Men in Early Childhood Education: My Interview With Early Childhood Consultant Michael Ruzza by Mike Prochaska

Michael Ruzza is an early childhood consultant. He took time out of his day and answered some questions about being in the Early Childhood Education field. I am enjoying hearing everyone’s story’s on how they got into this field and their backgrounds. 

Q. How do you get into this field?

"I became interested in early childhood after I started subbing at an early childhood center that was near where my parents were living."

Q. What do you see as the advantages of male teachers?

"Many children I work with are being raised by single mothers. I think having a male role model in their lives helps to provide some balance. I firmly believe that there are no 'bad' children. There are behaviors/actions that we need to 'translate' in order to discover why children are doing certain things. I also feel that early childhood teachers have to remember that we work with children not short adults. I think it can get easy to assume that children will simply understand what we are asking of them. I really enjoy working with young children. I continue to marvel at how much we can shape their development. I love how curious they can be. forming real relationships and bonding is something I think it extremely important. I truly want to make as much of a positive impact on the children I work with as possible."

Q. What's your favorite memory working with kids?

"There are too many possible favorite memories to choose just one. Every favorite memory I have involves the strong bond that I was able to form with those specific children and the programs they were in. I am presenting the Education Manager for a program called TVCCA - Little Learners in Connecticut. I oversee early childhood classrooms as two of our sites. I am also an approved Early Childhood Consultant for the State of Connecticut. In addition to those roles, I conduct CDA visits for home child-care programs and center-based early childhood programs."

Q. Do you have a Facebook page you'd like to share with us?

"I am on social media. Like me on Facebook. I have a website, MRuzzaConsulting.Weebly.com.

Q. What else would you like to share with us?

"One concept that I would like any educator, especially those who work with young children, is keep growing professionally. This will make a word of difference with the children you work with everyday. I would also love to make more connections with those within the early childhood field. Please feel free to reach out to me on any of the social media platforms and/or at my email address, which is mruzzaconsulting@outlook.com."