Beyond Behavior: Supporting Executive Function and Social Skills Through Play

1:15 PM to 2:30 PM | Sarah Bishop

In this session, early childhood educators will explore how play impacts children’s executive functioning, behavior, and thinking development. Based on research and best practices, we will examine how adult-child interactions support self-regulation and problem-solving. Educators will learn practical strategies to promote social-emotional growth through play, helping children handle social challenges.

Is This You?-A No-Fluff Look at Professionalism, Ethics & Expectations for Early Educators

1:15 PM to 2:30 PM | Alesha Brandt

A hilarious, heartfelt training on professionalism in early education, full of real talk, laughter, and “ouch but true” moments. We will explore ethics, expectations, and why showing up well matters. For directors and teachers alike, this session brings love, sass, and a call to raise the bar for ourselves and our field.

Preventing and Responding to Challenging Behaviors

3:00 PM to 4:15 PM | Nicci Carrington & Elizabeth Diaz

Challenging behaviors include any behavior that negatively impact the child’s ability to interact with others, learn, and get their needs met effectively. In this training, participants will be equipped with responsive strategies to prevent and respond to challenging behaviors and support children in developing healthy coping skills and social-emotional growth.

Families as Co-Teachers: Culturally Responsive Engagement Beyond the Door

3:00 PM to 4:15 PM | Natoya Carroll

This training empowers early childhood professionals to engage families as co-teachers through culturally responsive practices. Participants explore strategies, reflect on biases, and create an actionable plan to elevate family voice in curriculum and classroom experiences, strengthening partnerships that support equity, inclusion, and meaningful learning for all children.

Do you know how Latino immigrant parents think about children’s early learning, social-emotional development, or bilingual education? Let’s learn together!

1:15 PM to 2:30 PM | Kiyomi Colegrove & Christian Zuniga, Molly McManus

Do you know how Latino immigrant parents think about children’s early learning, social-emotional development, or bilingual education? This interactive session will use video footage from early childhood classrooms and parent interviews to engage audience members in conversation about strategies that authentically and collaboratively partner with families in their children’s education.

Staff Hiring, Retention and Culture

1:15 PM to 2:30 PM | Brandy Crumley

Going over best practices to not only staff your preschool, but to make it a place teachers enjoy working at. We will discuss best practices for hiring, training, retention and staff morale building. This training is geared toward child care centers of all sizes.

Two-Generation Strategies: Advancing Economic Mobility for Families with Young Children

1:15 PM to 2:30 PM | Dr. Bethany Edwards & Carol Klocek

Discover how two-generation approaches can support both children’s development and caregivers’ economic mobility. One nonprofit shares insights from integrating early childhood education with financial coaching, workforce development, counseling, and asset-building services to address root causes of poverty and create lasting stability for families with young children.

From Playground to Learning Landscape: 12 Best Practices for Outdoor Learning Environments

1:15 PM to 2:30 PM | Bethene Edwards

Explore 12 best practices to design outdoor learning environments that inspire play, exploration, movement, and connection. Discover the powerful benefits of nature play and how it supports whole-child development. Leave with practical ideas to create and sustain a nature rich space and communicate the value to families and the community.

Self Regulation begins with Self Awareness: Implementing Play Therapy and Mindfulness Techniques

3:00 PM to 4:15 PM | Gaby Glidden

Mindfulness and Play Therapy are valuable tools when addressing childhood challenges and trauma, increasing social and emotional learning. Implementing Mindfulness and Play Therapy techniques, forming a safe and secure relationship, provide children the space to process and cope from challenges, increase their self-awareness and emotional intelligence, allowing them to thrive emotionally and academically.

From Front Door to Front Row: Boosting Attendance Through Home Visits and Celebratory Learning

3:00 PM to 4:15 PM | Yesenia Gonzalez & Heather Hennesey, Ed.D

Discover how one campus increased student attendance by 2 percent through home visits and Creative Curriculum celebrations. Learn to re-engage families using fashion shows, water play, and other joyful learning events that connect parents to school and boost attendance through meaningful partnership.

De lo Estético a lo Creativo: Promoviendo la Creatividad a Través de las Experiencias Artísticas – Cyndy Karras (spn)

3:00 PM to 4:15 PM | Cyndy Karras, Ph.D

In this session, early childhood educators will explore how to plan developmentally appropriate art experiences that promote critical thinking and intrinsic motivation. Participants will examine the impact of Pinterest art in early childhood classrooms and discuss strategies to foster children’s cognitive and social-emotional growth through thoughtful, child-centered creative activities.

