•At least three deeply felt learning’s from this program

 I have learned so much as a student at Walden University that it seems awkward to narrow the experience down to three learning experiences. The first experience I would like to share is how confident I am as an adult educator because of my experience at Walden. The tools I have learned I will carry with me for a life time. I have learned more about eLearning, classroom management, effective teaching strategies and so much more.  I have confidence is my abilities to lead others in the field of early childhood education. I am thankful for the experience.

The second learning experience that has made a difference in my life is learning to recognize my biases. I think gaining a better understanding of why I am who I am and how I treat others is a powerful, growing experience. I love working with families from different cultures and backgrounds however before gaining a higher education I was probably more critical than I am now. I have learned the importance of acceptance. I have learned that I can keep my belief systems and still have an open mind. I now know how to incorporate all families into the classroom learning experience. I see the importance of everyone feeling accepted and seeing themselves in the early education classroom as well as the adult classrooms. Again, I feel blessed to have learned such valuable information.

The third eye-opener for me was exploring education across the country and world. Before my experience at Walden I had not looked beyond my own state or surrounding states. Now I have had the honor of researching programs across the country and worldwide. I have learned from programs that serve the needy, the homeless and disaster victims. My eyes were opened up to see how much early childhood cares about children and families beyond the classroom. The differences we can make are unbelievable.

•At least one long-term goal

One long term goal I have is to complete my Capstone project. I would like for all four year old children in Kelso-Longview to have access to high quality pre-kindergarten. When I chose the challenge I wanted to choose something I felt strongly about. I feel it is very important for children to get the right start in their education. I hope to see this come true in my area soon. The second long-term goal I have is to make it through my tenure process at Lower Columbia College. I was hired in January as full time ECE faculty. The process for tenure takes three years. I chose this as my long term goal because without my education at Walden I would not have the opportunity to be faculty. I love my job and I hope three years from now I can say the job is mine forever. The third long-term goal I have is to visit a needy area and support children and families. I am not sure where or when or even how. I will continue to pray about it and when God is ready to use me to help others in a bigger way he will let me know.

•A farewell message to your Instructor and colleagues

 I would like to thank everyone for their support over the quarters. I have truly enjoyed my experience at Walden. I have learned from the ups and downs. I have loved learning from the professors and the students. Thank you for the effort and hard work all of you have done to increase my learning experiences. I wish all of you the best of luck now and in the future.

Josie Zbaeren

Blog Assignment: Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

Three international organizations or community of practice that appeal to me and why I chose them:

The first organization that sparked an interest for me is United Nations Children’s Fund.  The reason this particular organization interested me was because of the work they are doing for early education as well as equal education for boys and girls. “Education is a fundamental right and every girl and every boy are entitled to it,” (UNICEF, 2011). The United Nation’s Children’s Fund is an organization working to create a world where education is accessible to all.

The second organization I have an interest is Save the Children. Save the Children helps when disaster strikes. They help children in the U.S. and across the globe. They can provide food, medical care, shelter, schooling and other needs (Save the Children, 2013). I chose this organization because they take action when people need help. They help children and families when they feel life is too hard. I admire the work they do.

The third place I would like to learn more about for employment is an adoption agency. I have adopted a child through foster care and I would like to learn more about international adoptions / U.S. adoptions. I looked into American Adoptions.

Job Opportunities:

There are categories of employment through the United Nations Children’s Funds including International Professional, General Services, National Officer and Temporary Appointments. I could see myself applying for a temporary appointment for a new experience however I would wait until all of my children had graduated high school.

The job I would be most interested in for Save the Children is Education / Literacy / Child Development.  I am qualified with an undergraduate degree in Child Development / Psychology and (soon) a graduate degree in Early Childhood Education. I would also be willing to volunteer.

The job opportunities for American Adoptions include volunteer (foster care opportunities), Internships and Social Workers. I am not qualified for a social worker however it is still something I am interested in. I would be interested in foster care as well.

Skills and Experience:

The UNICEF requires all staff to have a degree from an accredited University.

They will not accept applicants that have received degree credits based on work experience (UNICEF, 2011). They also require work experience that is related to their line of work. They prefer that applicants speak languages recognized by the Untied Nations.

Save the Children uses a third party for hiring. I did not see their education requirements.  They help with education, medical needs, child development and humanitarian work (Save the Children 2013). I am sure a degree in a related field is required.

The employment skills for American Adoption include an education is social work, counseling and in business for the business side of the program. The current employees have a MBA, licensed Social Work and Counseling.

Josie Zbaeren

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://www.unicef.org/

Save the Children. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm

American Adoption Agency (2013). Retrieved from

http://www.americanadoptions.com/about_us/employment

Job Roles in the ECE Community: National Federal (State)

The first agency I looked at was Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. When I got to their site I looked up WaKIDS.  There are three components to WaKIDS including family connections, “whole child” assessments and early learning collaboration (OSPI, 2013). WaKIDS is part of the Race to the Top grant out of Washington State. WAKIDS is state, federally and privately funded. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Thrive by Five are the private funders.  I was most interested in the early learning collaboration because this piece is working on aligning early education and the public schools. Now I believe Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation should be part of my community of practice. They are from my home state. There were two jobs listed under OSPI and I would not want either of them. The jobs were NET Solutions Developer (ITS 5) and Supervisor, School District and Educational Service District Accounting. Here is their website https://www.k12.wa.us/employment/default.aspx I do not meet the qualifications for their current positions however I would qualify for early education positions as they came up.

