Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

North Carolina Early Childhood Association (NCECA) was established in 1960.  NCECA’s mission is to improve the quality of child care in North Carolina. They are committed to making high quality child care available to all children in our state. Their membership includes parents, teachers, childcare center directors, family child care home providers and other child care professionals and advocates. The organization also advocates for improvement of the working environment for early childhood professionals. There are no jobs available at this particular organization.

Martin-Pitt Partnership for Children (MPPFC) that was founded in 1998, brings together all the people involved families, teachers, doctors, childcare professionals, caregivers, social workers, and community partners – to ensure children have all they need for healthy growth and development. MPPFC is a nonprofit organization that serves the birth to five population and their families. MPPFC is one of 79 Smart Start partnerships in our state, North Carolina. MPPFC works to support parents, child care facilities, and educators through collaborative programs. The mission of MPPFC is to make meaningful and measurable investments in the quality of life for young children and families in education, health and support services. MPPFC goal is to provide every child in Martin and Pitt Counties between the ages of birth to five the opportunity to experience a quality early childhood education. This organization stands out to me because there are professionals of different statuses working together for a common cause. MPPFC is one of 79 Smart Start partnerships in our state, North Carolina. MPPFC works to support parents, child care facilities, and educators through collaborative programs. There are no
current employment opportunities at this organization however, MPPFC offers a competitive salary and benefits, and a high-energy workplace. When there are openings on their staff, they advertise people to seek employment with them.

State of New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF)– I chose this particular organization due to the fact that I will be moving to New Jersey by the end of October of this year. I was interested in learning to see if they had any program or organizations that resonate with me. I came across the New Jersey DCF and looked into and saw that it would be the kind of environment I would not mid working in because I get to work with the children and their families. The New Jersey DCF is the state’s first comprehensive agency dedicated to ensuring the safety, well-being and success of children, youth, families and communities. DCF’s vision is to ensure a better today and even a greater tomorrow for every individual they serve. Currently, DCF is staffed by approximately 6,600 employees and encompasses:

• Adolescent Services
• Centralized Child Abuse/Neglect Hotline
• Child Protection and Permanency (formerly Youth and Family Services)
• Children’s System of Care (formerly Child Behavioral Health Services)
• Child Welfare Training Academy
• Family and Community Partnerships (formerly Prevention and Community Partnerships)
• Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit
• Office of Licensing
• Specialized Education Services
• Women (transferred from DCA)

This organization has several jobs that are available but there is one that interest me and that is the position of TEACHER 1, 12 MONTHS (UNCLASSIFIED) or TEACHER 2, 12 MONTHS (UNCLASSIFIED). The following information will present what I would need in order to fulfill this job opportunity from the DCF website :

TEACHER 1, 12 MONTHS

DEFINITION: Under direction of the Supervisor of Educational Programs, plans, executes, and evaluates the lessons and educational experiences of the assigned pupils, class, or classes. Performs these duties exercising independent judgment and with a comprehensive knowledge of department rules, regulations, and policies; does related work.

REQUIREMENTS:

EDUCATION: Possession of a valid NJ Standard Teacher’s Certificate or Permanent Endorsement, issued by the Board of Examiners of the New Jersey Department of Education, authorizing instruction in subject areas appropriate to the teaching assignment, as determined by the head of a particular school or district.

EXPERIENCE: Thirty-six (36) months of full-time, properly certified teaching experience in an approved school, earned after thereceipt of the N. J. Standard Teacher’s Certificate.

TEACHER 2, 12-MONTHS

DEFINITION: Under direction of the Supervisor of Educational Program, plans, executes, and evaluates lessons and educational experiences of assigned pupils, class, or classes; performs these duties exercising independent judgment and with a comprehensive knowledge of department rules, regulations, and policies; does other related work.

REQUIREMENTS:

EDUCATION: Possession of a valid New Jersey Teacher’s Certificate (Standard, Emergency or Provisional) or Permanent Endorsement, issued by the Board of Examiners of the New Jersey Department of Education, authorizing instruction in subject areas appropriate to the teaching assignment, as determined by the head of a particular school or district.

References

DCF. (n.d.). Retrieved September 09, 2016, from http://www.nj.gov/dcf/about/

Martin/Pitt Partnership for Children. Retrieved from http://www.mppfc.org/

NC Early Childhood Association. (n.d.). Retrieved September 09, 2016, from http://www.ncearlychildhoodassoc.com/