July 9, 2024 Nia Harris Chosen as OCDEL’s Bureau of Operations and Monitoring Director Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has named Nia Harris as its Director of Bureau of Operations and Monitoring. Learn More Harris was previously OCDEL’s Director of Bureau of Early Learning Resource Center Operations and Monitoring. She has worked for the state since 2013, beginning her civil service career as an income maintenance caseworker, human service program specialist, and human service program representative 1. Harris graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in psychology and minored in sociology. Bureau of Operations and Monitoring The Bureau of Operations and Monitoring provides oversight and technical assistance to Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRCs). It is responsible for monitoring ELRC grantee program integrity and accountability, proper use of funds, and accurate application of program rules and procedures. The bureau also serves as a source of support to ELRCs in their daily operations and program management.
City Wants Input on Baxter Park Improvement Plan The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and the city want to hear input from residents on the Baxter Park Improvement Plan. Residents are encouraged to take a survey on Engage PGH on the plan. Learn More The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, in partnership with the City of Pittsburgh, community organizations, and other key stakeholders are developing an improvement plan for Baxter Park in Homewood. The plan will aim to achieve the following goals: Enhance Baxter Park to meet community needs Help advance goals identified in previous community planning efforts Activate Baxter Park Develop a plan based on community feedback and consensus The final improvement plan will be realistic, achievable, and provide a basis for fundraising to further develop and construct the project. Three concepts are available to view for the Baxter Park Improvement Plan on the Engage PGH website. Visitors to the website are asked to respond to the concepts and choose a preferred plan in the survey. If certain elements of any of the plans are preferred, survey takers can make notes in the “additional thoughts” section. Stages of the Plan Currently, the plan is in its concept development phase, which involves developing design concepts and presenting them to the community for feedback. Next, it will be in the preferred plan development phase, during which a singular, preferred concept is presented for more detailed community input and feedback. Last, a report will present final improvements, cost estimates, and next steps. That phase is expected to take place this fall. For more information and to take the survey, visit the Engage PGH website.
July 8, 2024 Child Care Openings in Pittsburgh Are you looking for open child care positions? Early learning programs in the Greater Pittsburgh Area are hiring! See featured jobs for this week. Child Care Positions in Pittsburgh MASTER TEACHER The Kinder Academy is looking for a master teacher, who will be responsible for developing a cohesive teaching team, coordinating the curriculum, and managing the day-to-day operational activities of the classroom. Teachers must understand children’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development to ensure a safe and stimulating classroom environment where children are actively engaged and encouraged to succeed. Most of all, the teacher must seek strong connections to children, families, and coworkers. Those interested should send a resume to twalzer@kinderacademy.com. ASSISTANT TEACHER Heritage Community Initiatives is seeking a flexible and qualified assistant teacher for its 4 Kids Early Learning Program. This educator would establish and create a safe, nurturing environment where children can learn and play. They would assist in designing weekly lesson plans that align with Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards. Those interested should visit HeritageServes.org/Careers. PRE-K COUNTS ASSISTANT TEACHER Heritage Community Initiatives is offering an exceptional opportunity for an education professional to utilize their talents and expertise at its highly-respected, Keystone STAR 4-accredited, NAEYC-affiliated program – Heritage 4 Kids Early Learning Center. The teacher would assist in designing weekly lesson plans that align with Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards. Two years of experience in an early childhood setting is mandatory. For more information, visit HeritageServes.org/Careers. TEMPORARY FULL-TIME TEACHER Heritage Community Initiatives is seeking a temporary full-time teacher at its Keystone STAR 4-accredited, NAEYC-affiliated program – Heritage Out of School (HOST). Summer session educators will play a major role in the implementation of age-appropriate experiential learning initiatives for school-age students throughout the summer months. Educators will be a part of planning, facilitating, and engaging in a number of hands-on activities and experiences. Visit HeritageServes.org/Careers for more information. ASSISTANT TEACHER The University of Pittsburgh’s Child Development Center is seeking a part-time assistant teacher to work with children ranging in age from six weeks to five years. The assistant teacher is responsible for supporting daily activities and programming in the classroom, interacting with and supervising a group of children, and maintaining daily communication with families. Please submit a resume and cover letter for the position online. ASSOCIATE TEACHER The University of Pittsburgh’s University Child Development Center is looking to hire an associate teacher to support the Head Teacher in the planning and implementation of an early childhood program for a class of children. Associate teachers support the Head Teacher by maintaining the classroom, assessing and maintaining care, programming, and ensuring safety. Please submit a resume and cover letter for the position online. LEAD/ASSISTANT TEACHER London Bridges Child Development Center is seeking an early childhood lead or assistant teacher. The ideal candidate will be responsible for creating a nurturing, stimulating, and safe environment for young children. The teacher will develop and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum, foster positive relationships with children and their families, and ensure compliance with regulations. Applicants should develop and implement lesson plans and activities that promote physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development. Candidates should submit their resume and cover letter to londonbridgescdc@yahoo.com with the subject line: Assistant or Lead Teacher Application. Submit a Job Trying Together highlights employer-submitted jobs on our website, social media, and in our newsletter. Submit a Job: To make it into next week’s post, submit the Child Care Provider Job Post Submission Form. All jobs submitted after Tuesday each week will be published in the following week’s news post. Publication dates may vary due to state and federal holidays. Unrelated jobs will not be included. For questions, contact Heidi Winkler at heidi@tryingtogether.org. Other Jobs in Early Childhood ECE HIRE Visit the ECE Hire website to view early childhood education job listings and helpful tips on interviewing, resumes, and more. SUBMIT A JOB TO PACCA Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) offers a Job Board for its members to post jobs for free and sends out submitted jobs via their Facebook page and e-newsletter. PACCA members can submit jobs online after signing into their membership account. For questions, contact Maureen Murphy at maureen.murphy@pacca.org. Receive Jobs in Your Inbox To receive the latest job opportunities, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook.
