Zero To Three has always been an organization that is most appealing to me. Something that has drawn me to the group, is that all of their information is extremely user friendly. On countless occasions, I have recommended visiting the website to parents with infants or toddlers in order to gain some new perspectives or supports related to their specific situations, and the families had come back to me telling me how great the videos are, or how useful a particular article was. Regardless of SES or educational background, parents/caregivers with access to internet can locate and utilize their many resources.
The International Play Association is one that has always served as an inspiration to me. Although the organization is international, theirs is a national chapter here in the U.S. The chapter was started in 1961, and is founded off of the United Nations' Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1959) Article 7, paragraph 3: "The child shall have full opportunity for play and recreation which should be directed to the same purposes as education; society and the public authorities shall endeavor to promote the enjoyment of this right," (1959). Not only does this organization spread the word of this law, it works to maintain and create legislature protecting play in the lives of children across our country.
The Council for Professional Recognition is a U.S. organization that works to support professionals in the field of early care and education by keeping current on the latest findings and trends in the field. Just as it is important to support children and their families, we must also make sure that a great deal is being done to support all future educators, regardless of the length of their education. This particular organization works strongly to support CDA candidates through their development and regulation of credentials and assessments.
One particular job that I have been interested in for a few years is that of a Lead Teacher at the University of Vermont's Campus Children's Center. As a teacher in this program, I would not only be responsible as a member of a Reggio Emilia teaching program for 2-5 year olds, but also for overseeing the work of practicum students from the university's education program. Having interviewed for this position a few years back, I was fortunate enough to see how involved the school community was. During the hiring process, I was interviewed by a panel of school administrators, university administrators, classroom teachers, and a panel of school families. Upon the conclusion of my final interview, I was required to participate on an open-forum panel led by families in the school community. It was a major fuel towards my passions behind support families in the school environment; I had seen a school community function so beautifully by collaborating greatly with families.
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