The Political Will to Improve Early Childhood Systems

The thing that I found this week that could really be used as a strategy to improve the strand of service I was researching this week-(Early Care and Education) was a campaign ticket. There were new school board members chosen in the county. These members unseated current members who had served more than 10 years. The newly elected members ran on a ticket together for district seats and at-large positions. They felt that if they banded together and ran on the same ticket it would help get them elected. Not only would they get elected but they could help each other in the fight to improve service to children and families in the area. This is one strategy and it appealed to me because I think it is important to have people on your school board who are interested in seeing the best done for children and families. I would want to be one of these people. I was thinking of someday running for a school board position so this was especially important to me.

Parent, Family and Community Engagement

I viewed the story of one former Head Start parent who was now A Head Start executive director! That was amazing. She was given opportunities to serve on the Head Start policy council and parent committee. These opportunities prepared her for her current role as executive director. She was learning about Head Start while serving in those capacities. She also talked about how Head Start staff encouraged her and reminded her that she could do anything she set out to do. Involving that parent in a goal setting process changed the life of that parent. She received an associates degree, a bachelor's degree and a Master's degree. This was a benefit to the parent but also to her children as she was better able to provide for them.

my opinion is Parent involvement is definitely an essential part for the early childhood field. Parents are their child's first and foremost teacher and that is a recipe for success when you mix home and school together! Parents that support classroom learning are a great tool for building academic success.

Quality Programs for All Children

I hope that our Nation will see a need for all children to have quality early care. In my job I see many people who come to do a Head Start intake and they are barely over income. They cannot get into Head Start because they make too much money. The money they make is barely enough to live on but it is too much for Head Start. They struggle to make ends meet to pay daycare so they can work. I also see many people who can afford to put their children in an early care program but they don't because they don't want to spend the money. One of the counties that I service has VPI which is Virginia Preschool Initiative. this program isn't based on income and doesn't cost anything so any child can take advantage of this quality program at no cost. I hope to see public opinion that wants this for all children, not just those in poverty. The change in public opinion will influence early childhood education because they will be interested in and supporting that all children will have access to early care programs regardless of their ability to pay.

Resonates with me about Early Childhood Public Policy and Advocacy

I chose this specialization because many times I have seen little children who needed someone to stand up for them. I felt bad because I didn't know what to do or how to do it. This has happened to me several times and I wanted to be able to be a voice for children. I have three children of my own and I hope that if anything ever happened to me that there would be someone who cared enough for them that they would stand up for them in a situation if they needed it. I want to do everything I can to support all children I come into contact with.

Advocates are essential to the Early Childhood Field because children aren't big enough to speak for themselves. They also are not big enough to know what is best for them. Children need advocates to ensure that their rights are protected and that they are given the best opportunities for success that they can be offered.

My goals for this specialization are:
1. To learn appropriate ways to support children and make sure their rights are respected and protect them from anything that will hinder their development.
2. Recognizing that children are our future, I want to be able to recognize and support all things that contribute to developing their bodies, minds, and spirits.
3. To obtain skills to make me a more informed advocate equipping me to protect children from harm and support positive influences for them.

Contact Information

I have really enjoyed my discussion group. I think Group 1 Rocks! I found myself reading everyone's blog whether I had to post on it or not. The discussion group was really good and made me think about different aspects of what we were discussing. The blog thing scared me when I first began my Master's program, but I have thoroughly enjoyed it! I didn't think I would have enough things to write about. I have enjoyed posting just as much as I have reading. I really want to thank those who were bold enough to post personal experiences on their blog and discussion boards. It made everything very real for me and gave me a way to apply it to everyday life. I would love to stay in contact with anyone who is willing.
I especially enjoyed the blogs of Sondi and Johan and Toni. I felt a special bond with Toni because she works with Head Start and so do I. I also used to be a Home Visitor so we had a couple things in common.

My contact info is:

Susann Brown
sbrown@pcdcva.org

adjournment

When looking at the Adjournment phase of team building, I feel like this is what I strive for. I think this is what I most enjoy about all team collaborations. When we look back and see what went well, what didn't do so well, what we would or wouldn't do again. The only time I can remember that happening (having an adjournment phase was this September when we held a Community Volunteer Luncheon. It was held in recognition of our 40th Anniversary of the non-profit agency I work for. I really enjoyed looking back over each item we accomplished that day. It felt good to think about what an impact some things made on the Community Partners. It was also helpful to look at things that didn't go so well and think of ways to improve them for next time. I often think of all the colleagues that I interact with while working on my Master's degree. I hope to be able to maintain contact with various colleagues so they may be resources throughout my career, as well as personal friends in the same field. One thing I learned in the beginning of the Master's program is a network of colleagues in the field can be very resourceful!

Disagreements and Conflicts

This week has really been a big conflict. I have said in several portions of this weeks' assignments that this was the right time for me to have this class. I learned from this week to take a look at the other person actually having a perspective and a different view. I learned that I needed to take a look at the fact that this new teacher that I am dealing with may not necessarily be crazy, but just different. I also learned that if I respect, reciprocate, and respond that things worked out much better. I am so glad this assignment came when it did. It helped improve the meeting that I called to straighten some things out with this teacher. I left the meeting feeling much better than when we came in because our issues were communicated much more positively than if I had gone in without having read these resources. The three R's were a large part of our conflict being resolved. I really needed to see them.