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Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Navigating the Early Childhood System

Navigating the Early Childhood System



Last January I began the journey that has taken me out of comfort of my kindergarten classroom into the early childhood system.  Initially,  I learned that Maine has a variety of organizations in place such as Child Development Services, Head Start, Educare, Maine Children's Alliance, Maine's Children's Growth Council and a governance  Interagency Work Group between the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services. As I began my research, I noticed that some of the leaders in the field were people that I knew. Actually, I had taught their children in kindergarten many years ago. Aah... destiny.

I meet with Laurie Lachance who once was the CEO at Maine Development Foundation and is currently the president of Thomas College in Waterville, Maine.  She connected me with Kathy Colfer who is the director of Educare also located in Waterville, Maine.  I felt so blessed to have connected with these dedicated woman once again for it had been well over a decade since I worked with their children. This was the first door that opened on my journey of understanding that there are many systems behind young children.

I intend to create three goals to support my understanding of the system that is designed to support and protect our little ones.  The first goal I have is to better understand what systems are currently in place to support children,  and how they are or are not inter connected and how the system supports  development and learning.  My second goal is to create more dialogue and discussion about developing a stronger early childhood system  or even philosophy within my school district, and my third goal is play an active role in one of these systems as a board member, volunteer, or advocate.
Robin
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2 comments:

  1. SalvadorMay 18, 2014 at 4:04 PM

    Noble goals driving your journey! Our growing paths seem to be full of these "casual' encounters with people that through their acquaintance and/or interactions makes grow wiser and stronger. It is a pleasure to have you as a colleague in this class. I wish you that all your goals become a reality and you can enhance the lives of many children through their fulfillment. "See" you at the discussion board!

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  2. AnonymousMay 20, 2014 at 9:00 PM

    Hi Robin,Your goals are great! I do share your goal of wanting to understand what systems are currently in place to support children. I earnestly desire to study the existing early childhood systems that support children and their families both in my state and at the federal level.

    Uduak

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