4.2: Who Are The Professionals?

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Heather Carter and Amber Tankersley
Pittsburg State University

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Who are the teachers?

As can be imagined, the people that are called to teaching are diverse indeed. Each brings their own set of strengths, interests, beliefs, and experiences. There is no “one right way” to teach; no magical guide you can refer to that will tell you exactly what to do in every situation. Every teacher will approach circumstances differently and this is both the joy and the trial of teaching. Your “why” will determine much of what you do. This will blend with your knowledge, experiences, and dispositional traits to guide you on your teaching journey.

Figure 4.2.1 A teacher in action

Keep in mind that “teaching” may look very different with different age groups. While the forming of relationships will lie at the core of all quality teaching, the interactions, roles, and duties will vary tremendously. We encourage you to spend some time with different age levels to get a feel for your best “fit”.

Who are the other professionals supporting children?

Some of you may think you want to work in some way with children and families, but may not be sure that “teaching” is the right fit for you. Many experts will recommend starting as a teacher assistant or teacher, regardless of your later plans. That is because this experience will prove a valuable addition to whatever career you pursue in the field. However, there are many professionals supporting children (Stephens et. al, 2023).

Table 4.2.1 Other Professionals in the Early Childhood Field

Area	Careers
Child Development Focus	Teacher Aide Assistant Teacher Associate Teacher Teacher Master Teacher Site Supervisor Program/Center Director Early Childhood Special Education Teacher Curriculum Coordinator** Infant Specialist School Age Specialist Owner/Operator of an Early Childhood Program Licensed Family Child Care Provider
Elementary Settings	Instructional Aide Credentialed Teacher Transitional Kindergarten Teacher Early Childhood Special Education Teacher** Afterschool Program Staff Afterschool Program Coordinator
Adult Education and Training	Child Development Trainer Community College Instructor Infant/Toddler Certified Trainer Parent Educator Vocational Educational Instructor**
Community and Social Services	Parks and Recreation Aide Parks and Recreation Program Supervisor School-age Enrichment Program Staff/Leader Child Life Specialist Community Care Licensing Analyst Family Services Advocate Resource and Referral Specialist Early Intervention Specialist Home Visitor Project/Program Administrator in Child Related Agencies Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist City/County Child Care Coordinator**
Other Related Work Options	Child Development Researcher Child Care and Development Consultant Playground Designer Sales/Marketing for Early Education Materials Child and Family Public Policy Specialist Pediatric Nurse Pediatrician Family Therapist

**These positions usually require a bachelor’s degree and additional training

Who will be with me?

One of the wonderful aspects of our field is that you are rarely alone. In addition to the children and families, you will have colleagues who can support your journey. You may find yourself working with any or all of the following (Stephens et. al, 2023): $2.3. 2$

$2.3. 2$
$2.3. 2$

Role	Description
Director / Manager / Principal	Usually runs the day to day operations, oversees teaching staff, involved in hiring, provides resources and support, budgeting.
Office Staff	Keep records, handle paperwork, phone calls, administrative support.
Team Teacher / Assistant/Aide	Additional person you will collaborate with in your classroom. It’s common practice to provide support for each other, offer a variety of role models for children and families, offer different strengths.
Specialists	Sometimes a specialist works in the classroom with individual children or the group. Usually providing specialized services in Occupational Therapy (OT) (life skills), Physical Therapy (PT), Speech and Language, or Behavioral Intervention they may be part of the teaching team all day or for brief segments throughout the week.
Other Staff Members	From time to time, you may work with custodians, food service providers, health specialists, and others performing duties related to the classroom.
Volunteers	Family or other community members working in a variety of capacities as part of the teaching team.
College Students	From time to time college students may work in the classroom as part of their training.

In addition to the above list, we encourage you to find a mentor or coach, someone you can turn to with questions or when you need support. In the field of early childhood, many of us “pay it forward”. Someone provided support for us when we were new to the field with the understanding that we would do the same when our time came. Most early childhood teachers are kind, caring professionals who want to see you succeed. Each time you succeed, our field succeeds and the children and families we work with receive the quality experiences they deserve. Ask your instructor or another resource if they know of any formal or informal mentor programs in your area.

References

Stephens, C., Peterson, G., Eyrich, S., & Paris, J. (2023). ECD Principles and Practices. LibreTexts. Retreived March 26, 2024: https://socialsci.libretexts.org/Cou...er/2.03%3A_Who

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