Time Well Spent!!

Here are a few quotes about eduction that I like:

Education ought not to cease when we leave school; but if well begun there, will continue through life.
- Sir John Lubbock

Be careful to leave your sons well instructed rather than rich, for the hopes of the instructed are better than the wealth of the ignorant.
- Epictetus

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
- Mark Twain

The man who graduates today and stops learning tomorrow is uneducated the day after.
- Newton D. Baker




I thought this day would never come.  When I started this program in September 2010, this day seemed so far away.  This program has met and exceeded my expectations.  I have learned so much more than I ever imagined.  Three things I have learned are to not be afraid of teamwork, try to communicate with people in a respectable manner in order for me to receive the same, and finally it taught me confidence.  I have gained much more confidence since I have started the program,  from communication to believing in myself and what I can do.


One long term goal is to continue to learn.  We can never stop learning.  There is always something new to learn.  I want to eventually go back to school for my doctoral degree and teach at the college/university level.  I also want to open my own childcare facility.  My last goal is to write children's books.  This used to be a dream but after going through this course it is now a goal because I believe I can accomplish anything I put my mind to.  I finished this program while working full time, handling a toddler and learning to deal with having Multiple Sclerosis.  Two months after starting the program I was diagnosed with it and it has been a struggle but I got through it.


I would like to say farewell to my colleagues.  It has been a pleasure to go through this with you.  All of you have been so supportive throughout the program and I wish everyone the best.  Believe in yourself and keep going.


And to Dr. Ferrari, you have been such a pleasure to work under.  This is my second course with you and I appreciate all of your support and the helpful comments.  You are a great instructor and a great influence.  I wish you the best as well.


My email is tmpoche@yahoo.com

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

UNICEF focuses on child survival and development, basic education and gender equality, HIV/AIDS and children, child protection, and policy advocacy and partnerships.  UNICEF focuses on the whole child and every aspect of a young child's life to ensure that children around the world are receiving the best care and quality care.  A job opening that interests me within UNICEF is in the education department and is Chief Education.  This position is located in Abidjan.  I would be accountable for formulation, design, planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluation of the Education program to ensure overall efficiency and effectiveness of the program management, delivery and accomplishment of program goals and objectives.  The qualifications were to have a master’s in Education or Social Work.  It also called for experience and proficiency with MS Office.

UNESCO, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, mission is to contribute to the building of peace, eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information.  Their two global priorities are Africa and gender equality.  There are no current job openings in the education sector of this organization but I do know this is the sector I would like to work under.

Save the Children is an independent organization dedicated to changing the lives of children in the United States and around the world.  They are there when disaster strikes with food, medical care, and education and they stay throughout the recovery period.  The position that interests me with this organization is a Program Specialist, Early Childhood.  The Program Specialist is the on-the-ground Save the Children staff member providing technical and management assistance to partners to ensure the effective coordination, implementation and monitoring of early childhood education programming.  Under the supervision of the Senior ECD Specialist and working as a team member within the State based staff, the Program Specialist oversees the implementation of the integrated programming at approx 5 to 7 partner sites.   The requirements are a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood, 3 plus years experience working with birth to 3 years, and experience working with or supporting professional.

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Federal/ National level

At the national level I found the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).  The AFT was founded in 1916 and represents 1.5 million members.  They are divided into five divisions: Pre-K through twelve teachers; paraprofessionals and other school related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; federal, state, and local government employees; and nurses and other healthcare professionals.  The mission of AFT is to improve the lives of their members and their families; to give them a voice; to strengthen the institutions, in which they work; to improve the quality of service; and to promote democracy.  Within this organization I found an open position that peaked my interest, the Assistant Director of Public Affairs.  In this position I would promote the AFT and its priorities to the news media and the public, AFT members and leaders.  Qualifications for this position include five years experience in media relations, excellent verbal and written communication skills, respond quickly to important developments, experience writing speeches, op-eds, and articles, good organizational skills, dependable and have a background in education, labor and/or politics.

The second national level organization I found is the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).  It is the world's largest organization working on behalf of young children.  Their mission is to serve and act on behalf of the needs, rights and well-being of all young children with primary focus on the provision of educational and developmental services and resources.  Within this organization I found the position of Conference Program Coordinator.  Responsibilities include coordinate the proposal review process, updating/ maintaining the proposal/presenter/scheduling databases; preparing presenter, session, and scheduling reports and correspondence; updating the Conference websites; and managing the Conference meeting room inventory.  The qualifications are a BA/BS required, be detailed and accurate, able collaborate as well as work independently, work under pressure and meet tight deadlines, and be proficient with MS office.

The third organization I found is the US Department of Education.  The position I found is under the Institute of Education Sciences and is an Education Research Analyst.  In this position I would be responsible for designing and implementing experimental and quasi-experimental studies of after-school programs and programs for improving student academic achievement and interpreting and critiquing empirical findings from experimental and quasi-experimental studies.  The qualifications are a degree in a related field and experience reviewing and critiquing experimental and quasi-experimental studies.

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State

I am interested in working with both children and adults.  While doing this assignment it made me realize I am drawn to more administrative positions rather than in a classroom, which is where I am now.  One organization that appealed to me is the Louisiana Department of Education.  This agency appealed to me because It offers many different opportunities within the education field.  I found many types of positions from.  But the one that peaked my interest was the Comprehensive Public Training Program Administrator.      If in this position I would administer all training activities provided by the Comprehensive Public Training Program and other special training initiatives, ensuring that training needs of all state agencies are addressed.  The minimum qualifications for this position is a Master's degree or equivalent, plus eight years of experience planning, administering, evaluating, or instructing in a formalized training program.

The next agency I was interested in is the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals.  This agency peaked my interest because it has a program called Early Steps which provides services to families with infants and toddlers age birth to three years who have a medical condition likely to result in developmental delay, or who have developmental delays.  This program offers many services to the families but I was interested in the Early Childhood Interventionist services.  To qualify I need to be certified in early child intervention: birth to five.  I found that most universities in Louisiana offer the program as a bachelor degree but since I am already a certified teacher I would only need to pass a test and take a few courses.  As a certified Early Childhood Interventionists I would be prepared to work with children ages birth to five years old and meet any and all educational needs of the child.

The last agency that caught my eye was Delgado Community College because I was qualified for most positions there.  I like the idea of teaching at the college level one day but the job opportunity that is available at this time is the Assistant Director of the campus based childcare facility.  As the Assistant Director, I would spend most of my time aiding the director in making sure the center is running smoothly.  I would also fill in for teachers when needed.  To qualify for this position a bachelor's degree a 3 years experience in early childhood is desired.

This assignment helped me to open my mind to new opportunities.  It has always been hard for me to imagine myself doing anything but teach children but I have a new outlook on my career in the Early Childhood field.