enhance my CoP

Onslow County Partnership for Children

·        Board Member

Onslow County Partnership provides a wide variety of services that improve early education care and health care in the civilian sector of my community.

Board member would allow for me to vote in ways the funding of the state funded program are spent.  Being able to have a voice for families that need improved civilian care would be very satisfying.  This position would also challenge me, as I only have a limited experience in working in the private sector.  Military childcare world is very different than that of civilian care.

Marine and Family Program Division Camp Lejeune

·        Director of Marine and Family Programs

This is my ultimate goal career goal.  Being able to enhance the quality of life for active duty families with lasting directorial decisions that truly make a difference.

I would need a wide knowledge base of services that are provided to Marines and Families. 

This would include; Behavioral Health and Wellness, Career Assistance, Exceptional Family member program, Children, Youth , and Teen Programs, Libraries, Personal Finance, Marine Corps Family Team Building, and Transition Assistance. I would need more experience in the area of services provided to exceptional family members and extensive knowledge and understanding of the behavioral health piece.

Butterfly Effects

·        ABA Therapist

You would need an educational background in special need education services along with occupational therapy and physical therapy needs of children that require additional modified care.  The psychological piece would be very difficult for myself to understand and would not interest me.  I become very emotional attached to children with special needs and struggling with the impacts of war on the child mentally and physically would challenge me.

 

 

 

 

 

Week One

Countdown to the Finish Line!!!!

This looks to be a very good class!
I am excited to see what our project journey has in store each of us!

Thank You Week 8

Thank you to all of my fellow colleagues.  This has been by far the most difficult course for me personally in this program.  I have been dealing with major hardships at work which have lead to personal illness and personal inner conflict.  I have been challenged both professional and personally on my ability to communicate.  I realized early on that I can talk but I can not communicate.  Thank you to everyone who has shared and encouraged me through this self discovery process.

Union Conflicts

The organization that I work for is regulated by a local Union.  The Union has an established contract that has been abided by or given guidance in the regulation of fair labor practices.  In the last six months new officers were elected to the local post and have begun demanding respect and inquiring into the way I have carried out my recent decision to terminate employment and have a caregiver investigated for allegation of mishandling a child inside the classroom.  These events have drawn attention to my management style and practices and have led to several violations and citations.  In order to try and diffuse the conflict and refocus the attention of Union officers elsewhere, I have deployed several non violent tactics to resolve the conflict between my management team and the Union.  Though I really would like to drive a Mack truck through the branch office, I have been respectful and tried to take the third side approach to get a better understanding for all of the perspectives involved.  Through many mediations, deliberations, arguments and successions I have realized that I will not compromise on my principles.  I will not allow an employee to jeopardize the safety and well being of a child and I will not allow an employee’s performance to jeopardize other employee’s safety or well being.  I have learned through this excoriating process that I must follow the rules and the policies that have been established in order to support the fundamentals of my principles I want to uphold.

The Big Test

I chose to send the surveys to my spouse and my closest co-worker.  I was hoping to see that I am different in a professional mode from my personal life.  I was surprised to see the results.  Both people were very close to my own results.  I was hoping that the people that are closest to me get to see a more relaxed and calm version than my co-workers.  It resulted that I am a passionate and empathetic communicator.  I express myself aggressively in certain situations and end up being so compassionate to those I am listening to that I can be fooled. I want to work on varying the different perceptions and hope that this class will give me strategies to do just that.

Delicate Dance

Communicating within my home and professional life.

I am completely two different people when it comes to communicating at home and at work.  I have to really challenge myself and use my educational strategies to communicate on the level in which is expected at work.  I have such a diverse group of staff and families to interact with daily that usually deals with highly emotional subject matters.  From a child being sick, to a parents divorcing I find myself using my counseling hat to help those around me.  At home the family unfortunately gets the short end of the stick.  Being a single mother for so many years, I have found myself being with my children all the time but rarely present.  I have had to work in the past few years really listening and using better communication skills to create a two street with my children.  As they have gotten older it has become even more important to tell them how I feel, and hear what they have to say.  Looking from the outside in, some might observe that my children cross the lines of respect and appropriate behavior.  I have worked very hard not to impede the communication with my children, even though sometimes it can be very challenging.  Our rules of engagement, if you will, are that if they are upset  and the challenges they face as children that they will use trial and error with the types of response they receives and to be able to learn the benefits of responding verses reacting.  Communication for me is a work of art that is a delicate dance between emotion and strategies that yield the anticipated outcome. 

Week 2

Duck Dynasty

No Sound

I observed laughter, smiling, and close interaction with a small group of people, hunting, and working in some type of warehouse.

The interactions between the characters varied but for the most part looked like they enjoyed each other’s company. The show looks like funny acts are taking place, and common livelihoods are being depicted.

Each of the family member talk to each other looking and expressing emotions through facial expression. At the end of the episode all of the characters ate at the same table.

Sound

This episode of Duck Dynasty was hilarious. This is a family owed business that even the workers who are not family are adopted family. The family interacts well with each other and expresses using language that is not offensive and is funny to each other. Each member has a good rapport with each other, and each has their own role within the family. The dad is the CEO of the duck call making company and their family is very different from the lifestyle they grew up in. The teenage sons are verbally challenged by technology and the teenage daughter relies on texting for all communication. Even communicating through text when she is in the same room with the person. I love that even though they give each other a hard time and joke with one another they are all able to communicate to one another how important family is to each of them. I actually thought from the characters appearance that they would communicate with very little skill or sensitivity. That was not the case. Even with the southern accent the characters were able to communicate effectively.