Exploring Roles in the ECE Community; Local and State Levels

The three local organizations of practice that appeal me are Virginia Department of Social Service (VDSS), Virginia Community College System (VCCS) and Child’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU.  I chose the Virginia Department of Social Service because it is the main resource for all services that foster the well-being of children and families.  The web site supports programs that incorporates families.  I have used this web site for previous courses I have taken in the program.  Virginia Community College System I chose this organization because when I complete my degree I do plan to seek employment at the college.  I have taught children for more thirty years and now I want to educate adults who want to work with young children.  I want potential new teachers to find their passion before they get into the field because there are a lot of issues being revealed in today.  Families are facing homelessness, hunger, unemployment among other challenges and children are bringing these changing events into the classroom and teachers must know how respond to children without offending.  Child’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU is a new organization that recently opened in our downtown area.  The center offers services and care all things child related occurs at this location.  This location provides care to children and families located in the inner city.  CHOR has various satellite location around the city and state to accommodate families. 

            
 The job opportunities that I found interesting are Child Fatality Specialist, Minority Professional Teaching Fellows-Part time and Manager Airline Relationship with Carnival Cruise Line.  The skills and experience necessary to fulfill the Child Fatality Specialist position would be in the area of education a Bachelor’s degree in human services, social work, public administration.  The position is seeking a qualified person to manage, analyze and interpret data as well as preparing reports and writing narratives.  Must be knowledgeable in Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power point, and Outlook).   Knowledge and experience in Child Protective Services to include child fatality.  See entire position at virginiajobs.com

  Minority Professional Teaching Fellows-Part time is position that I found interesting and something I will apply to when I complete this course.  The requirements for this position is a master’s degree or greater in the subject area in which on would teach.  This job provides the opportunity for teaching professionals to act as mentors for students while gaining teaching experience to become more competitive for full-time professorships at any community college or university. 

 The last position is Manager Airline Relationship for Carnival Cruise Line requires an Associate degree or three years’ experience with airline negotiations and contracts.  Minimum 3 years’ experience in a travel agency or airline.  Carnival is asking for skill that include a detailed oriented person with analytical and organizational skill.  Superior written and verbal communication skills to handle sensitive issues in a professional courteous manner.  Skills include the ability to prioritize deadline; resolving issues independently with the ability to function in a multi-tasking environment.  The individual must possess excellent problem solving skills and proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. 

I think these three roles allow any individual to hopefully affect the lives of families in a positive way.  Each position requires the applicant to have college experience as well computer knowledge.  I think each has its points of presenting challenges and would require a network of contacts for the individuals to be successful in each role. 

References:

Carnival: Retrieved July 4, 2016:  http://jobs.carnival.com/miami/administration/jobid10258020-      

            manager-airline-relationship-jobs

Child Fatality Specialist: Retrieved July 4, 2016:

            https://virginiajobs.peopleadmin.com/postings/47961

Virginia Community College System: Retrieved July 4, 2016

https://vccs.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp;jsessionid=7A2EE7B4B444A85498E7148E9826230E;jsessionid=1B59DBCE9030F0028B4882CC8056E487?JOBID=45816

Thank you/ Reflection

I would like to say "thank you" to each one of my newly formed friendships I have gain during the past 8 weeks.  I have enjoyed your reponses to my preception of our discussion questions.  I have found your feedback positive and encouraging; I realize sometimes my thoughts can be truly different than what is expected but that is the beauty of engaging with individuals from other backgrounds and experiences. I love reading your responses I found them truly insightful, and meaningful.  I wish you all accomplish everything you have set out to do and that you continue moving forward in you education.  I hope we meet again in other courses in the program.  Best Wishes to you all.  ck

Building Trust

This week I learned about the five stages of team development and the role each plays when building a team.  Adjourning is the final stage of a project that has come to an end and the members of the group reflect on their accomplishment, failures and the decision of moving forward into another project is determined.  The aspect of the project that was hardest to say goodbye to was the planning process brainstorming about activities to engage the children with throughout the evening which is what we as a group potentially envisioned our sleepover as a something that would benefit our families during the holiday season.  

The group with the clearest established norms was with the first group which was established during our first year of the sleepover.  The team’s enthusiasm about putting the project together as well as implementing the one time over-night process was the one that demonstrated the standard of sleepovers for years following.  Our initial sleepover team effort was the one that stands out the most to me because we worked the hardest to make it successful.  Each individual in the first group put their skills to work.  We established a relationship with a library in the area to get books they were disposing of to use for a game we labeled book walk which is simply musical chairs.  The game allowed each child to take home a book of their choice.  I loved how at the end we learned what we each were capable of doing to make the dream work.  Our families were ecstatic to have an evening to themselves and leave their child with teachers they have built a relationship of trust.   

After all the children were down and sleeping for the night we had a late dinner together where we discussed what was successful and the challenges we faced.  We all said we would not do it again because it was more work than just a normal day at work. Some things we found was that it was over kill to bath each child before bedtime and the before bed snack should be something such as cheese and crackers or fruit versus vanilla wafers.  What we found was the children had the most fun and parents shared the children talked about their experience days after; this was additional confirmation to the success of our first sleepover.  The next year my co-workers all talked me into doing the overnight again at the request of the children and some of the parents. 