Building Emotional Foundations: Connecting CASEL, Sensory Play and Engaging Children’s Books

3:00 PM to 4:15 PM | Colleen Kell

Let’s connect CASEL’s core competencies with sensory play and engaging children’s literature. Together, we will create stimulating sensory bins based on popular picture books, sparking imagination and promoting important developmental skills. We will explore the benefits of encouraging children to create their own sensory bins, fostering self-expression and ownership in learning.

What’s New with PBS KIDS? Exploring New Content and Resources for Classroom Use

1:15 PM to 2:30 PM | Benjamin Kramer & Cindy Karras, Ph.D

Given the recent national news on federal funding for PBS KIDS, there are questions about what role PBS KIDS can and will continue to play in young learners’ lives. This session will provide answers and opportunities for participants to engage with the newest research-based bilingual content and classroom resources.

Cooking Up Patience in a Drive-Through World

3:00 PM to 4:15 PM | Barbara Lynn

In a world where drive-throughs and Door Dash sustain families, let’s revisit the power of nutritious cooking with preschool children. Class cooking provides opportunities for developing patience as children mix, taste, spread, and clean up their creations (while practicing Math, Reading, Science, and Motor Skills). Let’s get cooking.

Sensory 101- What is Sensory Processing and how does it impact the classroom

1:15 PM to 2:30 PM | Vickie Maertz

Unlock the power of the senses in early childhood education. Sensory 101 introduces sensory processing and its impact on young children’s learning. Explore the eight sensory systems and their influence on engagement. Gain vital insights for your classroom. Taught by the author of Connecting the Dots Between Behavior and Environment.

Self-Regulation & Co-Regulation: Impacts in the Early Childhood Classroom

3:00 PM to 4:15 PM | Vickie Maertz

Explore how self-regulation and co-regulation impact young children’s development and classroom dynamics. This session offers educators practical strategies to foster emotional intelligence and behavioral control, empowering children to manage actions. Taught by the author of Connecting the Dots Between Behavior and Environment, gain unique insights for understanding challenging behaviors.

When Trauma Enters my Center

3:00 PM to 4:15 PM | Isabel Martinez

Amid community challenges, our centers inevitably feel the impact. Proactive strategies are essential to support students and families before issues arise. Let us be a trusted resource, offering stability and connection, to strengthen both our families and the communities we serve.

From Passion to Policy: Empowering Educators as Advocates for Young Children

3:00 PM to 4:15 PM | Cathy McHorse

Discover how to influence elected officials and shape the local and state policies that impact early childhood care and education. In this interactive session, you will craft powerful advocacy messages and set a personal advocacy goal with action steps, leaving energized and equipped to stand up for children, families, and your profession.

Note: Statewide advocacy leader, very active in Austin

Calm, Connected, and Capable: Trauma-Informed Classroom Management

1:15 PM to 2:30 PM | Shela Mobarak Wannemacher

Explore classroom management strategies rooted in trauma-informed care that promote safety, connection, and inclusion. This session provides practical tools to reduce challenging behaviors and foster emotional resilience in all children, especially those impacted by adversity.

The Power of Plenty … But Not Too Much!

3:00 PM to 4:15 PM | Dianne Nielsen

Did you ever wonder how Goldilocks would feel in your classroom? Are things too hard or too soft? Too big or too little? Too much or not enough? What if everything felt “just right”? How would that affect your own Goldilocks? Learn how to make your learning environment “just right”.

The Root of the Problem with Underperforming Staff: Creating Performance Plans that Work

3:00 PM to 4:15 PM | Mark Parker

When challenges come up with staff, how can you get to the heart of the issue in a way that feels supportive, not confrontational? Whether you’re navigating a one-time issue, supporting underperforming staff, or working to strengthen team culture this session will help you lead with empathy while addressing challenges effectively.

Power in Partnership: Collaborating with Families for Success

1:15 PM to 2:30 PM | Meredith Prater

Empowered families engaging in their children’s education impact success for a lifetime. This truth is timeless, but as technology, culture, and families change, how practitioners meet families where they are must adapt. We will discuss how to acknowledge family expertise, cultivate communicative relationships, and build on relationships to engage families.