Free Leadership Training Offered for Families of Children in Early Intervention or Preschool Parent to Parent Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning will host upcoming free leadership development training for families of children receiving early intervention or preschool services. Learn More Competence and Confidence: Partners in Policymaking will provide free training during a series of sessions from September through May. Participants in the course will: Learn about the infant/toddler and preschool early intervention (EI) system Connect with other families Build skills to advocate for their family and others Participation is limited, so those interested should apply right away. The application deadline is 5 p.m. on August 5, 2024. Applicants will be notified by September 6 if they are accepted. Applicants should: Have a child between the ages of birth and five years who is currently receiving state infant/toddler or preschool EI services Have a desire to advocate for themselves and others Can commit to participate in all eight sessions Lodging, meals, mileage, and child care reimbursement will be provided to participants. Schedule The schedule of sessions is: September 27, 2004 (virtual) – Noon to 1:30 p.m. October 18-19, 2024 (DoubleTree Hotel in Lancaster) – Friday at 1 p.m. to Saturday at 3:30 p.m. November 15-16, 2024 (DoubleTree Hotel) – Friday at 1 p.m. to Saturday at 3:30 p.m. January 31, 2025 (virtual) – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. February 28, 2025 (virtual) – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 21-22, 2025 (DoubleTree Hotel) – Friday at 1 p.m. to Saturday at 3:30 p.m. April 25, 2025 (virtual) – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 16-17, 2025 (DoubleTree Hotel) – Friday at 1 p.m. to Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The sessions are funded by the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning, with support from the Temple Institute on Disabilities.
Pennsylvania Center for the Book Announces 2024 Baker’s Dozen Booklist Selections The Pennsylvania Center for the Book has included 13 books for its 21st annual “A Baker’s Dozen: The Best Children’s Books for Family Literacy.” Learn More The 2024 edition of the booklist was compiled by a panel of children’s literature experts who chose from among the many children’s books published in the previous calendar year. This year’s selection includes: 10 Dogs (Emily Gravett) ABC and You and Me (Corinna Luyken) Bear With Me (Kerascoet, Sebastian Cosset, and Marie Pommepuy) The Concrete Garden (Bob Graham) How to Count to ONE (And Don’t Even THINK About Bigger Numbers!) (Caspar Salmon) I Am a Dragon! A Squabble and a Quibble (Sabina Hahn) If I Was a Horse (Sophie Blackall) The Kitten Story (Emily Jenkins) Mr. S (Monica Arnaldo) Night in the City (Julie Downing) Ruffles and the Cozy, Cozy Bed (David Melling) Simon and the Better Bone (Corey R. Tabor) You Go First (Ariel Bernstein) More information on the books as well as selection criteria, annotations, and tips for using them are on the A Baker’s Dozen website. About The Pennsylvania Center for the Book, an affiliate of the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress, encourages state residents to study, honor, celebrate, and promote books, libraries, and literacy.
July 3, 2024 Pennsylvania Early Childhood Summit Returns in Person This Fall The Pennsylvania Early Childhood Summit will return in person for the first time in four years this October. Learn More The summit is expected to draw hundreds of early learning educators. It has been held annually since 2008 but will be in person for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s theme is Celebrating Early Learning: Reconnecting, Reviewing, Revisioning. There will be more than 60 workshops and two keynote speakers as well as OCDEL updates, exhibitors, the Summit Marketplace, prizes, food, and numerous opportunities to build new professional connections. Attendees will be able to receive PQAS and Act 48 credits. The 2024 Summit will be held on October 28 and 29 at the Penn Stater Conference Center, located at 215 Innovation Blvd. in State College. Registration is now open for attendees and exhibitors. Trying Together Presentations Trying Together will hold two presentations at the summit. The first, presented by Lindsey Victoria and Loni Gooden, is titled “Combating the Child Care Crisis: Empowering Early Educators Through Workforce Development.” This session will explore the pivotal role of workforce development initiatives in enhancing the capabilities and skills of early childhood educators. The presenters will examine how current, innovative work contributes to solving the childcare crisis. The second presentation, led by Allison Robinson and Shellie Grooms, is titled “Re-Envisioning Your Classroom: Curiosity Calms Chaos.” The presentation asks whether a re-envisioning of the classroom as child-centered spaces filled with curiosity and joy would calm daily chaos. The session will explore new strategies for classroom set-ups, routines, and management through the lens of curiosity.
