Job Application: Early Childhood Educator Position - Resume/CV Example

Running Head: Job Application Job Application Name Institution Professor Course Date Cover letter Frolics Alicia 92 Washington Avenue 6666666 aliciafrolics56@gmail.com 21st March, 2016 The Manager Ms Rebecca Baxter Wanju Early Learning Centre GPO Box U1987 PERTH WA 6000 Dear Ms Rebecca Baxter, Re: Early Childhood Educator Position I am writing to express my interest in the advertised position of Early Childhood Educator at Wanju Early Learning Centre. Leadership in early childhood education is of great importance since it is fundamental to the success of the education setting. When learning institutions lack committed and skilled leaders to assist in the shaping of learning and teaching, a school loses the opportunity to create as well as sustain a high-quality learning environment. Effective leadership is also important since it comes second after teaching in regard to the influences on learning. Additionally, the practice and quality of leadership is in a way linked in a demonstrable and consistent manner to the improved outcome of learners and their educational equity (Waniganayake et al., 2012). Leadership in schools is also important as it plays a role in improving and raising the performance of the early childhood education centre in general. Working collaboratively with others in the centre is a necessary affiliate of change and schools improvement and at the same time, a major contributor in the effectiveness of the school. This aspect is further attributed to having shared values and goals since they are essential to the creation of effective schools and I tend to possess this attribute, which I have attained in my previous dealing with young children in the various educational settings that I have worked in (Waniganayake et al., 2012). All these will eventually lead to being a more effective leader in Wanju Learning centre if allocated the task. The leadership style that I will apply in my leadership position is the instructional leadership style since it core aim is to improve the school and that what I aspire to do at Wanju Learning centre. Instructional leadership style involves the management of the curriculum, setting of clear goals, allocation resources and monitoring the lesson plans as well as evaluating the teachers on a regular basis to promote the student growth and learning. This is my leadership style since I tend to focus more on the effective use of resources, have excellent communication skills, serves as an instructional resources and am positive, visible and vibrant and all these seems to be skills that instructional leaders are supposed to possess. I will achieve these and enhance the leadership style by strengthening the skills of all the teachers in the centre, making improvements in the structure of the centre, integrating the curriculum and involving the parents as well as other community members in running of the centre. I intend to succeed and achieve my set goals and targets at the institution by ensuring that I hold high expectations for the staffs and the teachers at the centre. I will also spend a considerable amount of my day working with the teachers with the aim of improving the instructional program that is available at the centre (Waniganayake et al., 2012). I will also set out to identify and analyze any instructional problems that are present and correct them on time. Lastly, I will be centrally involved in influencing positively the culture and climate at the centre. All these measures will be aimed at making a good environment that is conducive for learning for the students and a good environment to enhance the working of all the staff members (Rodd, 2013). Leaders have a number of qualities that acts as guides to their leadership. A major quality is having a clearly outlined vision that is having a clear sense of the general purpose. I plan to demonstrate this quality by coordinating the instructional program at the centre with the main aim of achieving success, high levels of literacy among the students and enhancing play-based learning (Rodd, 2013). Another group of qualities that I posses are being passionate and courageous. These qualities will help me in being determined to achieve whatever I set to achieve coupled with the willpower as well as with patience to undertake things. I will also be passionate about learning and teaching and show greater levels of concern to the children since despite being a leader I am also a teacher and therefore needs to be there for the children. I intend to demonstrate these two qualities by placing more emphasis on achievement of both the students and the teachers at the centre. For the pupils I will ensure that they are evaluated on a continuous basis to determine their performance and areas that they need to be guided to achieve better results (Carter & Curtis, 2010). This continuous evaluation will demonstrate my quality of being passionate about children at the centre I believe if chosen to fill the post I will be valuable to Wanju Early Learning Centre and be a valuable addition to the team that is already working at the centre since I will have a place to enhance and continue my service to the children to learn in an environment that is creative, fun and safe and add to their well being and growth. Yours Sincerely Frolics Alicia Application Frolics Alicia 92 Washington Avenue 6666666 aliciafrolics56@gmail.com 21st March, 2016 The Manager Ms Rebecca Baxter Wanju Early Learning Centre GPO Box U1987 PERTH WA 6000 Dear Ms Rebecca Baxter, Re: Job Application: Early Childhood Educator Position (EDU310955) I am writing to express my interest in the early educator position advertised by your organizations. I have a range of attributes in that I have a lot of knowledge on the importance of leadership in early childhood education, knowledge of and experience of Australian settings, a strong understanding of issues around “quality” in early childhood education and the role of leadership