How Healthy Is Your Business? A Quick Self-Check

1:15 PM to 2:30 PM | Gary Romano

Every child care business has strengths and blind spots. This session introduces an easy-to-use assessment tool that helps you understand your business’s financial health and identify where to start improving. Walk away with a clear picture of what’s working, what’s not, and how to become more profitable and sustainable.

Chapter Meeting

3:00 PM to 4:15 PM | Higher Education Faculty Chapter

Meeting of the Higher Education Faculty Chapter

Beyond the “No”: Transforming Behavior with Positive Guidance

1:15 PM to 2:30 PM | Elizabeth Alzate

Discover respectful, empathetic strategies to guide children’s behavior, starting with ourselves first. This training empowers educators and parents to create nurturing environments through positive guidance, promoting emotional growth and self-regulation.

Más Allá del ‘No’: Transformando la Conducta con Guianza Positiva

3:00 PM to 4:15 PM | Elizabeth Alzate

Descubra estrategias respetuosas y empáticas para guiar la conducta de los niños, comenzando con nosotros mismos. Esta sesión apoya a educadores y familias en la creación de entornos que fomenten el crecimiento emocional y la autorregulación.

Teaching Smarter: Free AI Tools to Simplify Your Day

3:00 PM to 4:15 PM | Joanne Baham & Dr. Lisa Taylor Cook

Discover how free AI tools help early childhood teachers save time, improve communication, and support the needs of each child. This session shares practical ways to use AI for lesson planning, parent updates, and adapting activities, making teaching more efficient. Participants are encouraged to bring their own device.

Note: Hot topic

Better Together: Partnership Power for Child Care

10:45 AM to 12:00 PM | Kay Barley Paxton & Militza Mezquita, Danielle Cunningham

Discover how strategic partnerships can strengthen your child care program and amplify your community impact. In this interactive session, you will practice real-world collaboration skills, map out potential partnerships, and craft advocacy messages that highlight your value. Leave with actionable tools to lead, connect, and grow.

Wily Wolves and Wicked Queens: Exploring Villains for Empathy Building

10:45 AM to 12:00 PM | Marisa Barrett

Transform fairy tale villains into empathy building opportunities. Participants will gain research-based strategies to reframe villain narratives, guiding children to explore multiple perspectives through characters like the Wily Wolf, Cruel Stepmother, and Wicked Queen. Discover how every character has feelings and motivations that children can understand and connect with.

Expanding Access through Pre-K Partnerships

9:00 AM to 10:15 AM | Stephanie Bonnet-Kramer

In collaboration with the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Workforce Commission, and Texas A&M University System, support the development of Pre-K partnerships among school districts, charter schools, and child care providers statewide. Educational leaders will learn about the benefits of partnerships and the resources available.

Fostering Curiosity and Discovery with hands on Science for Young Learners

9:00 AM to 10:15 AM | Dr. Ella Brown

Early childhood is a period of remarkable brain development and curiosity, a time when children ask questions and explore the world around them. This proposal outlines an innovative, hands-on science program designed for early childhood children, with goals of cultivating scientific thinking, problem-solving abilities, and a lifelong love for learning.

Empowering Directors Through Apprenticeships: A Community College Partnership for Workforce Advocacy

3:00 PM to 4:15 PM | Ann Butler

Discover how directors partnered with a community college to build an apprenticeship program aligned with the Unified Framework and Texas Rising Star. Learn how centers supported staff advancement while meeting quality standards and compensation incentives. Hear director and student insights. Explore how apprenticeships can strengthen advocacy for the ECE workforce.

You Had Me at Hello! Responsive Caregiving from the Start

10:45 AM to 12:00 PM | Cheryl Carey

That first “hello” is more than a greeting – it’s the foundation of a child’s experience. This training explores how responsive caregiving, beginning with that initial interaction, creates lasting bonds and fosters a sense of security. Learn how to have meaningful connections from the moment a child enters your care.

Going Beyond: Enhancing Teacher Well-Being through Relationships with Families

1:15 PM to 2:30 PM | Jennifer Chapman & Jes Fyall Cardenas, Ph.D., IECMH-E

Collaborative teacher-family relationships benefit children and families. This session will focus on how these relationships also support ECE professionals, potentially increasing teacher well-being and staff retention. We will present tips for building social capital through engagement with families, facilitating difficult conversations, and current data on the impact of teacher-family relationships.

Integrating Family and Community Culture in Early Childhood

10:45 AM to 12:00 PM | Kimberly Curry

This training equips early childhood educators with strategies to build culturally inclusive classrooms that reflect and honor the diverse backgrounds of children and families. Participants will explore ways to create welcoming environments, examine personal biases, integrate cultural identity into daily practices, and actively involve families as partners in learning.

