Week 4

• Three national/federal organizations or communities of practice that appealed to you and why you chose them
• Job opportunities (currently available or not) that interest you
• Skills and experience you would need to competently fulfil each of these roles

Three national/federal organisations that I have chosen are:

 Zero to Three -  http://zerotothree.org/

National Head Start Association (NHSA) - http://www.nhsa.org

The National Association for the Education of Young Children  (NAEYC) - http://www.naeyc.org/

These three national organizations were selected because I have found them to be very helpful and committed to working with families and young children. I have also found useful articles on their webpages which would be very helpful to all teachers and parents of young children.

NHSA: Director of Head Start Center

Requirements: 3-5 years experience supervising at an early childhood center; Experience with Head Start, and special education strongly preferred. Demonstrated success in program management, including operational and financial management, evaluation and assessment, and continuous improvement for educational programs. Experience leading a highly effective team, with a strong commitment to staff development. Demonstrated success implementing new programs to engage broad, diverse audiences. Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or related field; master's degree preferred. Ability to communicate effectively in written or verbal format to groups of all sizes and individuals. Experience executing strategies to engage families to support their children's healthy development and school readiness.

Zero to Three: Senior Training Specialist

Requirements: Master’s degree in early childhood development or related field.

Strong knowledge of early childhood development and early childhood systems; with a specific focus on infant and toddler development; Strong knowledge of Early Head Start program development, the Head Start Program Performance Standards, and EHS technical assistance resources;

Excellent training skills and experience providing training to a variety of audiences; Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks; Strong oral, and computer skills; Experience working in various databases; Ability to work collaboratively with individuals representing a range of backgrounds and skill levels; Ability to be flexible and adaptable to dynamic changes in the work environment; Ability to work with a team as well as independently; Strong interpersonal skills; and Ability to travel.