Farewell

It is bittersweet to be coming to my time here at Walden, it feels as if I just began the program yesterday but as I reflect I realize how long of a road it was and how much I know have gained. As I end this program I realize I am not the same professional as I was when I started. When I started here I was nervous about what I thought I would gain, I felt I already knew a lot because I was in a director role. As the program continued I realized how little I actually knew. I feel my thought process has changed to incorporate many components as I make decisions for my center to incorporate thinking about financials, families, children, staff and community.   I feel it was important for me to learn more about budget and financials to understand better the effect of labor vs enrollment and the importance of being able to stay within my targeted budget. It was also very eye opening for me to be able to develop my own budget for a center to learn how difficult and intensive it is. I feel the biggest benefit in the program was the cohort. Over the last twenty-two months I have grown alongside many colleagues in the program and I am very thankful to have them with me through giving me feedback and encouragement. One long term goal I have for myself is to continue learning and think that I know everything I need to know.

I am going to miss everyone I have worked with throughout this program especially my professors who have pushed me to be the professional I am today. Thank you!

Jobs and Roles Internationally

The International Step by Step Association is a group of individual looking to empower each child to reach their unique potential and embrace social justice and equity (International Step by Step Association, n.d.). Their goals are to advocate for and support competent early childhood systems for all children while increasing awareness of early childhood development and of qualified workforce (International Step by Step Association, n.d.). I found this group interesting because of their advocacy work on an international level. Their work with inclusion could potentially serve as importance to my Capstone challenge.

Save the Children is another organization that I find interesting. I have talked about them before and have worked with them in New Hampshire. I feel they are a good organization to have in a Community of Practice due to their knowledge of Early Childhood and their multiple connections not just in the U.S. but internationally.

UNICEF strives to provide equal access to services and care that can make all the difference in their lives (UNICEF, n.d.). They work to achieve gender fairness and equality (UNICEF, n.d.). UNICEF has had a strong presence for decades and have had made strides for children and families and would be a great group to have within your Community of Practice.

Save the Children has a job opening in Iraq as a child protection manager. Some of the qualifications I would need for this position is experience in child protection, to be politically and culturally sensitive, and commitment and understanding of child rights.

https://www.savethechildren.net/jobs/job-details/3418

References

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://www.unicef.org/

International Step By Step Association. (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://www.issa.nl/index.html