Imagining Together – Collectively Storying Care in Early Childhood Education

3:00 PM to 4:15 PM | Molly Doherty & Dr. Michelle Salazar Perez, Zutella V Holmes

Care helps educators understand and contend with the complexities of deficit thinking regarding school readiness, reshaping how we engage with young children and families who are minoritized. Through storied vignettes inspired by the everyday experiences of childcare educators, we collectively show how care uplifts children, families, and communities.

Note: This session will be capped at 30 participants

Math Talk for Little Minds

1:15 PM to 2:30 PM | Tracy Gunn

Let’s talk math. In this session, you will learn how quick, everyday math talks can help young children make sense of numbers. We will share easy ways to spark math conversations, build confidence, and make math a fun, natural part of your daily routine.

Together We Thrive: Strategies for Building Highly Effective Teaching Teams

10:45 AM to 12:00 PM | Deidre Harris

Participants will explore the difference between good and highly effective teams and why it matters. Through interactive exercises, they will examine key team characteristics and leave with strategies to strengthen leadership, communication, accountability, and collaboration across all members of the team.

Leading Change: The 5 Essential Principles of Transformational Early Childhood Leadership

1:15 PM to 2:30 PM | Heather Hennesey, Ed.D

In this session leaders will explore five essential principles that drive successful change. Participants will gain practical, actionable strategies to apply these principles within their programs and reflect on how to align them with their unique goals and challenges.

Research and Reality: Differentiation in Early Childhood Setting

10:45 AM to 12:00 PM | Janet Henry

Differentiation is the process of meeting each child’s individual learning needs. In this session, participants will dissect a typical day in a toddler or preschool classroom to determine ways that instruction can be differentiated for the maximum benefit of all children.

From Giggles to Growth: Elevating Infant and Toddler Development Through Early Learning and Play

3:00 PM to 4:15 PM | Ronilda Henson

Discover how play fosters whole-child development in infants and toddlers. This interactive session offers practical strategies for responsive caregiving, intentional planning, and creating enriching environments that support cognitive, language, motor, and social-emotional growth, turning everyday moments into powerful learning opportunities, and giggles into growth.

Play, Talk, Read: Language-Rich Games for Preschool Literacy

3:00 PM to 4:15 PM | Fernando Hernandez

This interactive session explores how play-based games on the playground can spark early literacy development in preschoolers. Educators will learn hands-on strategies to embed storytelling, rhyming, and language-rich activities into outdoor play, fostering joyful learning experiences that support oral language, phonological awareness, and emergent literacy skills.

Inclusion in the Early Childhood Classroom- Building a Foundation for ALL Learners

9:00 AM to 10:15 AM | La’Kisha Hickerson

Participants will explore how to effectively include children with diverse needs in early childhood settings. This session will explain what inclusion is and what it looks like. Participants will be introduced to five common inclusion practices and be given strategies to implement them in their ECH classrooms.

Margin Mastery: Leading with Space to Breathe

3:00 PM to 4:15 PM | Sharon Jackson

Discover how creating margin, the space between your load and your limit, can restore calm, focus, and joy in leadership. This session helps child care directors identify overload, implement practical strategies for time and energy balance, and lead with clarity and presence. Learn to thrive instead of simply survive.

Serve and Return: Building Brains Through Everyday Interactions

9:00 AM to 10:15 AM | Preeti Jain

This session explores “Serve and Return” interactions, simple, back-and-forth exchanges that shape children’s brain development. Grounded in research from Harvard, participants will engage in demonstrations and hands-on practice to understand how meaningful connections, not materials, build strong neural pathways and support optimal social, emotional, and cognitive development in early childhood.

Building Early Childhood Leadership Through Higher Education Partnerships

3:00 PM to 4:15 PM | Preeti Jain

This session highlights how strategic higher education partnerships can expand leadership pathways in early childhood education. Through degree options, stackable credentials, and scholarship initiatives, participants will explore replicable models that address leadership shortages, meet state standards, and support workforce development through data-informed program design and responsive community collaboration.

