NAEYC Statement of Commitment

As an individual who works with young children, I, Jennifer Weedman, commit myself
to furthering the values of early childhood education as they are reflected in the ideals
and principles of the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct. To the best of my ability I will:
-

Never harm children

Ensure that programs for young children are based on current knowledge and
research of child development and early childhood education

Respect and support families in their task of nurturing children

Respect colleagues in early childhood care and education and support them in
maintaining the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct

Serve as an advocate for children, their families, and their teachers in

community and society

Stay informed of and maintain high standards of professional conduct

Engage in an ongoing process of self-reflection, realizing that personal

characteristics, biases, and beliefs have an impact on children and families

Be open to new ideas and be willing to learn from the suggestions of others

Continue to learn, grow, and contribute as a professional

Honor the ideals and principles of the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct
Jennifer Weedman

Ethical Responsibilities to Children

Ideals
I-1.1- To be familiar with the knowledge base of early childhood care and education
and to stay informed through continuing education and training. I do this by taking
college classes in early childhood education and doing online training classes that are
on early childhood education as well as going to summits that are early childhood
related.
I-1.11-To provide all children with experiences in a language that they know, as well
as support children in maintaining the use of their home language and learning English.
I do this by supporting the child with accommodating them with the language they do
speak by getting a co-worker who speaks their language to talk with them in their
language. As this takes place the other children learn words in another language other
than English.
Principals
P-1.5- We shall use appropriate assessment systems, which include multiple sources of
information on childrens learning and development. I do this by assessing all children. I
track their development three times a year through Teaching Strategies GOLD. I
observe all children in Literacy, Cognitive, Language, Social & Emotional, Math, and
Physical Development. I take I take pictures, videos, and anecdotal notes that are my
written observations. I collect a variety of work samples to show growth throughout the
year.

P-1.8- We shall be familiar with the risk factors for and symptoms of child abuse and
neglect, including physical, sexual, verbal, and emotional abuse and physical,
emotional, educational, and medical neglect. We shall know and follow state laws and
community procedures that protect children against abuse and neglect. I do this by
giving an eye over view look on each child when they come in to my class each
morning. I have gone to a few child abuse classes as well as taking a few courses on
line to be aware of the signs on any child abuse.

Ethical Responsibilities to Families

Ideals
I-2.7-To share information about each childs education and development with families
and to help them understand and appreciate the current knowledge base of early
childhood profession. I do this by setting up parent teacher conferences twice a year. I
talk with the families about the development that their child has made by giving them
comparisons to better help them understand their childs growth.
I-2.8- To help family members enhance their understanding of their children and
support the continuing development of their skills as parents. I do this by inviting all
parents to parent classes that I have set up. The parent classes are designed to give
parents the skills on how to work with their children at home through fun family
activities as well as helping them to help their childs development.

Principals
P-2.1- We shall not deny family members access to their childs classroom or program
setting unless access is denied by court order or other legal restriction. I do this by
telling family members that I have an open door policy and that they are always
welcomed to come in the room and that they can even join us for lunch or volunteer in
the classroom. On the flip side of denying a family member there must be court papers
stating the legal action and this is in the childs file for all staff.
P-2.5- We shall make every effort to communicate effectively with all families in a
language that they understand. We shall use community resources for translation and
interpretation when we do not have sufficient resources in our own programs. I do this
by providing the interpretation for those parents that need it so I can communicate
effectively with them. I also make sure to have the resources that I pass out are in both
English and in Spanish for those families. My non speaking English parents know to go
ask a certain teacher to be able to communicate with me about their child.

Ethical Responsibilities to Colleagues/ Co-workers

Ideals
I-3A.2- To share resources with co-workers, collaborating to ensure that the best
possible early childhood care and education program is provided. I do this by sharing
new things that I have learned in trainings that I go to or from college classes I take
and I share this with co-workers. I receive a lot of early childhood resources to pass out

to parents. I also make sure that I have enough to give my co-workers for them to pass
out to their parents as well.
I-3A.3- To support co-workers in meeting their professional needs and in their
professional development. I do this with our new hire employees. I meet with them and
tell them about our program First Things First. I tell them about scholarships that are
available for them to apply for and take early childhood courses. I give them the
resources for all of this so they can set it up if they wish to do so. I also tell them about
an online program that all staff members are set up on. This program is online courses
for the early childhood education field. It is a requirement from our supervisor that we
do 8 courses within the school year. I support new staff members with all of this
information and help them to get set up for this.
Principles
P3A.1- We shall recognize the contributions of colleagues to our program and not
participate in practices that diminish their reputation or impair their effectiveness in
working with children and families. I do this by recognizing the contributions of my
colleagues when it is appropriate to do so.
P-3A.2- When we have concerns about the professional behavior of a co-worker, we
shall first let that person know of our concern in a way that shows respect for personal
dignity and for the diversity to be found among staff members, and then attempt to
resolve the matter collegially and in a confidential manner. I do this by doing just as
this principle has stated. My supervisor has enforced this during staff meetings and this
is a protocol that all staff must follow before getting a supervisor involved.