I think adjourning from the relationships formed while working on my master’s degree would involve thanking some people for their honest feedback and supportive comments during our discussion board post including talking about what is next is our lives.  We could all possibly choose a time to join a chat for some ending comments could that include exchanging contact information.  Adjourning is an essential stage because it helps team to solidify what worked and why as well as the challenges they faced during implementing of their project.  This is also the time to problem solve and discuss what is next for the team should they decide collectively to move forward or to disband. 

Non-Violent Communication and Conflict Managment

The information I learned this week from non-violent and conflict management is to consider the feelings of the other person.  The resources conveyed that connecting with the universal human need of trust and understand as well as listening and choosing words that can transform potentially violent conflicts into opportunities of working together. 

Recently I have been faced with a couple of conflicts over the past two weeks; they both remain fresh in my memory.  The one I would like to share is a phone conversation between myself and a parent I will call Darryl.  A phone call into the center at about three thirty on Friday it was Darryl asking to bring his son into the center for care on Saturday because he had an emergency case.  I informed him that the person who could approve this is not currently in the building and that she would return but I did not know exactly what time.  I told him I would leave his message on her desk.  He said I have an emergency can’t I bring my child in tomorrow.  I told I am not the one who can approve this for him because I do not know if there is space and Tracy has that information.  He continued to insist that I give him permission; he said so it could possibly be about seven o’clock before he would get an answer. I explained that I did not say that I told him Tracy would return but I could not give him a specific time and his message would be on her desk.  I finally ended the call with him; about five minutes later he came rushing hurriedly in our front door walked pass me directly to an empty office.  After he exited the office he stopped at the desk.  I looked at him at said I just spoke to you on the phone; he pretended he did not know what I was talking about.  I said you are Darryl, Nathan father right; he responded with yes.  I repeated to him that they were out of the building.  He walked away to visit his son with no further response. 

The strategy I learned from this interaction was without a doubt to fully listen to the concern the individual was explaining which I think I did pretty well; even though I could give him the answer he was seeking from me.  I apologized but, he was not accepting and only wanted me to address his issue.  The best I could do for him was to leave his message on my boss’s desk which I shared with him when we spoke on the phone.  The other strategy I tried to institute was a resolution but he was seeking an immediate response that I could not give him.  What I did not tell him was I would send her a text message about his emergency which is what I was doing when he blasted through the door pass me. 

I asked Carol a colleague how she learned to communicate more effectively.  Carol shared that she addresses issues immediately before they build into something more.  She feels if the issue is talked through and each party has an opportunity to speak and take into consideration the other persons feelings then the issues can be solved amicably.    

 

Non-Verbal Communication

The see television episode I chose to watch is “Cristela” which airs on ABC.  I have never watched this show previous to viewing for this assignment.  The scene I watched from this show without sound was the interaction between co-workers because it was set in an office.  I figured they were colleagues as their desks were facing each other.  At one point during the seen the characters got up from their chairs to commence in a face-to-face hand gestures, body movements and facials expression show down that signified competition. 

The assumptions I made about the characters from the office scene was correct they are co-workers who are employed by a law firm as interns vying to be second chair on a discrimination case.  I think my assumptions would have been correct even if I was watching a show that I regularly watch. 

 I found it interesting that it is possible to identify what form of communication is taking place just by observing gestures, hand movements and facial expression of the characters.  Movements in the face can tell you a lot about what a person is feeling and thinking.  Raised eyebrows, deep stares, and even blinking signify non-verbal emotions that we all experience.  I have for years use a polka face to keep others from reading my emotion from my facial expressions.  Now that I am older I think I am easier to read to my dismay. 

Reference:

"Latino 101." Cristela. ABC. WRIC, Richmond, 27 Mar. 2015. Television.

 

Competent Communicator

The person that I feel exemplifies competent communication is Tracy Walters; she is our centers Program Director she hold a Master degree in Special Education.  I have been observing her communication skills for some time.  Tracy demonstrates the ability to move from the context of a discussion with a staff member about a concern with a child; to talking with a parent who may have a question about using the center on the weekend.  I think Tracy is the epitome of how ethics in conversation should play out.   

Tracy listens effectively allowing a person to complete their thoughts, her body language is always neutral; I have notice she will turn her body in a manner that says you are important and I am interested in what you are saying to me.  When she responds it is from an intellectual stand point; she demonstrates a vast amount of knowledge, wisdom and experience.  I listen to a conversation she had with one relatively new staff member who mention she has restless leg syndrome and she likes when her dog sleeps across her legs. Tracy suggested she try using a weighted blanket. If I could model my communication behaviors after anyone it would be Tracy.  I now understand why the staff often go to her for consultation; she is amazing!

Professional Hopes and Goals

One hope that I have when I think about children and families who come from diverse backgrounds is for them to encounter people who are supportive, willing to listen and learn about their culture.  I want people to look beyond the evident of a individuals ethnicity and culture and open their heart to change

One goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity and social justice is for people to respect each other and be open to learning what you do not understand and give people an opportunity to tell you who they are.

I would like to say to each one of my discussion board colleagues "Thank you" for the feedback you gave to some of my post.  I have learned one more thing or two about myself since the first week of this course.  But the most important things are I have learned has been how to guide children to think a different way about diversity.  We should learn about what we do not know or understand before we can make informed decisions about the behaviors we do not like in others that we encounter.  Again, Thank you to everyone enrolled in EDUC 6164 I look forward to our next discussion board meeting.  ck