Orientation to the Texas Trainer Registry

10:45 AM to 12:00 PM | Tracy Jones

Orientation to the Texas Trainer Registry

Conexiones que Forman Cerebros: Lo que el Juego de La Arquitectura Cerebral nos Revela sobre el Desarallo en la Primera Infancia

9:00 AM to 10:15 AM | Cyndy Karras, Ph.D

This interactive session introduces participants to the Brain Architecture Game. Through hands-on play, educators explore how early experiences, including relationships, stress, and supportive environments, impact brain development and reflect on how this knowledge can shape everyday interactions in early childhood programs.

Empowering SEL: Using Children’s Literature to Build Belonging and Emotional Understanding

10:45 AM to 12:00 PM | Colleen Kell

Emotions are fundamental to how children form a sense of belonging and connect with each other. This interactive workshop explores CASEL’s social-emotional framework through children’s literature. We will share how we use relatable and engaging stories to facilitate meaningful discussions, expand ideas of belonging, and build relationships in our classrooms.

Note: 2024 Teacher of the Year

Dual Language 101

10:45 AM to 12:00 PM | Claudia Kramer Santamaria

This interactive session will model avenues for growing the knowledge and skills, values and beliefs, connections and confidence related to dual language education for professionals and families of these learners. We will actively explore our language stories, the data about language learners and understand the key pillars to best practices.

What Are They Telling You?

3:00 PM to 4:15 PM | Jennifer McCarville

Children often “tell” us what they feel through behavior long before they have the words to explain. This session explores the emotional and social development of young children and how brain development influences behavior. Attendees will leave with practical, compassionate strategies to support children when feeling distress, dysregulation, and conflict.

Think, Talk, Pretend: The Power of Preschool Play

1:15 PM to 2:30 PM | Kaylan Mills

Preschoolers learn through thinking, talking, and pretending. This engaging training explores how play builds social skills, math, literacy, and self-regulation. Discover real-life examples and simple strategies to support meaningful, play-based learning. Learn how to balance child-led exploration with teacher guidance to promote school readiness through purposeful, developmentally rich play.

Smooth Sailing: Strategies For Effective Transitions That Build Executive Functioning Skills

10:45 AM to 12:00 PM | Alison Mokry

Transitions can trigger big emotions in children that can become turbulent. This session will equip you with strategies to help your young learners learn routines and navigate changes smoothly. You will learn how to strengthen their executive functioning skills like cognitive flexibility, working memory, and self-control to foster resilience and independence.

Music is for Everyone!

3:00 PM to 4:15 PM | Holly Moore

Research shows music activities can support young children’s social-emotional, cognitive, physical, and cultural development, but many educators lack confidence or training in how best to include music in early childhood spaces. This session offers tools and strategies for all to include music with young children. Come sing and play.

Teaching Resilience: the Role of the Classroom in Responding to Trauma and Stress

10:45 AM to 12:00 PM | Maud Morgan

Early experiences lay the foundation for cognition, regulation, motor control, and more. Trauma and stress influence these processes, manifesting in challenging behaviors. In this session, we will discuss ways that trauma and stress impact brain development, the behaviors negative experiences may cause, and teaching strategies supporting rich relationships and resilience.

Managing Anxious Classroom Behavior

9:00 AM to 10:15 AM | Amy Musick

Classroom management is hard. It’s even harder when children’s behavior is confusing and unpredictable. Learn how children communicate worry and anxiety through their behavior, and what we can do to support them and their families in this collaborative approach.

Creating Inclusive Makerspaces in Early Childhood Settings: A Hands-On Approach to Exploration and Equity

9:00 AM to 10:15 AM | Griselda Perez

This session explores how to design inclusive makerspaces that promote creativity, problem-solving, and equitable access for all children. Participants will learn how open-ended materials and intentional setups foster exploration, collaboration, and culturally responsive learning in early childhood classrooms and programs.

Promoting Oral Language and Vocabulary Within Science & Nature Expereinces

3:00 PM to 4:15 PM | Arianna Pikus

This session will start by highlighting the importance of EC science experiences. Next, participants will integrate concrete strategies aimed at supporting oral language and science learning for young children within read alouds. Finally, participants will develop strategies for incorporating writing opportunities within science and nature experiences.

Talk, Play, Learn: Building Strong Foundations for Language

1:15 PM to 2:30 PM | Andrea Poehl

Early childhood educators are on the front lines of language development, and the interactions you have with children every day make a real difference. This training focuses on language modeling, a research-backed strategy that helps you intentionally expand children’s vocabulary, engage them in meaningful conversations, and strengthen their expressive and receptive language skills. You will learn how to embed these techniques into your existing routines and activities, from circle time to free play, in ways that feel natural and manageable. We will cover practical approaches that support cognitive growth, social-emotional development, and early literacy, with ready-to-implement tools you can use in your classroom immediately. Whether you’re working with toddlers just beginning to talk or preschoolers building complex sentences, you’ll gain concrete strategies to maximize the language-learning potential of every interaction.

