Thursday, July 23, 2015

6990 Capstone: Week 4 Jobs available that would interest me...



#1. Company: The University of Alabama
Location: Tuscaloosa, AL
Position available: UA Children's Program Director
Job description: The University of Alabama is seeking an experienced leader to direct our Children’s Program/lab school. The director will be responsible for leadership, managerial, teaching and interdisciplinary research functions to carry out the program’s mission.
To apply:  http://staffjobs.ua.edu/?job=499147

**This job would be ideal because it is offering a director’s position, where one would be able to be a part of something much bigger than self and help facilitate change –in a leader role.

#2. Company: Highland Plaza United Methodist Preschool
Location: Hixson, TN
Position available: Preschool Director
Job description:
We are seeking a director with a minimum of a BS in Early Childhood, possessing leadership and management skills and a visionary perspective. Past work must demonstrate an ability to lead a program by inquiry and discovery-based or Reggio inspired principles.
To apply: Click here for a list of items required. Send all items by email to: becca@fragahs.com

**This is on the level of the job above because it is one that you would become a leader and be able to bring vision with discovery-based principles, which is a concept I thoroughly like and would love to advocate for while I am working as well.

#3. The National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest professional employee organization, is committed to advancing the cause of public education. NEA's 3 million members work at every level of education—from pre-school to university graduate programs. NEA has affiliate organizations in every state and in more than 14,000 communities across the United States.
Working Mother magazine has named the National Education Association as one of its 100 best companies for family-friendly benefits.
More than 58 percent of NEA's workforce of roughly 500 employees at its Washington, D.C. headquarters is female. NEA offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes a variety of paid health and dental insurance options; paid maternity and parental leave for newborns and newly adopted children; up to five days each year for parents and grandparents to participate in a student's school activities; back-up childcare; telecommuting; and flexible work schedules.
Positions at NEA include executive, managerial, professional, technical, and administrative/clerical and trades/crafts. Vacancies may involve skills in communications/media relations, information technology, education policy analysis, research, lobbying/political advocacy or administrative support and office administration.
NEA complies with all federal, state and local employment laws including the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) and the American with Disabilities Act. New hires must show proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States on or before the first day of employment as required by IRCA.
nea vacancies
state affiliate vacancies
 Want to teach in public schools? Check out "Want to Teach?" resources.
 How to Apply
  • NEA does not accept unsolicited resumes or applications for employment.
  • If you're applying for an NEA staff vacancy, please apply via our online resume form to ensure immediate consideration. Include the source number in the subject line.
  • Cover letters and/or application forms must specify the position number or source of a current vacancy.
  • Résumés must be received by the close of business (4:30 PM ET) on the posted closing date.
>>Organizational Specialist, #0245
·         Tracking Code
·         AFSE Internal Posting Period: July 20, 2015 - August 3, 2015
·         Job Description
·         Position Summary:  The incumbent serves as a member of the UniServ/Student Organizing work team providing organizing advice and assistance to assigned local and state affiliates on a variety of areas, such as developing and executing strategic organizing plans, organization development, strategic planning, capacity building, team building, and education reform. The work includes partnering with other NEA Centers to organize around state and federal policy issues and develop strategies to assist affiliates in achieving NEA’s strategic goals. The incumbent will model and provide hands-on coaching and training to organizing projects and campaigns, with the intent of developing skills and capacity among field staff, UniServ staff, local leaders, work site leaders and activists for the purpose of increasing membership and organizing successfully in new markets. The incumbent will partner with state and local affiliates to recruit and train trainers in the basics of organizing, develop a variety of materials to support, present and report on progress in the targeted sites and promote mutually developed effective strategies and programs to affiliates and NEA.  The incumbent will also coordinate with NEA and state communications staff to deliver strategic communications in targeted sites to grow and engage membership as well as aid the field teams in assessing and sharing their learnings with our stakeholders as a basis for developing and scaling effective membership organizing strategies in all affiliates. The employee uses effective interpersonal skills and an understanding of group/human dynamics to develop and promote organizing/capacity-building strategies. To carry out these responsibilities, the incumbent submits regular reports and uses a personal computer, associated software, and other office automation technology and travels extensively by various conveyances, including driving a car.
·          
·         Required Skills
·          
·         Minimum Education Requirement:  Bachelor's degree or equivalent.  Minimum Qualifications: Experience as an employee on an Association staff or an advocacy organization with primary duties in one or more of the following areas: organizing, strategic planning, crisis management, collective bargaining, public relations, communications, and/or legislative/political action.  Other Requirements: Writing samples (training, facilitation, strategic planning, reports, etc.) may be required at time of interview.  Must be able to work weekends and late evenings.  Extensive travel (over 90 overnights per year) is required.  Must possess a valid driver’s license.
·          
·         Selection Criteria: Tier 1 (Essential): Demonstrated field experience in an accepted organizing model related to membership growth. Training experience in the basics of organizing.  Demonstrated experience and accomplishments in working with leaders, members, and affiliates in problem solving, conflict management, and creative and critical thinking.  Demonstrated ability to lead affiliates in conceptualizing, planning, and executing timely, within budget, outcome oriented and mutually-developed projects while using data analytics to shape and guide the ongoing work.  Excellent communication (both oral and written), interpersonal, and analytical skills.  Demonstrated ability to participate as a professional team member in collaborative activities, including demonstrated experience in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with team members and with diverse client systems.  Proven effective consultation, coaching, presentation, training, and facilitation skills, including experience synthesizing information.  Demonstrated effectiveness producing written products under stringent time-frames and changing priorities/conditions, including ability to self-schedule.  Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects in conjunction with the demands of extensive travel.  Significant experience in and knowledge of organizing, collective bargaining, membership recruitment and retention issues.  Successful references.  Tier 2 (Significant):  Demonstrated high motivation level and willingness to take risks by experimenting with new techniques for business solutions.  Positive openness toward continual learning and self-development.  Demonstrated ability to support NEA and affiliate partnership and coalition efforts with other organizations.  Effective skills in developing and maintaining productive trust relationships. Experience in and knowledge of organizational development/effectiveness, project design, development, tracking and whole person development.  Tier 3 (Desirable):  Master’s degree. 
·         Job Location
·         Washington, District of Columbia, United States
·         Position Type
·         Full-Time/Regular
·         Salary
·         99,834.00 - 146,423.00 USD

