Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

 

The three organizations that appealed to me in the ECE community are as follows:

North Carolina Parenting Education Network (NCPEN) [www.ncpen.org] This organization facilitates statewide linkages among parents and other partners to encourage positive parenting practices.   It works to build parenting education in the many states with a focus on partnerships between parents and child care providers, teachers, and parent educators.

The mission of Smart Start and the North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc. [www.smartstart.org/category/smart-start-information/about-smart-start] is to advance a high quality, comprehensive, accountable system of care and education for every child beginning with a healthy birth.

 

North Carolina Parents as Teachers (NCPAT) [www.ncpat.org] is a voluntary family education and support program for parents of young children. It provides the information, support and encouragement parents need to help their children develop optimally during the crucial early years of life. The program is based on the beliefs that parents are their children’s first and most influential teachers and that the early years lay the foundation for children’s success in school and in life.

 

Job opportunities that interest me would include:

1)      Principal of an elementary school  - requirements would include a Master’s degree, Teacher certification and principal certification required, Student teaching internship required; some employers may prefer prior work as a teacher, Decision-making, critical thinking, communication, leadership

2)      School Counselor –obtaining a bachelor’s degree in counseling, psychology, or social work or a degree in a related field.  After this four-year program as specialized Master’s degree in school counseling will be needed.

3)      Early Childhood Director - a bachelor’s degree in any other field, including 30 credit hours in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education or social science field.

 

References

North Carolina Parenting Education Network (NCPEN) [www.ncpen.org]

The mission of Smart Start and the North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc. [www.smartstart.org/category/smart-start-information/about-smart-start]

North Carolina Parents as Teachers (NCPAT) [www.ncpat.org]