Beyond Behavior: Trauma-Informed Early Childhood Practices

9:00 AM to 10:15 AM | Andrea Poehl

Early childhood educators are often the first to notice signs of trauma in young children. Learn to recognize trauma responses, foster emotionally safe learning environments, and build strong, secure relationships with children. By adopting a trauma-informed lens, educators can improve classroom behavior, enhance learning outcomes, and support children’s emotional development.

Building Early Computational Thinking: Engaging, Accessible, and Developmentally Appropriate Approaches with TexCS

9:00 AM to 10:15 AM | Margaret Quinn & Michelle Benson, Carolina Bratlien

This session provides participants with research-based practices for embedding computer science into classrooms. Moving beyond iPads, coding games, and robots (though there is room for those too), this session focuses on developmentally appropriate, meaningful, culturally and contextually relevant, and play-based approaches that support children’s thinking and learning and build mini-programmers in preschool.

Build a Stronger Child Care Business with Free Supports

10:45 AM to 12:00 PM | Chelsea Reddic

The Texas Workforce Commission is introducing Child Care Business Supports, offering coaching, training, and guidance to help child care centers strengthen their business and operational practices. This session will explore available support on topics such as staffing, fiscal management, and marketing. Attendees will leave with clear steps to get started.

Narrando Transiciones: Competencia lingüística para bebés y niños pequeños

1:15 PM to 2:30 PM | Claudia Rodriguez

Kathy Barnwell and I, infant toddler teachers at ACC Children’s Lab School, propose a Spanish language session titled “Narrando Transiciones: Competencia lingüística para bebés y niños pequeños.” We will focus on narrating transitions in the infant/toddler room to support emergent bilingual language competency and developmental language learning.

Generations Y and Z: Why they leave and how to keep them

1:15 PM to 2:30 PM | Sarah Smith

2025 presents us with a new landscape for finding, training, and retaining staff. In this workshop, you will learn what post-covid workers want, why they want it, and how to keep them coming back every day. Bring your business card and network with other directors in the same boat.

Everyday Advocacy: Small Actions, Big Impact

1:15 PM to 2:30 PM | Dr. Lisa Taylor Cook & Joanne Baham

Discover how your everyday actions can create meaningful change in early childhood education. This session empowers educators to become advocates at all levels, using their voice, experiences, and new tools to support children, families, and the field.

Ethics and The Early Childhood Educator

1:15 PM to 2:30 PM | Anna Ileto (ILETO)

Join us to explore the NAEYC Code of Conduct, examining ethical dimensions in early childhood programs. We will address responsibilities to children, families, communities, colleagues, and employers, using real-life dilemmas. Together, we will build a shared understanding and unified approach to ethical challenges, promoting excellence and integrity in our professional practice.

Financial Basics for Your Family Child Care Business

9:00 AM to 10:15 AM | Marleen Tobi

Being financially sound is the key to business success. Learn five practices every childcare provider should use to keep their business profitable and running for years to come. We will explore proven financial strategies specifically designed for family childcare providers and discover concrete tools and approaches that can be implemented immediately.

Ready, Set, Regulate! Tools to Transform Behavior in the Early Years

1:15 PM to 2:30 PM | Erica Vela

Learn how Zones of Regulation can transform early childhood classrooms into inclusive spaces that promote emotional self-regulation. This session offers practical strategies to manage challenging behaviors and create supportive learning environments by modeling tools children can use to understand and manage their emotions.

From Guidelines to Practice: Implementing Playful Learning in Texas PreK Classrooms

10:45 AM to 12:00 PM | Dr. Karen Walker & Dr. Josh Thompson, Roderick Whitley

This session examines how play is conceptualized in the Texas PreK Guidelines and provides practical strategies for implementing meaningful play-based learning. Participants will analyze research findings, explore the Play Spectrum framework, and develop activity plans for supporting playful learning in their programs.

Service with a Smile: Chick-fil-A Inspired Customer Care in Childcare

9:00 AM to 10:15 AM | ReShaun Webb

Bring hospitality into early education with Chick-fil-A inspired customer service strategies. This session helps educators and directors build trust, handle complaints with confidence, and create memorable, family-centered experiences that increase retention, satisfaction, and referrals.

