One community of practice (CoP) I
am already involved in is Georgia Association for the Education of Young
Children (GAEYC). This organization is a local affiliate of NAEYC and works to provide
all young children and their families with high-quality programs for their
early care and learning. I originally joined this organization because of its
commitment to advancing the early childhood profession by offering professional
development opportunities for early childhood educators. Their vision is “a
world in which all children have the learning opportunities they need for
healthy development, supported by early childhood educators who have the
education, financial support, and the recognition of their community” (GAEYC,
n.d.). Advancing an effective workforce and supporting all who work on behalf
of young children is my personal passion and this organization’s advocacy and
public policy work, coupled with the many trainings, resources, and conferences
they provide for educators immediately appealed to me. The early childhood
professionals I have met while attending Director Training, Training for
Trainers, and conferences through GAEYC continue to be integral members of my
personal CoP and we communicate regularly for support and encouragement.
Another CoP which has aided in my
professional development and advocacy work is the Georgia Child Care
Association (GCCA). This group of owners, directors, and advocates work together
to advocate for state policies that support and foster developmentally
appropriate practices and environments without imposing undue costs and burdens
upon the early childhood administrators who strive to provide quality,
affordable, and accessible care and education (GCCA, n.d.). As a director, this
CoP strengthens my professional practices as they provide ongoing support in
understanding state licensing requirements as well as offering training
opportunities to support quality improvement. The resources, networking opportunities,
and professional development received through this CoP supports my business
practices, financial stability, and long-term sustainability of my program.
Recently, I was invited to be an
ambassador for a local CoP consisting of child care providers currently going
through the Quality Rated (Georgia’s QRIS) process. This cohort of early
childhood professionals meet quarterly in various locations throughout the
state to share ideas, success stories, and lessons learned through the Quality
Rated process. As an ambassador, having multiple experiences going through
Quality Rated as well as NAEYC accreditation, my goal is to provide support and
encouragement to those professionals who may be going through this process for
the first time. It can be very overwhelming and frustrating for those who may
not have all the structures already in place in their programs. This CoP was of
great assistance to me when I went through the Quality Rated process so many
years ago I am grateful to be able to provide the same supports for others.
An opportunity that currently interests
me is serving on the GAEYC Executive Committee as the Vice President for
Program and Professional Development. This position works closely with the
GAEYC Conference and Professional Development committees to provide high
quality professional development to teachers, directors, and trainers enabling
them to meet and/or exceed NAEYC standards for care and education of young
children and their families. With over a decade of experience as an educator, six years as a
director, trainer, and coach, and my certification in Project Management. I
already possess the required skills and experience necessary to fulfill the position.
Completing this Masters program will only elevate my skillset and better equip
me to continue the advancement of the early childhood field through
professional development.
References:
DECAL. (n.d.). Quality rated child care. Retrieved May 19,
2018, from https://qualityrated.decal.ga.gov
GAEYC. (n.d.).
Georgia association for the education of young children. Retrieved May 19,
2018, from http://www.gaeyc.net
GCCA. (n.d.).
Georgia child care association. Retrieved May 19, 2018, from https://georgiachildcare.org/
Hi Kristen,
ReplyDeleteHigh quality professional development is an area of need in many communities. You seem to have the education, experience, and skills to take on the position you highlighted. A focus on adult learning theory is so critical in those positions and I find that, often, the PD providers have early childhood degrees with little to no experience and education in adult development or adult education. The fact that you have both, with your concentration in this MSECS program, bodes well for your ability to provide the best of both aspects. I wish you well if you decide to pursue that position. You would be great at it, I have no doubt.
Wendy