“All great achievements require time.” – Maya Angelou
The four goals that might assist me in becoming more effective in my professional role consist of but not limited to the following:
1. Become a member of NAEYC and DVAEYC ( local chapter of NAEYC)
2. Become a Technical Assistance (TA)
3. Obtain a doctoral degree in early childhood education
4 Work for Pennsylvania Department of Education~ECE Curricula
2. To become a (TA) wit SERK an organization that seeks to increase the capacity of providers to support children's learning and development: and increase educational attainment among practitioners according to their website, is an awesome organization to work as a TA, that might help me navigate early childhood system by the educating of teachers to help young learners and their families. For instance, SERK, offers workshops that are line-up with Pennsylvania Early Learning Standard to empower teachers with the tools to help young learners succeed. Currently, I am a PDS
professional development specialist contractor for the Council~ CDA ~ Child Development Associate. This position has limitations as to how much one can offer teachers, however, a TA would offer tools, materials, and resources for the teacher.
3. The goal of obtaining a doctoral degree in early childhood education might help me navigate in early childhood system, public policy, administration, and so much more in the early learning community. An Ed.D is not a degree that one might obtain under normal circumstances, it is a degree that one obtain from their passion. This is a prestigious degree with endless possibilities of success in one's desired focus. Which bring one to the final goal (at this time)...Early childhood curricula developer.
4. The goal to work with an agency or the Pennsylvania Department of Education that oversee the early childhood curricula. The passion of learning, educating, inspiring, empowering, and preparing young learners, teachers, and families burns inside like fire. However, when the material is not lined up with the development of the child, ability of the teacher, or the understanding of the family that is a problem. To work along side other great educators to create and develop a curricula that remembers the child, teach the teachers, and inform the family would be paramount for early childhood education.
Finally, these are the four goals for 2015, if one might add, these have been the goals since 2007. It is very possible these might remain the goals until accomplished. More so, this policy and system class is exactly what was needed in order to take a more in-depth action on advocacy for better education for the young learner, education for their families concerning how children learn, and eduction and support for teachers as the strive for the success of the early learner and their family. 



Okay, good. Synera, I agree that all these goals are important ones and, if you let them, will get you into a wider arena where policies are made. The key thing is to not just be a member or the holder of a degree or certificate but to actually do something to make a change. This requires one to be in a position to see what changes need to be made...thanks for this. I'll email you your blog rubric.
ReplyDeletePatricia
Hello Dr. Anderson,
ReplyDeleteThank you... my passion does not need a degree but it will be the employer that will hire me to live out my passion.
All of your organizations have key areas that would be of assistance in early childhood education. I am a member of the National Association of the Education for Young Children (NAEYC) and a Professional Development (PD) Specialist. I also teach Child Development Associates (CDA) training. I noticed you stated that as a PD Specialist you are not able to provide Technical Assistance (TA) and I agree with you, because you may not interact with the candidate again. Your verification visit is usually the first time you are seeing the candidate and the visit is the only one you have with a candidate By becoming a CDA instructor it could give you the advantage in providing TA to childcare educators, but for a short while. Finding a way to provide quality TA to those candidates as a PD Specialist might be something policies and systems can incorporate.
ReplyDeleteHello.
DeleteYes, working as a CDA PDS is great, but more that is required for the educator's professional development, therefore, the benefit of becoming a TA would allow one-on-one interaction with teachers to assist with their professional development.
Hi Synera,
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting your personal goals. I also intend to become a member of NAEYC, but later on after I successfully complete our ultimate goal of our Ed.D. My current goal right now is to get hired at a local community college to begin teaching early childhood or child development. I also want to train and teach best practices, research strategies, and hands-on creativity to future early childhood teachers. I like how you mentioned about professional development. I attended a professional development couple of days ago about behavior management at my pre-k campus. With our Ed.D. credentials in place, would surely help me to facilitate a professional development of any topic of concern at my pre-k campus or anywhere.
Synera, you mentioned about "becoming a TA working one-on-one interaction with teachers to assist with their professional development," Does this mean about working with teachers in their classrooms? Or, working or training teachers to conduct their professional development at their campuses or where ever they would go to facilitate their trainings?
Thank you for sharing, I look forward to learning from your experiences. Vianey
Hello Vianey,
DeleteHave young learners will travel... where ever young learns are at I will be to help them and their teachers understand how they learn best. To become a TA is mostly working with teachers during workshops and some one-on-one, however like you the passion is there to help teachers become more aware of tools, through professional development, workshops, one-on-one, and classroom. There is so much to learn, teach, and enjoy when it concerns young learners.. I am enjoying my purpose in life to be an advocate for the young leaner and it is GOOD!!
Hi Synera
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like all your goals will put you in the midst of ECE involvement in a direct way to effect change. Membership will provide you with current and up to date information and resources. This can equip you to participate in active advocacy, technical assistance and curricula work. Good Luck!
Hello Kimberly,
DeleteThank you... As you know working with young learners and their families require one to have direct involvement with the children, their families, and their environment. However, I often wonder what level of involvement this doctoral degree will take me too. There are so many area...as you stated, "active advocacy, technical assistance, and curricula". Nevertheless, one is looking forward to the outcome of pursuing a career that focus on the success of young learners in any or all fields of early childhood.
Hello Synera. I think it is a good idea to join the NAEYC as well as your state chapter, if they have one. When I interviewed the Executive Director of Early Childhood for the school district I work in for a previous course, that was a suggestion she shared. I joined the NAEYC as well as the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children and the Southern Early Childhood Association. I think it will be especially helpful since this is a legislative year for Texas and I can learn more about the issues being brought forth as well as the policies. Good luck in your work and goals! Thank you, Cissy
ReplyDeleteHello Cissy,
DeleteYes we have DVAEYC.. Delaware Valley Association of the Education of Young Children. Cissy, I am slowly coming to the conclusion that early childhood education involvement requires one to be involved on every level of learning, early childhood systems, public policies, funding, and whatever else early learning might require to succeed. DVAEYC has its annual conference in March, it is on play. I looking forward to attending, not only to gain insights on Play, but to meet other great educators in the field. Thank you kindly and the same to you concerning your goals as well.
HI Synera,
ReplyDeleteThe DVAEYC conference is one of the largest regional NAEYC conferences in the country, if I'm not mistaken, and a truly wonderful way to not only learn about topics relevant to classroom practice, but also to learn about policies. These conferences seem to attract lots of our local and state policy makers and implementers, and there is always lots of opportunity to learn about things that may have flown right by us.
Are you aware that you can get a 10% discount on Walden tuition with a NAEYC membership? I've been a member for years, but I did ask about this, and am grateful for both the discount AND knowing that NAEYC feels positively about Walden's early childhood degree programs.