The Community Approach

1:15 PM to 2:30 PM | Melissa Williamson

When children experience trauma during those years, it can affect their well-being. This understanding led to the implementation of the trauma-informed leadership development pathway, where early childhood leaders earn the Trauma-Informed Advocate Certificate. Join us to learn more about the path that can support you.

Inclusive by Design: Elevating Care for Children with Disabilities and Trauma-Informed Systems

9:00 AM to 10:15 AM | Camlinh Toh & Danielle Brooks, Jaclyn Ballesteros

This session explores how nonprofits, government partners, and early childhood systems collaborate to promote inclusion for children with disabilities and those with trauma histories. Attendees will gain practical strategies and tools to embed family-centered, trauma-informed supports across diverse settings, including classrooms, clinics, and home environments.

Texas ECI: Understanding and Addressing Challenging Behavior

11:30 AM to 12:45 PM | Mary Adolph & Dr. Erron Huey

Effectively addressing challenging behaviors requires understanding what function they serve. Differences in functions can necessitate different intervention strategies. This presentation outlines primary functions of behavior and provides functionally aligned strategies to mitigate it. While this presentation focuses on early childhood, these techniques can be generalized for older populations.

Books + Brains: Practical Strategies to Strengthen Executive Function in Young Children

9:45 AM to 11:00 AM | Joanne Baham & Dr. Lisa Taylor Cook

Discover how to strengthen young children’s executive functioning while promoting early literacy. Participants will receive free children’s books and explore how to create hands-on activity kits that support developmentally appropriate practices. Gain practical strategies for integrating literacy-rich, brain-boosting experiences into your early childhood classroom with lasting impact.

Home-Based Programs: Branded to Stand Out – Defining Your Unique Program Advantage

9:45 AM to 11:00 AM | LaChelle Brooks

This interactive session empowers providers to stand out in a crowded market by transitioning to professional leadership, defining their unique advantage, and crafting a clear brand message that families choose and trust, grounded in over 20 years of real-world experience improving quality in the early childhood field.

Creating Inclusive Classrooms for Neurodivergent Learners: Practical Tools and Strategies for Supporting Autism, ADHD, and Sensory Needs in Early Childhood

11:30 AM to 12:45 PM | Mirtha Brown

This session equips early childhood educators with practical strategies to support learners with autism, ADHD, and sensory needs. Participants will explore inclusive classroom setups, play-based learning, and tools for behavior and emotional regulation; creating environments that foster autonomy, reduce barriers, and help every child feel seen, safe, and supported.

Unleashing the Magic of Play: Discovering How Play Sparks Social and Emotional Growth in Preschoolers!

9:45 AM to 11:00 AM | Diana Cortez-Castro

Play is a magical teaching tool. This workshop highlights the value of play in fostering social and emotional growth and development in preschoolers. Participants will explore innovative strategies to create inclusive play opportunities that foster social and emotional skills, benefiting all learners and enhancing their overall educational experiences.

Raising Our Voices: Advocacy and Public Policy in Early Childhood Education

9:45 AM to 11:00 AM | Michelle Coston

Empower educators to understand and engage in advocacy. Learn current policies, amplify your voice, and integrate advocacy into daily practice to improve outcomes for children and families.

Healing Starts Here: Trauma-Informed Practices in Early Learning Environments

11:30 AM to 12:45 PM | Michelle Coston

Explore the impact of trauma on young children. Learn principles of trauma-informed care, create safe classrooms, and support resilience and regulation.

Can They Do It? Yes They Can! Encouraging Independence In Children 14 months and Older

9:45 AM to 11:00 AM | Misty Ehlers

Participants will be presented real life applications to encourage children 14 months and older to become more independent and then review their own classroom set-up, schedule and routines to add at least one opportunity to foster independence in their children.

Let’s play! Playful approaches in helping children regulate their emotions.

9:45 AM to 11:00 AM | Angelina Fuchs

This training explores playful strategies that foster self-regulation in young children. Educators will engage in hands-on activities, discussions, and reflection to strengthen teacher-child connections. By making learning joyful and memorable, participants will gain practical tools to support emotional development and build a collaborative, supportive foundation for implementation and growth.