The second agency I looked at was Children’s Home Society.  CHS was started in 1895 and has grown over time. They first began by serving orphans. They later worked with troubled children. Today they pride themselves in serving families in many different ways including therapeutic counseling, home visiting, early childhood education (Head Start),  as well as offering services in adoption and child advocacy (CHS,  2012). There were 8 job openings for King County and zero for my county or the county closest to me. The jobs ranged from Early Head Start teacher, to home visitor, to assistant grant writer. I would like to get some experience in writing grants however the pay for this particular job was very low. I meet all qualifications for the jobs I was interested in. I have experience and education in early childhood education, home visiting experience, I have worked under the Even Start grant and I have taught parenting classes.

The third place I looked was the Department of Social and Health Services. The reason I chose them is because I think connecting to services such DSHS or Child Protective Services gives early educators the opportunity for professional development. They often have classes that can help provider’s better serve children. They also have all the information I would need to understand who would qualify for state paid pre-kindergarten or who would not according to family income.  Also my undergraduate degree is in psychology / child development. I would be a match for some jobs. The jobs that interested me were Social Service Specialist I or II. They pay well and their duties include serving children and families. I would of course need my degrees, be willing to complete training and internship.

Josie Zbaeren

Children’s Home Society (2012). Children’s home society from Washington. Retrieved from

http://www.chs-wa.org/

Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (2013).  State of Washington office of
            superintendent of public instruction. Retrieved from

 http://www.k12.wa.us/research/EdReform.aspx

Washington State’s Department of Social and Health Services (2103). Retrieved from

 http://www.dshs.wa.gov/hrd/

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community

The first organization that appeals to me is Washington's Department of Early Learning. The reason this community of practice interests me is because they are working to make children's lives and education a priority. They work in collaboration with Early Head Start, Head Start and Race To The Top.  They are the number one resource in our state for Early Achievers, Merit and Kindergarten Readiness. The only job at DEL available at this time is an Information Technology Specialist 5 which I have no interest in or education for. This job requires a bachelor's degree in business technology.

The second community of practice (organization) I have an interest in working for is Longview School District. This particular district is working significantly harder than surrounding districts to align preschool through 3rd grade. The principal of Broadway (a school which serves children with varying abilities) is the leader of L.E.E.P.  L.E.E.P. is working towards better education for preschoolers as well as working towards collaboration projects of preschools with elementary schools. There are two positions open in the fall of 2013 for a sponsored preschool called Wallenberg. The education requirements are a bachelors in early childhood education or related field. A degree in elementary education would also be considered for these positions.

The third organization I would be interested in working for is Head Start. Our local Head Start is nationally recognized. Sandy Junker (the director) runs a tight ship! Head Start employees are hired through Lower Columbia College where I currently work. There are no positions posted at this time. Head Start is effected by the sequester and will have to reduce their budget by over $100,000. Any jobs available in the fall will be posted July 1, 2013.

I currently have the job I want. I work for Lower Columbia College as faculty and director of Home and Family Life Early Learning Center. I was hired in January of 2013. I was hired before my education was complete. I am required to complete my graduate degree within one year of my hire date in order to keep my position.

Josie Zbaeren

My wordle:

http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/6692407/Early_Childhood_Education

Adjourning

This week you read about the five stages of team development: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. Consider the adjourning phase for several of the groups in which you have been involved. Think about which aspects of the groups made for the hardest good-bye. Are high-performing groups hardest to leave? Groups with the clearest established norms? Which of the groups that you participated in was hardest to leave? Why? What sorts of closing rituals have you experienced or wish you had experienced? How do you imagine that you will adjourn from the group of colleagues you have formed while working on your master's degree in this program? Why is adjourning an essential stage of teamwork?

The hardest group I have left was a dance company I was a part of for four years. We were like family. Our projects were performances. We were a strong group that had common goals. We leaned on each other daily. The hardest aspect of saying good-bye was we knew we would not see each other everyday. At the time there was no facebook or text messaging so our good-byes felt so final. 

I think the hardest good-byes are from groups that worked well together and accomplished the goals they intended to accomplish. If a group never gets past storming saying good-bye may be the best thing to do.

Closing experiences I have experienced are fair well parties or a get together. After working on a group project for church the ladies usually go out to dinner. At work we tend to have lunch or go to a local party such as a wine tasting (I hate wine J). My husband coaches and after a season we have a barbeque.

I do not see adjourning my master’s degree program with my colleagues from my program. I appreciate everyone but I am ready to complete and move on. I will celebrate with my family and work colleagues. My family has sacrificed for me to complete my education and I want to enjoy my accomplishment with them because without their support I could not have finished a mater’s degree.

Josie Zbaeren

Conflict Resolution

I am the new director at Lower Columbia College Home and Family Life Early Learning Center and ECED Faculty. The position has some challenges. Our state is making some important changes in the early education field. With change comes some resistance. One conflict is the increase of expectations. My staff will have to change the way in which they plan their day, their curriculum will change and the way they are observed will also change. The nerves have set in. In order to deal with the conflict we are using cooperation. We are taking the changes one step at a time. At first I overwhelmed them. I gave them too much information at one time. Now we are working together for a common goal. We all want to rate high on the Early Achievers Scale. The text explains cooperation is, “a strategy that benefit the relationship, serve mutual rather than individual goals, and strive to build solutions that benefit both parties,” (O’Hair & Weimann, 2012, pg. 237).

Josie Zbaeren