in it as well as the capacity to provide strong pedagogical leadership for our team of educators. Importance of leadership in early childhood education Leadership has being found to play an essential role in early childhood education. The benefits associated with this kind of leadership are many and varied since it aids in improving and raising the performance of the school, makes teachers effective and contribute to the overall effectiveness of the school. I intend to implement my leadership with the aim of contributing to the effectiveness of the setting in general. It is a common believe that leaders tend to work in the most effective manner when they receive support from the other teachers in the setting and work collegially. I will achieve this by ensuring that I build the capacity in the school to ensure the improvement of the school and this will entail paying attention to the manner in which the collaborative process in the school is developed and fostered. I will achieve the school effectiveness by offering opportunities to the other teachers so that they participate in the decision-making and in leading in the development of the school. This will entail aspects such as sharing power as well as responsibility in regard to leadership is the centre widely, sharing and encouraging the decision making power with other colleagues, allowing my colleagues to manage their decision making and taking in the opinions of the colleagues into account when arriving at the final decision. I also acknowledge the fact that good leadership aims at making the teachers in the institution effective. Effective teachers share a number of characteristics such as being proactive offers a challenge to the students uses a number of media in their lessons and has a strong and thorough command in their fields of specialization. If allocated the task, I will achieve these by placing more emphasis on learning and teaching processes. Of all the available school-level characteristics, those characteristics that relate more to teaching should be treated with utmost support. Through my leadership, I intend to improve the effectiveness of teachers. I will advocate for continuous learning as well as excellence in teaching with the aim of improving the quality of teachers at the institution and emphasizing more on spreading and adhering to good practice by all colleagues with the aim of improving the teacher’s expertise throughout the school. Through the increased levels of expertise and confidence imparted by the teachers as well as the greater responsibilities bestowed upon them, the teachers will be more than willing to make use of new and innovative teaching methods to improve the delivery of lessons and improve the performance of the pupils. Knowledge of and experience of Australian settings In regard to the knowledge and experience in the Australian settings I have wide range of knowledge and experience having worked in number of centers such as the a dance teacher and I also have some childcare experience. Through these experiences, I am certain that I will be of great importance to your institution since I will use of aspects that I have learned in other institutions I have worked in to make Wanju learning centre a better place. I also have a wide knowledge on the national quality framework and will apply the framework when working in the institution to the best of my ability. Through the framework, I will ensure that I offer the best educational as well as developmental outcomes to the children at the centre (ACECQA, 2011a). I will also make use of the new quality standards that NQF introduced to assist me in improving care and education in Wanju Early Learning Centre and during the outside school hours. All this will be supported by the need for quality education as well as care since it plays an essential role in the shaping of the future of the child and at the same time lays a strong and formidable foundation to enhance the child’s learning and development. I also believe that the early years in a child’s life are critical when it comes to establishing resilience, self-esteem, healthy growth as well as the child’s capacity to learn. Thus, all my efforts will be to ensure that the child at Wanju Early Learning Centre gets quality education and care during their early years. Based on the fact that children requires quality care as well as attention that meet a child individual needs I will ensure that I emphasis more on having caregivers and teachers who are highly qualified and having an acceptable child and staff ratio. By having high qualified staff, I will be certain that the outcomes of the children are likely to improve. This is supported by the idea that when an institution has staff with high qualifications, they have a greater understanding on matters related to the child development and health and safety aspects. All these aspects will make the educators more and adequately equipped to lead the children in activities that inspire and help them in the learning and development process. In regard to the educator and child ratios, an improvement in the educator to child ratios enables the staff at the centers to give and allocate more individual care as well as attention and thus it contributes greatly to better leaning and thus improved outcomes for the children. Through these, I and the other colleagues at the centre will be able to nurture more fulfilling and meaningful relationships with the children which will eventually result in more relaxed, engaged and happy individuals at the centre (ACECQA, 2011b). Strong understanding of issues around “quality” in early childhood education and the role of leadership In relation to quality in the early childhood education, I will advocate for quality of the education at the centre at all costs. My thinking and undertakings at the center will be guided by the aspects of quality of the experiences of the children during their early years with the aim of enhancing their future and present, development, health