Three organizations that I find interesting Early Childhood Education Community are First Steps, Mississippi Head Start Association and The Hamilton-White Child Development Center.
First Step (http://msdh.ms.gov/) is an early intervention program that connects children with developmental delays and other birth defects with the proper community resources such as speech therapist, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and special education teachers. These services are given to families for not cost and can help aid in the success of a child later in life.
Mississippi Head Start Association (http://www.msheadstart.org/) mission is to provide the state’s children and families with a range of individualized services in the areas of education, early childhood development, medical, dental, mental health, nutrition and parent involvement. They also support families, cultures, and diversity in the community.
The Hamilton-White Child Development Center (http://www.deltastate.edu/) is a early education center located at the local university, Delta State. Their goal is to target the developmental areas of every unique child by organizing classes and activities aimed to reach the learner in every child.
Job opportunities that interest me:
Early intervention teacher- This position would require a masters in early childhood development alone with certification in special education (degree or 21 hours). I would have to have collaboration and communication skills because it would be imperative to form a bond with parents and other therapists during the early intervention process in order to plan the best education program for the child.
Head Start Director- This is a leadership position that would require a degree in education (21 hour concentration in early childhood or special education), experience in teaching and also some experience in a leadership position. As a leader it would also be important for me to be continually trained on early education trends alone with being able to make decision for what is best for the children and teachers I lead.
Preschool teacher- I would have to have a degree in early education alone with license for the State of MS (passing of praxis scores).
References
First Step http://msdh.ms.gov/
Mississippi Head Start Association http://www.msheadstart.org/
The Hamilton-White Child Development Center http://www.deltastate.edu/
