Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

Communities of practice that interest me :
              Locally: 
                  The FACE Center (Family and Community Engagement) of the Alexandria City Public Schools 
                  The Child and Family Network Centers
              Nationally: 
                  National Black Child Development Institute

These CoPs interest me because they all strive to improve the lives of young children by educating adults and children and seek to make quality child care programs accessible to our most at-risk children and families.

The job opportunities that interest me are ones that involve adult education. I am interested more the more traditional classroom setting with adults who currently have children in their care such as parents, grandparents and early child care professionals. I am most interested in educating adults about how children develop and provide them with practical and effective strategies that are applicable in their daily lives. This is different from a degree seeking program that is more focused on teacher preparation. 

The skills I would need to fill this role is an education in the ECE field as well as years of experience working with children and families. I would also need have a working understanding and appreciation for cultural diversity and interpersonal skills to develop trust with the adults who I would instruct. I also beleive it is important to have a teaching background to support instruction formatting, class management, curriculum planning, and organizational skills.