About Us
MRC Purpose
The purpose of the Mississippi Rock Chapter is to serve as an extention of the Iowa AEYC to encourage advocacy, build leadership, and promote professionalism in early childhood in Cedar, Clinton, Jackson, Jones, Muscatine, and Scott counties in Iowa as well as Bureau, Mercer, and Rock Island counties in Illinois.
MRC Goals
The Mississippi Rock AEYC goals align with the Iowa AEYC that strives to encourage advocacy, build leadership, and promote professionalism. Iowa AEYC works alongside other organizations to provide programs for early childhood professionals, like T.E.A.C.H. IOWA and Child Care WAGE$ Iowa. Keep checking back here for content in development on what the Mississippi Rock Chapter is doing to meet these goals.
About the Association
The Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children represents over 1,100 members throughout our state. We support efforts to improve teaching and learning, promote leadership and professional development in our field, support accreditation and excellence in early childhood education programs, and build public awareness through advocacy and outreach. Membership is open to all individuals who share a desire to serve and act on behalf of the needs and rights of all young children.
Iowa AEYC Vision
All young children thrive and learn in a society dedicated to ensuring they reach their full potential.Iowa AEYC Mission
Iowa AEYC promotes high-quality early learning for all children, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy, and research. We advance a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children.Iowa AEYC Core Values
The Iowa AEYC values:
- Appreciate childhood as a unique and valuable stage of the human life cycle.
- Base our work on knowledge of how children develop and learn.
- Appreciate and support the bond between the child and family.
- Recognize that children are best understood and supported in the context of family, culture, community, and society.
- Respect the dignity, worth, and uniqueness of each individual (child, family member, and colleague).
- Respect diversity in children, families, and colleagues.
- Recognize that children and adults achieve their full potential in the context of relationships that are based on trust and respect.
Iowa AEYC Core Beliefs
The Iowa AEYC holds true that:
- Excellence and Innovation -- We are imaginative risk takers willing to challenge assumptions while being accountable to our mission and fiscally responsible.
- Transparency -- We act with openness and clarity.
- Reflection -- We consider multiple sources of evidence and diverse perspectives to review past performance, note progress and successes, and engage in continuous quality improvement.
- Equity and Opportunity -- We advocate for policies, practices, and systems that promote full and inclusive participation. we confront biases that create barriers and limit the potential of children, families, and early childhood professionals.
- Collaborative Relationships -- We share leadership and responsibility in our work with others. We commit time and effort to ensure diverse participation and more effective outcomes. We act with integrity, respect, and trust.
We are looking for leaders!
Members in good standing are encouraged to apply for open positions.
♦ All positions are voluntary and uncompensated
♦ Terms are served for 2 years with elections held in even-numbered years
♦ Required time commitment is less than or equal to 10 hours per month
♦ Leaders are required to participate in online chapter meetings and Virtual Professional Development workshops as well as one face-to-face meeting per quarter
♦ Candidacy is based on membership status and qualifications for position applied for