**This job would be wonderful and not because of the pay that could be received but because of being able to make strategic plans and work with others that would be on the same game plan, as well as, show that you are able to work with diverse individuals to accomplish certain goals. Very ideal.

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Week 2: Potential Career Choices



There are many educational endeavors in my local area of Shreveport that I would enjoy being a part of but there are never many openings. There are some cases that many does not want to hire you unless you know someone that is already a part of the organization, which is unfortunate. A community of practice is not really inviting to those who is new but I know that one they get to know me, they would embrace my gifts. I know it takes time for some to invite a ‘new face’ into their already established group. Women can be difficult at timesJ. Nevertheless, I looked up some different areas that are local that interest me and I would not mind joining their team.

First one is Evangel Christian Academy, which caters to grades K-12. I would love to be involved with the Kindergarteners. The fact that it is a Christian-based school and does not attempt to bane Christianity from the learning environment. Their website is: http://www.evangelacademy.com/ . “Evangel is committed to Christ-centered excellence in every area -- academics, athletics and the arts. The school offers many advantages for its students and their parents. Evangel students annually win championships in academics, athletics and the arts.  We believe that students are prepared for life long success when they are challenged to grow mentally, physically and spiritually” (Evangel Christian Academy, 2015, para. 1).
eca logo v200
Career Opportunities: The only thing they have this year coming up is for a Math Teacher but I would have loved to apply for the principal position. They actually have two principals (Elementary and High School), a pastor of all grades/schools and a chancellor. Since the position is not available, it really does not have the description available that one would view, if they wanted to apply and see if they qualified for the position.

