My current professional development path has put me at the Capitol in St. Paul often as I advocate for parent education to be included in the scholarships for preschool that will be awarded to families. I am also working on a project near and dear to my heart as a one woman non profit organization. I am learning that moving policy forward is not only about what you know, it is who you know, My professional connections have opened doors for me as I advocate for children and parents.
Governor Mark Dayton (on the left) and Art Rolnick have helped me become more comfortable in the policy arena. The PEW website is another valuable asset as I speak with policy makers. I added PEW's newsletter to my RSS feed and find myself more comfortable with that format as PEW is overwhelming! What drives policy is DATA. I am a storyteller, a wonderful asset in my teaching but not as effective in policy making. PEW has given me easy to interpret data about my state delivered right to my computer. The newsletter provides the data and the language necessary for advocates. Legislators are on recess this week, I will use the data provided by PEW to communicate with them.
My frustration is this, PEW has so many areas of interest that the website is difficult to sift through. I find myself overwhelmed and ineffective when I have too many plates spinning in the air. I do much more work when I focus on doing one thing well to it's completion. When I do too much, I do none of it well. PEW seems to have compartmentalized its work somehow but it is not obvious to me how it is all connected. PHEW!!
I totally agree!!!! I'm researching the same website and everytime I open it up I just want to get off of it because it's so overwhelming with all the stuff to click on!! I enjoy watching pre-k programs evolve because it starts early! Children need that early start in life, and some children just need someone to care about them and to love them! Great post!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post. I think that this website can assist me in gaining a better understanding of policies in regards to early childhood education. I believe that many websites are overwhelming, because we as early childhood professional have a deep passion for ensuring the well-being of children in our minds. Keep up the good work!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteFirst, I would like to commend you on your work in pushing for scholarship for families to send their preschoolers to school. Everyone child deserves a chance to learn and they shouldn't be denied because of their families finances. So I want to thank you on behalf of those children and families you are helping. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteKathy, your blog has been very informational this week and I thank you for sharing PEW's website. I have also done my first home visit when I received a new student in my class 2months ago; however, it wasn't the
ReplyDeletegetting to know" child and family that I had expected to happen, it was moreso about getting the parents to sign packets of paperwork. I also can appreciate you; as other locals probably do, about speaking up to see if some of your families can be chosen and selected to receive some typew of finanacial support.
Hi Katy,
ReplyDeleteWhen I grow up I want to be just like you! I am very proud of all of your hard work. I would love to learn how I can contact policy makers, so that I can advocate for children, families, and the early childhood field.
Thank You,
Magretta