Exploring Roles in the ECE Community

The first local organization that appealed to me is the Florida Association for the Education of Young Children (FLAEYC). I chose this organization because I hope to become an active member of this organization. The mission of this organization resonated with me. As it is my hope to make a real contribution to the field of early childhood. The goal is to benefit children and families by providing leadership and professional development for early childhood professionals. FLAEYC respects and accepts all people who contribute to quality early care and education. They are diverse, collaborative and advocate for children and educate communities on quality practices so that children will lead joyful, successful and enriched childhoods. They promote leadership among its members and advocate for quality work environment for all in the profession. After obtaining my degree, I hope to contribute and make a difference by teaching those choosing to enter early childhood and continue training for those in the field already. My role in but becoming a member of FLAEYC is that it would be beneficial for networking and collaborating with other early childhood professionals in my community. I would also have a resource for staying current with developments in early childhood in Orlando www.flaeyc.org/

The Early Learning Coalition is an organization here in Orlando to provide leadership, support and guidance to make sure that the children in our community are able to receive developmentally appropriate, research-based school readiness and VPK programs giving all children the necessary skills ready to enter kindergarten. As it is my goal to be a part of professional development for pre-service and in-service teachers, the mission of this organization resonates with my career goals in early childhood. I was not able to find job opportunities on the website but I did find a tab for volunteer opportunities. As I want to make a real difference in early childhood in my community, I would be very interested in helping in any area that I could.

http://elcoforangecounty.org/

Seminole State College is a community of practice. I look toward a future position at this school. Seminole State College has a strong Early Childhood Department. It is committed to delivering a curriculum tied to development and research-based ideas, which are proven to be best practices in the field. Faculty members are committed to serving as role models for students, emphasizing the core values of respect, integrity, excellence, knowledge and academic freedom to prepare students for professional success. https://www.seminolestate.edu/early-childhood/. A job opportunity currently available that I am interested in at SSC is Adjunct Professor in the Early Childhood Department. After obtaining my degree at Walden, I hope to be able to play a role in the SSC community of practice. The skills, knowledge and abilities required for this position are:

·         Master’s Degree in Education or closely related field

·         A personal and professional commitment to creating an atmosphere of quality instruction

·         Ability to use technology and innovative pedagogy to enhance teaching and learning

·         Understanding of and commitment to working with a diverse student population in a multicultural environment

·         Ability to communicate well, both orally and in writing