Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

     The first organization I chose was the Center on Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning. They do not currently have any employment opportunities posted but I would be interested in working for this organization because they are committed to promoting social emotional development in children. I think my experience with the organization, being trained in the Pyramid Model, and my experience and education would afford me an opportunity if a position to train teachers in social emotional learning did become available. CSEFEL is a national resource center funded by the Office of Head Start and Child Care Bureau for disseminating research and evidence-based practices to early childhood programs across the country. Center on Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/
     The next group I chose is Child Care Aware America. Formally the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies or NACCRRA is an organization that my center works closely with. One of their functions is to provide assistance to military families to find quality childcare at an affordable cost. They help families by offsetting the cost of care based on their military rank and pay grade. We have a large military population as we are located directly next to a military instillation. The centers on post often do not have openings and families are referred to our center. I did not find any job openings with Child Care Aware America. They do work with legislation and government regulations regarding early childhood education. Their goal is that all children have access to quality care and education. One of the reports I looked at looked at the inconsistencies in standards for licensed centers and government supported early childhood programs. I would be interested in a position with them that would help regulate early childhood credentials across the country. I think with my experience and education in early childhood education would help me procure a position like this. I also think their mission and vision statements are very much to the point and encompass what I strongly believe in. Our Vision: A nation that supports the development and learning of all children. Our Mission: To promote national policies and partnerships to advance the development and learning of all children and to provide vision, leadership and support to community Child Care Resource and Referral. Child Care Aware America http://www.naccrra.org/
    The mission statement of the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning is to help make evidence-based social and emotional learning an integral part of education from preschool through high school. Through research, practice and policy, CASEL collaborates to ensure all students become knowledgeable, responsible, caring and contributing members of society. When I read this statement it reminded me of what I say to parents all the time; what I want most to give their children is a good social emotional foundation to build on so they can be confident, well-adjusted, productive members of society. I feel that is one of my primary responsibilities as an early childhood educator. This organization did have positions available but not that I would be interested or qualified for. They are looking for a President and CEO and a Vice President for Practice both of which require much more experience than I possess. I could see myself working with this organization as someone who traveled to schools to teach and encourage school districts to adopt social emotional learning programs into their schools. Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) https://casel.squarespace.com/
      Finally, I chose the National School Climate Center (NSCC) for their commitment to children throughout their educational journey. I think with school trends what they are today the goal of the National School Climate Center is most appropriate; to promote positive and sustained school climate: a safe, supportive environment that nurtures social and emotional, ethical, and academic skills. I do not think teaching social emotional skills to children should stop when they enter kindergarten. Even as adults we are growing and changing and need to learn new coping skills to adapt. I wonder why people do not think the same is true for children. The National School Climate Center helps schools incorporate social emotional skills with academics. They have found by doing this student performance is improved, there is a reduction in drop outs, violence, bullying, and children are developing into healthy and positively engaged adults. Vision Statement NSCC's vision is that all children will develop the essential social, emotional and intellectual skills to become healthy and productive citizens. Mission Statement NSCC's mission is to measure and improve the climate for learning in schools to help children realize their fullest potential as individuals and as engaged members of society. The Center had two research internship/fellowship positions listed but I would not be interested in a research position at this time. I would like however to embark on a position of training teachers in the schools on how to implement these practices into their classrooms. That would be an ideal job for me. National School Climate Center (NSCC) https://schoolclimate.org