Career Day is a day when students get the opportunity to shadow someone in the career that the students are interested in pursuing. This year I got to shadow a EHS CCP coordinator of a child development program. It was such a great opportunity to learn about child development and to learn how important it is. I got to visit her office, on of the schools they work with and attend to a conference CA CSEFEL Teaching Pyramid Symposium conference. I had such a great time and it was such an informational conference. I learned so much and was able to appreciate early education. Some parents overlook the early education like from ages 2-8. They think that it's day care but what they don't really know is how important those ages are in a child's learning. It is such a stage that has to be really carefully taken care of and put attention into. I was able to see how much children do at the school and it's amazing how much they do and how those things influence their learning. I was also able to see how much teacher's actually have to do to actually teach those kids. It isn't something easy and it can be a long process. Some people don't recognize that or really pay attention to often. I didn't, myself, know how many requirements they were to become a teachers for children at that age.
Here are some questions I asked the person I shadow about their job and how they work individually:
How do you interact with other people during your work day?
I am very relationship based. Since I look over most departments in the program I am always checking on how they're doing. I also get opportunities to counsel them. There's this thing that we have in the morning called Emptying the cup. We need to make sure that the teachers and workers empty their cup, such as releasing anything they're carrying that is preventing them to perform their best at work. We need to empty our cup before filling it up with so much information. It is very beneficial and it helps everyone to do their best at work. I also try to keep every day as fun as possible while also taking my job seriously. Doing all of these things help me and are very effective.
What in your educational background most prepared you for this job?
I got my master's degree in education. I got my early intervention certificate and other college education. I was always participating in workshops and conference that focused on how to help staff and their behaviors. I always say that we never stop learning. There's always something new that we have to learn and adapt to. I always try to keep up with current research so when it comes to counseling or coaching the teachers, directors or other staff I am up to date in what we're learning and in the most modern way of teaching.
To what extent do you find your work interesting and fullfiling? Why?
I love working with people. No child is the same and being able to help the teachers lead and teach is amazing. The impact that YOU make on others is always fulfilling. It is a nature of helping of mine. Being able to give them a hand and teach them is a new oppurtinty. But what we have to do is to teach them to do it on their own. Making time to do that is something very important and interesting.
What are the most important rules or practices that you must follow in order to be considered a dedicated and responsible professional in this field?
Self care. You have to make sure you are investing on yourself. Have boundaries while working and self value. Be healthy always, and care about yourself. Don't pretend to know everything because there's always new things to learn, so be a learner. This job is high burnout and you must have balance.
Is this a typical work day for you? if not what is it?
Well, everyday is a different day. However, I try to have typical days which consists of visiting the office, checking emails, prepare for meetings. I try to visit schools on scheduled days, check on the schools directors and make field visits. I also do monitoring checks and coaching the staff, teachers and others. I go to different conferences all the time and sometimes get to travel, which is really fun.
Here are some questions I asked the person I shadow about their job and how they work individually:
How do you interact with other people during your work day?
I am very relationship based. Since I look over most departments in the program I am always checking on how they're doing. I also get opportunities to counsel them. There's this thing that we have in the morning called Emptying the cup. We need to make sure that the teachers and workers empty their cup, such as releasing anything they're carrying that is preventing them to perform their best at work. We need to empty our cup before filling it up with so much information. It is very beneficial and it helps everyone to do their best at work. I also try to keep every day as fun as possible while also taking my job seriously. Doing all of these things help me and are very effective.
What in your educational background most prepared you for this job?
I got my master's degree in education. I got my early intervention certificate and other college education. I was always participating in workshops and conference that focused on how to help staff and their behaviors. I always say that we never stop learning. There's always something new that we have to learn and adapt to. I always try to keep up with current research so when it comes to counseling or coaching the teachers, directors or other staff I am up to date in what we're learning and in the most modern way of teaching.
To what extent do you find your work interesting and fullfiling? Why?
I love working with people. No child is the same and being able to help the teachers lead and teach is amazing. The impact that YOU make on others is always fulfilling. It is a nature of helping of mine. Being able to give them a hand and teach them is a new oppurtinty. But what we have to do is to teach them to do it on their own. Making time to do that is something very important and interesting.
What are the most important rules or practices that you must follow in order to be considered a dedicated and responsible professional in this field?
Self care. You have to make sure you are investing on yourself. Have boundaries while working and self value. Be healthy always, and care about yourself. Don't pretend to know everything because there's always new things to learn, so be a learner. This job is high burnout and you must have balance.
Is this a typical work day for you? if not what is it?
Well, everyday is a different day. However, I try to have typical days which consists of visiting the office, checking emails, prepare for meetings. I try to visit schools on scheduled days, check on the schools directors and make field visits. I also do monitoring checks and coaching the staff, teachers and others. I go to different conferences all the time and sometimes get to travel, which is really fun.