Parent, Family, and Community Engagement

• The personal significance I drew from these stories is that the all the families have so much respect and gratitude for a program that showed them how to be better parents and implement all the techniques from the classroom into their homes.  They also have so many wonderful resources for the children outside of the Head Start Program.  Head start not only assist with the parents but all the important people in the children's lives like grandparents.  It is extremely important for parents to be involved in their children's programs because they can reinforce all the daily learning in the classroom into the child's daily life at home.  The child will learn and comprehend a lot easier because it is consistent and the parent are not contradicting what has been taught to the child during the day.  From the abc's to social interaction with peers and following simple directions.  I  think the value of hearing these wonderful stories are extremely important because we need to hear from the people whose lives are most affected and show how the politicians that this program has changed their lives for ever.  The politicians need to hear these stories and make that our government continue to fund this program for children and families  all of the country.  That the saying no child is left behind is true and not some "political slogan to get more votes.  As you can tell already I know that parent is involvement in this program and all activities that their child is in because it shows the child that they are important and we support them in everything they do.  Also to reinforce what they are learning and make sure they are on the right track to be a productive member in our society.

Quality Programs for All Children

Quality Programs for All Children

 As a Preschool Director for the last sixteen years I do feel society has changed overall their views on early childhood education.  There are more resources out there for families, teachers and administrations.  There are so many amazing trainings for professionals in early childhood.  What has not changed is how we look at our teachers and how we compensate them for the wonderful work they do in their classrooms.  My teachers could go work at McDonald's or the local gas station and make more money then they do as an early preschool teacher.  The teachers that had a college degree in Early Childhood only worked for my school for a limited time until they were able to get into the public school system.  I tell my teachers that they are the experts in this industry and are professionals but their salaries says otherwise.  I think if we can really change how society  and especially the parents look at  teachers as professional experts in early childhood instead of baby sitters.  Then hopefully we can have a starting salary for preschool teachers.  I am very passionate about this because  my preschool teachers are the ones who introduce them to their ABC's and 123. They help them with their social skills and so much more.  I think if we raise their salaries and show them that we do recognized them as experts I believe you will see less turnover rates in our schools and teachers who are professionals at all times.  And in return happy children and happy parents and schools that are full in enrollment.

Part 2 of Why I choose Child Advocay and Public Policy

The goals I would like to achieve in my professional life with regarding to Child Advocacy and Public Policy:

1. I would love to work for UNICEF or Children's Defense Fund
2. Working with the United Nations
3. Assisting with an organization to help children that are living in homeless shelters.
4.  Work for CASA fulltime

What Resonates With You About Early Childhood Public Policy and Advocacy?

The reason why I choose this specialization is because everyday I see children in my school that are in foster care system or living with their grandparents or other family members.  I want to be the voice for the children who do not have that person who wants to best for them including a safe and loving home.  In 2014, I completed my training to become a CASA volunteer for Johnson County Texas.  In November 2014 I received my first case, two teenage girls were sexually abused by their father and watched their father shot their mother.  It makes me so disgusted that it had to come down to this for the girls to be removed from their parents care.  CPS workers are overloaded with so many cases that I feel that they are unable to truly give the attention the children. As a CASA volunteer I am their voice during the entire process in the foster care system.