and wellbeing. I will also develop and implement together with my colleagues at the centre a continuous quality improvement plan so as to ensure that quality improvements is done on a continuous basis (ACECQA, 2011b). This will be guided by the seven quality areas of the NQS. In relation to the educational program and practice I will ensure that I incorporate play-based learning as well as intentional teaching since they play an essential role on the development of skills and relations such as independence, cooperation, problem solving and curiosity (KU Children’s Services, n.d). All this will be aimed at ensuring that quality is enhanced at Wanju learning centre. When it comes to the health and safety of the child, I will ensure that all children at the centre have the appropriate supervision and focus to ensure that they are protected and safe from avoidable illnesses and injuries (ACECQA, 2011b). I will also ensure that the children have the opportunity to learn. I will also ensure that Wanju Early Learning Centre has a fun and welcoming environment since it will encourage experimentation, exploration and creativity. In all the quality issues in early childhood centre leaders have an essential and crucial role to play in that they are expected to act as guides to their colleagues and also to the children. I will ensure that I am an effective leader and be a good example in upholding quality in early childhood education. To enhance quality of education, I will also ensure that I develop collaborative partnerships with the communities and the families. This view is largely informed by the aspects that sound and adequate early childhood educations rely greatly in the partnerships between the teachers, the families and the wider community. Quality will be enhanced when the families and educators work together by sharing information such as the interest and experience of the children (National Quality Standard, 2016). Capacity to provide strong pedagogical leadership for our team of educators I also have the capacity to offer strong pedagogical leadership for the team of educators at Wanju Early Learning Centre. A major way in which I will accomplish this is through the use of a distributed pedagogical leadership and it involves the use of other people in the organizations some with formal positions and others with informal positions. It should be noted that individuals in various leadership positions changes based on the situational factors at play. I will distribute the responsibilities based on the interactional influences depending on the task that need to be accomplished and based on the expertise of individuals. By doing so, I will ensure that all tasks are completed within the allocated time and with the utmost level of expertise needed (Woodrow & Busch, 2008). I will also ensure that I take a strong leadership role and encourage the other team members to make good use of research based teaching practices in all their lessons. All these will be aimed at ensuring that all the students in the classes are challenged, engaged and learning in a successful manner. I will also set high expectations across all levels and ensure that effective teaching strategies are utilized by undertaking the supervision myself; I will also act as an instructional leader when it comes to promoting, communicating and modeling approaches that are evidence-based (Woodrow & Busch, 2008). These approaches will include ensuring that teachers apply teaching methods that have already proved to be successful in promoting successful learning of all the children in other settings. I will also expect the teachers to create environments in which the students feels challenged, engaged, safe to undertake any risk and are supported in their learning. I will also ensure that the other team members in the school offers children with timely and regular feedback in the forms and they should also outline the actions that parents and children can undertake to ensure there is progress in learning and thus contribute to the learning of their children in a positive way. I will also expect the team members to set high expectations for the progress of every student so as to improve the overall classroom performances. It is crucial to note that when some few children are performing below expectations, they are likely to pull down the overall performance of the class and of the school in general (Woodhead, 1999). Thank you for your time and consideration. Looking forward to hearing from you. Sincerely Frolics Alicia References ACECQA (2011a). Guide to the National Quality Framework. Retrieved March 23, 2016 from http://acecqa.gov.au/storage/1%20Guide%20to%20the%20NQF.pdf ACECQA (2011b). National Quality Standard Retrieved March 23, 2016 from http://acecqa.gov.au Carter, M & Curtis, D. (2010). The Visionary Director. Retrieved March 17, 2016 from https://www.iactivelearning.com/sites/default/files/book/samples/Deb_Curtis-The_Visionary_Director_Second_Edition-Sample.pdf KU Children’s Services (n.d). Understanding Quality in Early Childhood Education. Retrieved March 23, 2016 from https://www.ku.com.au/resources/other/Understanding%20Quality%20in%20Early%20Childhood%20Education_WEB.pdf National Quality Standard (2016). Partnerships with Families. Retrieved March 23, 2016 from http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/nqsplp/e-learning-videos/talking-about-practice/partnerships-with-families/ Rodd, J. (2013). Leadership in early childhood: The pathway to professionalism (4th Ed.). Australia: Allen & Unwin. Waniganayake, M., Cheeseman, S., Fenech, M., Hadley, F. & Shepherd, W. (2012). Leadership: contexts and complexities in early childhood education. South Melbourne: Oxford University Press. Woodhead, M. (1999). Reconstructing developmental psychology: some first steps. Children & Society, 13(1), 3–19. Woodrow, C. & Busch, G. (2008). Repositioning early childhood leadership as action and activism. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal 16 (1), 83-93. Read More