International Communities of Practice

The more I expand my information base with regard to organizations designed to promote healthy and successful outcomes for children, families and educators, the more I find that I am connected to these organizations by my desire to learn and facilitate change.  I am also amazed at the work so many people do to ensure all children around the world are well cared for and are getting all the privileges and rights they deserve.  For me the key elements to my work are children and their families as well as the teachers who work with those families.  Without proper information and resources, we cannot do justice by the people we serve so I therefore am seeking to find ways to help teachers learn more so as to give back in way that serves the many rather than the select few.  The organizations I looked into serve children, families and educators, and I wouldn’t mind working for or being involved in any one of these organizations. 

Save the children, http://www.savethechildren.org

Save the Children is an organization designed to empower poor, marginalized and vulnerable children and families.  The organization works to provide food, medical care, and education to assist with the rebuilding of communities through long-term recovery programs.  The organization not only trains teachers to utilize more effective teaching practices, but the organization coaches parents to engage their children in the learning process so as to be ready to go to attend school.  In addition to parent and teacher training, Save the Children introduces children to the arts as a means of expression and healing after trauma.

There was a job posting for the Washington, D.C. area, Coordinator, Early Steps to School Success and I am actually over qualified for the position.  The coordinator would assist pregnant women and their children with early childhood education services. The job requires an AA degree in Early Childhood with 2 to 3 years related experience; experience leading parent groups, experience reporting and maintaining accurate documentation on program activities, and experience working with early childhood programs in the community.  The only experience I lack is the required experience working with pregnant women.

FHI 360, http://www.fhi360.org/en/what_we_do/index.htm

I checked into FHI360, which is a human development organization that focuses on finding local solutions for individuals and communities; the goal is to improve lives in a long term, lasting manner.  Their approach is all encompassing and covers areas such as health, education, nutrition, environment, gender equality, economic development and peace building.  FHI 360 conducts research, strategic planning, clinical trials and training to cover various perspectives with regard to human development needs.  Information and knowledge sharing is key to their success. 

A position of interest is Project Manager I (Region XI Early Childhood Specialist).  The project manager provides technical assistance and training to Head Start programs with regard to school readiness and training.  I do meet some of the job requirements; a BA or BS in Early Childhood Education, Master’s degree preferred, 5 years experience in programs that serve young children, knowledge of child development, experience working with education managers and teachers.  I lack the skills in working with American Indian Alaska Native and I lack experience in T/T A.

International Step-by-Step Association, http://www.issa.nl/index.html

International Step by Step Association connects organizations and education professionals working in early childhood development.  Their goal is to provide equal access to education and childcare for all children.  They offer educational services, advocacy tools to promote policy reform for families and children.  International Step by Step Association promotes family and community involvement in children’s lives as well as promotes developmental growth for the individual child through discovery and exploration.  Children are viewed as capable beings. In addition, the organization provides resources and training for teachers in a wide variety of interest areas such as diversity, parent empowerment, bilingual education, social justice and child centered programming.  This organization embodies the type of work I want to be in. 

I could not find any job postings, but the organization is open to membership.  As a member one has access to professional development, networking opportunities, publications, grants for various projects, as well as invitations to annual conferences. 

This type of resource activity can open many doors, and although I lacked a few of the requirements for the job postings, I feel if I had the opp9ortuntiy for an interview, I could perhaps market myself in such a way that indicates I am capable of learning and growing.