Exploring Roles
in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels
I decided to organize this blog by adding the links to the
organizations and the job postings below each one to help locate each one with
ease. I began my search with an organization I hope becomes a part of my
community of practice then added local schools who focus on the whole child and
with an organization that I feel embodies working toward social justice and
positive change. I also included each organization’s mission policy, what they
strive to accomplish, and employment requirements.
Prescott College
Mission and Philosophy
It is the mission of Prescott College “to educate students of
diverse ages and backgrounds to understand, thrive in, and enhance our world
community and environment” (Prescott College, 2019).
Prescott College looks at critical thinking as “An organic
process, moving almost seamlessly between teachers and students, focused on
questions and problems that matter deeply to both. Prescott students learn
critical thinking and research and how to apply them to real-life problems and
their own passions by living them and testing them out in real time” (Prescott
College, 2019).
Interdisciplinary Associate Faculty Positions
Part of the requirements for this position that intrigued me
was to “help students build the academic knowledge,
practical abilities, and positive dispositions to collaborate with diverse
communities for just and sustainable solutions to international and global
realities such as Climate change, and cultural power relations, educational
access, quality and transformation with changing demographics, as well as
creative expression and communication in the modern age” (Prescott College,
2019)
Another
thing I discovered while searching their job postings is that “Prescott College
is a member of the Consortium for Innovative Environments in Learning
(http://www.cielearn.org ) and the Ecoleague (http://www.ecoleague.org )”
(Prescott College, 2019). Membership
with these two organizations means that Prescott College is student-centered with
experiential learning techniques (CIEL, n.d.) and concerned with sustainability
and to provide students with “opportunities to prepare to live and work in a
global and interconnected world” (Ecoleague, n.d.).
The
posting did not give me exact educational or experience requirements. They look
for individuals who are experienced in their field to help students learn a
wide variety of disciplines to apply in real-world situations.
On the Arizona Workforce Registry, I searched for area
jobs that would be of interest to me. I discovered that the registry uses Indeed.com
to search for jobs so I posted the links to the jobs directly rather than the
link to the Arizona Workforce Registry.
Prescott Valley Charter School (PVS)
On the Indeed posting it stated that Prescott Valley
Charter School is a Title 1 school working towards overcoming poverty through
educating children in small class-size settings and treating children as individuals
rather than numbers (Indeed, 2019). I went to the Prescott Valley Charter
School website to see what more I could discover about their school. Part of their
mission is “to prepare students to become contributing members of an increasingly
global society, by exposing students to relevant 21st-century issues, problem-solving
and critical thinking across the rigorous curriculum” (PVS, 2018).
Early Childhood Educators
$35,000 - $45,000 a year
The Indeed.com posting stated a bachelor’s degree in education
as a requirement but did not mention needing a teaching certificate/license but
the school website application stated they did require one. A fingerprint
clearance card was a requirement on both sites. This is a point of interest and
discussion within the state of Arizona with their relaxed rules in teacher
certification and licensure within charter and private schools.
Acorn Montessori School
Prescott Valley, AZ
Acorn Montessori School’s mission is “children
first, always” (Acorn Montessori School, n.d.) Their preschool and pre-k
program “encourages and focuses on learning
through play” (Acorn Montessori School, n.d.). Their website did not have
actual job postings. They did have information about their school and the
benefits of working there.
Elementary Teacher
$38,500 - $44,000 a year
The posting states
that a bachelor’s degree is required with either a teaching certificate or
highly qualified teaching endorsement or the ability to obtain certification.
They also had a nice benefits package to
include paid time off, insurance, and retirement program.
International Rescue
Committee (IRC)
The International
Rescue Committee is an organization created by Albert Einstein and works
towards “better aid” for displaced refugees and humanitarian crises (IRC, 2019).
They have offices all over the country and world.
IRC’s mission is to
help people who have experienced conflicts to learn how to overcome barriers
and with focuses in education, displacement, economic wellbeing, health,
safety, empowerment, and stand with women and girls (IRC, 2019).
On the IRC website,
I searched for education jobs in Phoenix, Arizona and found two openings that
would be challenging and rewarding. I would classify these two jobs as dream
jobs or future goals.
Education and Learning
Manager
This position
requires at least an undergraduate degree
in Education, social work, or related field but they prefer a graduate degree. They
also prefer three to five years of experience in non-profit work, professional
and supervisory work as well as knowledge and experience with K-12 education in
Arizona (IRC, 2019).
Senior Youth Program Coordinator
This position also
requires a degree but also prefers the applicant to have an M.A., M.S., or M. Ed or higher. They also
want 1-2 years of experience with non-profit work or equivalent and working
with multicultural or vulnerable youth. Part of the job requirements includes
collaborating with children, parents, and local schools to help all involved to
develop a positive partnership. Duties also include advocating and supporting
refugee youth (IRC, 2019).
References
Acorn Montessori School.
(n.d.) Mission statement preschool/pre-k. Retrieved from: http://acornmontessori.com/preschool/
Acorn Montessori School. (n.d.). Mission statement K-8. Retrieved
from: http://acornmontessori.com/free-charter-school-k-8/
Indeed (2019). Early childhood job postings. Retrieved
from: https://www.indeed.com
International Rescue Committee (IRC). (2019).
Retrieved from: https://www.rescue.org/united-states/phoenix-az
Prescott College. (2019). Mission and philosophy.
Retrieved from: https://www.prescott.edu/explore/history-values-vision/index.php
Prescott Valley
Charter School. (2018). Mission statement. Retrieved from: https://www.pvschool.com/
Trish,
ReplyDeleteGreat post this week. I found your post to be very informative. The organizations and opportunities you found appear to be great opportunities and I love how some are focused on student centered learning and smaller class sizes. It would be a great opportunity to be apart of a program that is student centered all around and where you can create close relationships with a smaller class size. I also like how there is a focus on non-profit organizations and title one schools/ working with children living in poverty. I think you have some great options ahead!
Brianna