July 2, 2024 Cross & Strauss Playground Opens on Pittsburgh’s North Side Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and city officials celebrated the opening last week of the Cross & Strauss Playground on Pittsburgh’s North Side. Learn More The new playground includes two separate play areas aimed at children between the ages of two to five years and five-12 years, respectively. Additionally, there are swings, picnic tables, a poured-in-place safety surface, and a half basketball court. “Playgrounds are part of a community’s effort to nurture our children in becoming better adults,” Gainey said. “So that when they grow up, they understand how to work together with people who have different ideas and that’s what we have right here. Everyone came together because we knew we needed a playground and we made it happen and that is the power of community and collaboration.” The new playground is part of a larger effort to re-invest in the Charles Street Area of the North Side, which has seen generational disinvestment. Other efforts in the area include traffic calming, new trash cans, and the Fowler Park & Pool. The playground was selected as a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development CHOICE project for early action projects that serve the Allegheny Dwellings Community. It was done in partnership with the Charles Street Area Corporation, Perry Hilltop/Fineview Citizens Council, and Tthe Buhl Foundation.
ALSC Releases 2024 Summer Reading Lists for Children The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) has released summer reading lists for four age groups that include more than 20 books each and are free to download. Learn More The 2024 Summer Reading Lists are full of book titles and other digital media options aimed at keeping children of various ages engaged in reading and exploring throughout the summer. Titles on the summer reading lists were compiled and annotated by members of ALSC’s Quicklists Consulting Committee. The reading lists were created as a resource for children’s librarians to share with patrons. Lists by Age Group The birth-preschool age group list features 23 titles, including books and digital media. Titles on the list include Juana Martinez-Neal’s “Alma and Her Family,” James Howe’s “Milo Walking,” and Rajani Larocca’s “Summer is For Cousins.” The reading list for grades K-2 includes 26 titles, including books and digital options. Titles on this list include Nina Lacour’s “The Apartment House on Poppy Hill,” Elana K. Arnold’s “Harriet Tells the Truth,” and Maya Tatsukawa’s “Mole Is Not Alone.” The grades 3-5 reading list features 24 titles, including books and digital media. Some of the titles on the list include Alysha Wishingrad’s “Between Monsters and Marvels,” Adam Rubin’s “The Human Kaboom,” and Ben Hatke’s “Things in the Basement.” The reading list for grades 6-8 includes 25 selections, including books and digital options. Titles on this list include Katherine Marsh’s “The Lost Year,” Lisa Yee’s “The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum,” and Emily Bowen Cohen’s “Two Tribes.” For more information on the reading lists, visit the ALSC’s website.
July 1, 2024 Updated Keystone STARS Bonus Points Tip Sheets Now Available The Keystone STARS policy team has recently worked with partner agencies to update its Bonus Points Tip Sheets. Learn More The updated tip sheets are now LIVE on the Pennsylvania Key’s Keystone STARS Resources webpage where there are links to the Bonus Point quality initiatives. Significant updates were made to the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) tip sheets. PBIS is a framework for supporting social emotional development and addressing challenging behaviors in early childhood. It supports administrative teams to use implementation science and practical strategies to support staff and families. Minor updates were made to the other tip sheets including: PA Eco Healthy Child Care; Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAPSACC Program); Farm to Early Care and Education; Child and Adult Care Food Program; and After School Quality. Those with questions about the updates to the tip sheets should contact their ELRC quality coach.
PA State Parks to Host Fish-For-Free Day on July 4 Pennsylvania’s state parks will allow families to fish on state waterways without a fishing license on July 4. Learn More Fish-for-Free-Day is aimed at promoting the fun of fishing among Pennsylvania families. On July 4, 2024, any Pennsylvania resident or non-resident will be allowed to fish without a license on state waterways, although all other fishing regulations will still apply. Those who do not have equipment can visit the state’s Borrow a Rod & Reel Fishing Tackle Loaner Program to find a location where they can borrow rods, reels, and a tackle box full of hooks and other terminal tackle. To borrow gear, visitors must complete a form. The equipment loan is similar to that of a library transaction. At the end of the loan, the equipment must be returned to the site. The program is a partnership between the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the American Sportfishing Association, and various sponsors. It is designed to make it easy for anyone to have access to fishing equipment. Fishing tackle equipment can also be loaned to groups conducting fishing education programs in the community. Visit the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s tackle loaner webpage for more information on locations, hours of operation, and contact information.
