Time Well Spent - EDUC 6990

I started this Master’s journey with Walden 3 years ago. I started with a 9 month old at home. Since then I have changed jobs twice and had another baby – all while balancing classes. At times I didn’t think I could do this or that the end would ever come – but I am here,  I made it (WE) made it!

As we bid farewell, I want to thank you all of you for your support, guidance, and wisdom.  They say it takes a village to raise a child, but it took a village to get me through my Master’s Program – and that village included all of you! Dr. E has been amazing and knew just the right questions to ask or when to push – THANK YOU!

Three deeply felt learnings from this program:

1) Anti-bias education is real and needs to be taught, advocated for, and not overlooked

2) My peers are full of wonderful knowledge and should be utilized MORE than just help with lesson planning or to vent to…

3) Making change in myself or local community is a process but it can and should be done, take action!

One Long-term Goal for me is to pursue my capstone. I am already in talks with collaborating with another group in my region, but I want to see where this can go!

My contact information outside of Walden is: Dmfrick1@gmail.com please feel free to blog or email me! Thank you all again! 

My favorite poem is for you

No way. The hundred is there.

The child

is made of one hundred.

The child has

a hundred languages

a hundred hands

a hundred thoughts

a hundred ways of thinking

of playing, of speaking.

A hundred always a hundred

ways of listening

of marveling, of loving

a hundred joys

for singing and understanding

a hundred worlds

to discover

a hundred worlds

to invent

a hundred worlds

to dream.

The child has

a hundred languages

(and a hundred hundred hundred more)

but they steal ninety-nine.

The school and the culture

separate the head from the body.

They tell the child:

to think without hands

to do without head

to listen and not to speak

to understand without joy

to love and to marvel

only at Easter and at Christmas.

They tell the child:

to discover the world already there

and of the hundred

they steal ninety-nine.

They tell the child:

that work and play

reality and fantasy

science and imagination

sky and earth

reason and dream

are things

that do not belong together.

And thus they tell the child

that the hundred is not there.

The child says:

No way. The hundred is there.

-Loris Malaguzzi (translated by Lella Gandini)

Founder of the Reggio Emilia Approach

International Organizations and Employment Opportunities - EDUC 6990

This week I reviewed several international organizations. I again found it difficult to find new postisions I would be qualified for and that I had experience. It sounds like I have some new career goals to add to my list!

“UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world” (UNICEF, 2015).  UNICEF is established in over 190 countries all over the world and fights for equity, gender fairness, and access to services (UNICEF, 2015).  One of UNICEF’s priorities in education is access to early childhood education and school readiness.   Studies have shown that children who have access to early childhood programs lead to higher educational performances and later employment opportunities.  (UNICEF, 2012).  UNICEF advocates towards school readiness include work at policy and program levels, parenting education, and community programs. 

Job Opportunities with UNICEF

There were many opportunities to work with UNICEF in the U.S. (mostly New York or California) or else where around the world. Both of my browsers did not support their site and I could not view details on the positions listed. Some positions listed were: Human Resources Officer, Planning Specialist, Child Protection Specialist, Travel Assistant.  Without reading the job descriptions, I am unsure of which I would be interested in or possibly qualify for (UNICEF, 2015). 

UNICEF. (2012). Early Childhood Education and School Readiness. Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/education/bege_61627.html

UNICEF. (2015). About UNICEF. Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/about/  and http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/

Save the Children

Save the Children initially started in the state of Kentucky providing hot lunches, clothing, and school supplies.  From the 1930’s until now, Save the Children has been providing children with the things they need for survival, providing, emergency response services, education, health and nutrition services, disaster response, HIV/AIDS,  and working to stop hunger . Save the Children works in the United States, Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Greater Middle East.  (Save the Children, 2015). 

Positions with Save the Children vary and also extend Internationally.

The first that caught my eye was a position in the U.S. for an Early Childhood Education Manager.  This person  provides oversight and support to Head Start Programs in the Indianola, Mississippi region.  “This position will provide training and technical assistance to the partnering agency staff to ensure high-quality programming; monitor child and teacher progress and performance to ensure that they are achieving program objectives; consult with the DHA and STC national team as needed, to resolve complex issues; and, ensure compliance with Head Start regulations and performance standards” (Save the Children, 2015). 

Skills I would need to fulfill this position: I would need more supervisor experience as well as Head Start Experience. Most of my career is with the Great Start Readiness Program (state funded) and as we align with Head Start on many things, I expect that many things are also different. 

Internationally, no positions appealed to me. 

Save the Children. (2015). What We Do. Retrieved from http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6146357/k.2755/What_We_Do.htm

Save the Children. (2015). Careers. Retrieved fromL https://chc.tbe.taleo.net/chc01/ats/careers/jobSearch.jsp?org=SAVETHECHILDREN&cws=1&msource=wewscwww1112&__utma=1.1963013904.1449362163.1449362163.1449362163.1&__utmb=1.31.9.1449363202120&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1449362163.1.1.utmcsr=(direct)|utmccn=(direct)|utmcmd=(none)&__utmv=1.|1=gs=Es1=1&__utmk=192484266

ISSA International Step by Step Association

ISSA’s mission is to provide high quality care and educational services for all children from birth through primary school (birth through 10 years old), with a focus on the poorest and most disadvantaged ensure greater inclusion of family and community participation in children's development and learning, and to ensure social inclusion and respect for diversity (ISSA, 2015).  ISSA is established in close to 40 countries – mostly in Europe and Central Asia. 

I could not find employment opportunities listed on their site.  They do however have information on how to become a member of ISSA and two other Programs. 

ISSA. (2015). Mission. Retrieved from http://www.issa.nl/content/mission