Organizations and Opportunities

Local Organizations

The first organization I am interested in is the Great Start organization of Northwest Michigan.  This organization is the early childhood initiative for the state of Michigan, and it is the local chapter.  This organization provides a quality rating system for all childcare programs, provides training and professional development for early childhood professionals, and many other resources related to early childhood.  They also have a community of practice of which I am a member.  This is the Great Start Kids Strengthening Families Workgroup.  This is a group of community members and professionals that come together to support families in the community.  The third organization that appeals to me is the Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children.  I have been a NAEYC member for several years, and find it provides abundant resources, support, and current information.  It supports early childhood professionals and gives them opportunities to come together to discuss early childhood topics. 

Job Opportunities

There is a position open for the Great Start Organization for Assistant Director.  The requirements for this position are a Masters Degree and 3-5 years experience in the early childhood profession.  After this class I will possess all of these requirements. 

Another position is the for the state reform officer.  This position oversees school reform and helps to plan for schools that do not meet the required yearly progress.  This position only requires a bachelors degree in any field.  This I find interesting and discouraging, because I would think a job this important would require some kind of education background. 

At this time of the year there are very few education job opportunities, and I struggled to find a third that was something I was interested in.  At my agency there is a site supervisor position that is available at this time.  It requires a bachelors degree in an early childhood discipline.  I am qualified for this position and submitted my resume last week in hopes that this fall I could begin a new journey as a site supervisor. 

Resources

 

www.greatstartforkids.org

 http://www.michigan.gov/mdcs/0,1607,7-147-6876---,00.html

www.nmcaa.net