Responsibilities to employers
Ideals
I-3B.1- To assist the program in providing the highest quality service. I help in doing
my part with having positive teacher/ child interactions. I make sure I have age
appropriate activities for children. I follow good health and safety practices. I have had
a lot of prior experiences in the early childhood education field. I also do on-going
training classes.
I-3B.2- To do nothing that diminishes the reputation of the program in which
we work unless, it is violating laws and regulations designed to protect children
or is violating the provision of the Code. I do this by not talking harsh of the
program in which I work in. I talk positive about the program when I talk with
parents or when I am out in public and am faced with questions about the
program.
Principles
P-3B.1- We shall follow all program policies. When we do not agree with
program policies, we shall attempt to effect change through constructive action
within the organization. I have done this by talking with my supervisor about
making a new policy to add to the program in order to help with transition for
the children.

P-3B.5- When we have a concern about circumstances or conditions that impact

the quality of care and education within the program, we shall inform the
programs administration or, when necessary, other appropriate authorities. I
have been seen a circumstance that a co-worker needed help in her class
because her co-teacher was absent. This left her in her class by herself and out
of ratio with all of the children. She didnt know what to do. I then called our
administrator and he took care of the situation that impacted the quality of care
that the teacher could provide to the children in her class.

Responsibilities to employees
Ideals
I-3C.1- To promote safe and healthy working conditions and policies that foster
mutual respect, cooperation, collaboration, competence, wellbeing,
confidentiality, and self-esteem in staff members. I do this by showing respect to
my co-workers. I also show cooperation and collaboration when we have staff
meetings and keep certain information confident when it needs to be.
I-3C.4- To encourage and support continual development of employees in
becoming more skilled and knowledgeable practitioners. I do this by talking with
all new hire staff. I inform them of the opportunity they have to pursue a degree
in early childhood education with a scholarship through our program. I provide
them with all of the information to help them with the process.

Principles
P-3C.1- In decisions concerning children and programs, we shall draw upon the
education, training, experience, and expertise of staff members. I do this by
collaborating with co-workers when concerns arise about any child. It will
sometimes be discussed in staff meetings for all staff members to come together
and with all of the education and training skills that everyone has we can come
up with solutions for the concerns.
P-3C.4- We shall inform employees whose performance does not meet program
exportations of areas of concern and, when possible, assist in improving their
performance. I do this with any co-teacher that works with me by doing
evaluations on them that is mandated to do. I assist them with improving their
performance by setting them up with online training courses or give them
reading material on certain areas for them to gain more knowledge.

Ethical Responsibilities to Community and Society

Individual
I-4.1- To provide the community with high-quality early childhood care and
education programs and services. I do this by continuing my education in early
childhood. I have also set up parent classes for parents that are in our program
as well as services that they may need.

P-4.5- We shall be knowledgeable about the appropriate use of assessment

strategies and instruments and interpret results accurately to families. I do this
by providing information on the assessment strategies that my program uses to
all of my families during parent teacher conferences. I provide them with results
that have been interned in the program. This lets the families know where their
childs development is and it also shows them the growth.

Collective
I-4.5- To work to ensure that appropriate assessment systems, which include
multiple sources of information, are used for purposes that benefit children. I do
appropriate assessment that benefits children in the program. All of the
assessments that are done are recorded in a program that we use. This
information then is kept in the program and follows the child to the next class.
P-4.11- When policies are enacted for purposes that do not benefit children, we
have a collective responsibility to work to change these practices. I do this by
sometimes accommodating the child to where it will benefit them. I have
accommodated a child that had a hard time with transitioning to another class
room at the end of the school day to go to after care. He has an older sibling
that he is close with and it is a comfort to him to have her with him during this
transition. It is against policy to have other children in the program that are not
enrolled with us and his older sibling is not. I do not agree with this policy so I
allow the sibling to come in to be with her brother. This is helpful to all staff and

it benefits the child by making these accommodations.