https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/1185-careers-at-zero-to-three
The first
organization I selected was Zero to Three, and the available job that best fits something that I would be
interested in is the Regional Field Specialist
position. This organization appeals to
me because it has always been one of the top resources for me as an early
childhood professional. The Regional
Field Specialist's primary focus
is to support ACF RO staff’s work with Head Start/Early Head Start programs and
other early childhood programs, in particular efforts related to the design and
delivery of comprehensive school readiness services for children birth-to-five.
Some of the skills and experience are:
Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education
or a related field preferred
Minimum of seven years of experience in the
field of Early Care and Education
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;
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;
Ability to read, analyze and interpret
complex documents
The second
national organization that came to mind was the National Association for the
Education of Young Children (NAEYC). From my perspectives as an early childhood professional, this association sets the standards
along with thoughtfully and professionally addressing current issues in the
field. To my surprise all of the NAEYC
jobs are located where I live right now in Washington, DC. Although there are not many jobs that are available, the one that most stood out to me
was the Membership Sales Representative position. One of the primary responsibilities is to
promote and sell NAEYC group membership to school districts, child care centers
and other employers of potential NAEYC members. I think that this would be a great
opportunity to get my foot in the door with an association I completely respect
and believe in.
Some of the qualifications are:
Bachelor's degree in related field with a
minimum of 3-5 years related experience in a membership association or
equivalent combination of education and experience.
Understanding of the NAEYC’s purpose to
promote high-quality early learning for all young children
Extensive experience with customer service
and outreach success.
Strong attention to detail with ability to
multitask with the ability to perform duties with minimum supervision.
Proficiency in operating Windows/Microsoft
Office is a requirement.
Excellent interpersonal verbal and written
communication skills.
Fluency in written and spoken Spanish.
The third national organization that
interests me is National Head Start Association because I have worked within
the program before and they are a model program. One job that stood out to me, although it is
not available right now where I am, is the Head Start Education
Coordinator. This position is
responsible for the education and early childhood development portion of the
Head Start program. It includes, but is
not limited to, planning, managing, supervising and coordinating an early
childhood education curriculum, providing educational resources for staff and
parents, ensuring compliance with performance standards, child care licensing
regulations, and recognizing best practices in the field of early childhood
education.
Qualifications/Skills/Requirements:
Bachelor Degree in Education with
concentration in Early Childhood education or if in a related field,
two years’ experience in ECE.
Two years or more experience in supervision,
parent education, and staff training.
Ability to converse, write and read Spanish
and English fluently.
Commitment to dual language learning
philosophy (English and Spanish).
Demonstrated knowledge of child growth and
development.
Ability to communicate and work effectively
with diverse parents, professionals, and community groups.
Ability to analyze and use data to inform
decision-making.
Ability to work effectively and
collaboratively with a team.
Strong organizing and problem solving skills.
Strong report writing and research skills
Ability to work flexible hours (evenings).