#2 Choice is Bright Horizons, which began in London but is now in over a 100 locations in the United States. The closest in my area is in Monroe, Louisiana. It has many of the same beliefs that I have such as they “believe each child is special and holds the future in their hands” (Bright Horizon, 2015). Their website is: http://www.brighthorizons.com/
Mission or dedication: Our early education programs and schools include world-class curriculum and knowledgeable child development professionals that meet the needs of children at every age and stage. We also understand the many needs of working parents. Our back-up care, before- and after-school programs, and summer camps enable parents to go to work knowing their children are happy, safe, and well cared for. See more at: http://www.brighthorizons.com/programs/child-care-programs#sthash.vc5oe6Sp.dpuf . This is a strong key basis about early childhood educators.

Career Options: Reach your potential. Teaching and working at Bright Horizons is more than just a job. At Bright Horizons, you'll achieve your career goals while helping children and families realize their own. As the world's leading provider of high-quality child care, education, and work/life solutions, we help families and their children be their best by embracing who they are and creating strategies that help them thrive. That same philosophy guides our professional culture, empowering diverse and talented people to focus on the best parts of their character and capabilities...and to use those qualities to redefine their potential.
Be yourself. We value the qualities that make you unique - your sense of humor and sense of responsibility, your passion for helping others and commitment to high performance - and we're dedicated to creating a work environment where you can leverage your strengths to pursue a challenging and meaningful career and cultivate a satisfying and full life.
You can work in the center/school or corporate areas and even has international opportunities. Our corporate employees are passionate about their work. These enthusiastic team members support our centers, schools, and other business functions throughout the Bright Horizons family. Opportunities exist in many corporate settings, from our global headquarters in Watertown, MA, to remote offices throughout the country, to our contact center in Broomfield, CO.
At Bright Horizons child care centers and schools, our teachers enjoy a diverse variety of highly rewarding job possibilities working with infant, toddler, preschool, and school-age children. Center directors and other leadership roles offer the chance to create and refine the culture and curriculum of our child care programs, while support positions allow employees to apply unique talents and abilities every day. At Bright Horizons, you can make a difference.

#3 Choice Early Care and Education Consortium is a non-profit alliance of America's leading providers of quality early learning programs. Consortium members operate more than 8,200 licensed centers in every state, caring for and educating over one million children every day across the country. The Early Care and Education Consortium is an advocacy voice for child care providers as policies for child care and early learning develop and change across the country.
The website is http://www.ececonsortium.org/
This is one I would definitely enjoy because it allows one to advocate for child care providers. This one excites me the most. The closest location center is in Texas but in Shreveport, Louisiana. We are just 20 to 30 minutes away from Texas State Line. Being able to assist centers and help those to be treated fairly would be wonderful. This is a job that advocacy is number one.
Career Option: State Policy Senior Associate>
The Successful Applicant will have:
A positive, upbeat attitude, the ability to handle multiple tasks under time-sensitive deadlines, the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment, and to remain flexible and resourceful as part of a small staff while maintaining a high level of professionalism are key requirements of the job.
  • A  Bachelor’s degree ( Master’s preferred) plus five to eight  years of progressive experience at the state and/or federal level in issue advocacy, policy development or analysis, and strong knowledge of early childhood issues
  • Excellent written, oral and public presentation skills including the ability to translate technical concepts succinctly to diverse stakeholders and audiences.  Demonstrated ability to prioritize, organize and complete work independently and as part of a team
  • Availability for travel within United States
  • Ability to use e-advocacy and e-communication tools
  • Strong computer skills, including advanced knowledge of MS Word, MS Excel , MS PowerPoint and other office programs
  • Effective interpersonal communication skills including the ability to develop relationships and coordinate the work of virtual teams and committees
  • Desire to work with others to strengthen community early care and education  programs and services  thru advocacy in support of independent community providers of high quality early learning programs , children and their families