Relationships at the Heart: Responsive Strategies to Build Trust with Children and Families

11:30 AM to 12:45 PM | Michelle Galindo

This interactive session offers culturally responsive, trauma-sensitive strategies to help educators build stronger connections with children and families. Participants will leave with actionable tools to foster trust and support well-being in diverse learning environments.

Reframing Behavior Through a Wellness Lens: Caring for Ourselves First

9:45 AM to 11:00 AM | Michelle Galindo

This session focuses on educator mental wellness as a foundation for compassionate, inclusive care. Participants will engage in self-reflection and learn to reframe behavior through empathy, emotional regulation, and stress-reduction techniques that support both children and themselves.

Hiding in Plain Sight: Sifting through the observational data from free-play activities to glean evidence of meeting Science standards.

11:30 AM to 12:45 PM | Vivien Geneser

What do children truly learn if all they do is play? Early childhood teachers are expected to implement a curriculum that meets science standards yet also offers open-ended play opportunities that promote inquiry and exploration. The presenters will demonstrate how to achieve that goal with astute observation techniques and documentation.

Using AI to Enhance Quality and Accreditation in Early Childhood Education: Lessons from an Early Childhood Development Center

9:45 AM to 11:00 AM | Mary Harper, Ph.D

Discover how AI can streamline accreditation, support personalized professional development, and elevate classroom quality. Drawing from real-world experiences at TAMUCC’s Early Childhood Development Center, this session offers practical, ethical, and equity-focused strategies for directors, faculty, and administrators committed to sustaining high-quality early learning environments.

Empowering Early Educators: Inclusive Practices for Neurodiverse Learners

11:30 AM to 12:45 PM | Ronilda Henson

This session equips early educators with inclusive strategies to support neurodiverse learners in early childhood settings. Participants will explore developmentally appropriate practices, responsive guidance, and collaborative approaches that foster belonging, communication, and growth empowering educators to create nurturing environments where every child’s unique abilities are recognized and celebrated.

Boundaries, Not Burn-Out: Building Balance in Leadership and Life

11:30 AM to 12:45 PM | Sharon Jackson

Feeling stretched thin? This interactive session invites leaders in childcare to rethink boundaries using the powerful analogy of fences. Through stories, visuals, and reflection, participants will discover their current patterns, explore real-life challenges, and leave with actionable strategies to protect their time, energy, and purpose – without guilt or burnout.

The Importance of Drawing for Young Children’s Development and Growth

11:30 AM to 12:45 PM | Karla Judith Lee

This interactive session highlights how drawing fosters cognitive, emotional, and academic growth in young children. Participants will explore inclusive strategies, developmental benefits, and classroom applications to support creative expression and school readiness. Grounded in evidence-based practices, the training empowers educators to make drawing a purposeful part of early learning environments.

La ciencia del juego: Explorando el aprendizaje a través del juego con juguetes de AVANCE

9:45 AM to 11:00 AM | Valeska Lucart & Erika González

El juego como herramienta fundamental para el desarrollo infantil. Basada en las teorías de Vygotsky y respaldada por la experiencia de AVANCE, se realizara el juguete Caja de Clasificaciones AVANCE, como estrategia para promover el juego como recurso para incentivar sus distintas habilidades cognitivas y sociales.

The Many Ways of Seeing and Doing: Honoring Children’s Thinking Through Documentation

11:30 AM to 12:45 PM | Crystal Lucha

How can educators help children find meaning in what they do and encounter? Discover how pedagogical documentation can become a powerful tool for seeing and understanding children’s thinking. This session introduces accessible strategies for capturing the richness of children’s experiences and making their learning visible through various forms.

Rebuilding Connection in a Disconnected World: How Child Care Leaders Can Support Families with Heart and Hope

9:45 AM to 11:00 AM | Ann McKitrick

In August 2024, the U.S. Surgeon General warned of a growing mental health crisis among parents. Early childhood leaders are uniquely positioned to help. This session offers practical strategies to rebuild trust, foster emotional safety, and strengthen educator-family partnerships, restoring connection and hope in the lives of young children and caregivers.

Shielding the Brain: Understanding and Responding to Toxic Stress in Early Childhood

9:45 AM to 11:00 AM | Larry Mercer & Dr. Ella Brown

Explore how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress affect children’s brain development, behavior, and health. This session provides tools for early educators to recognize signs of toxic stress, respond with trauma-informed practices, and cultivate protective relationships that promote healing, resilience, and long-term well-being.

Construyendo Conexiones: Estrategias Bilingües para Apoyar a los Niños que Estan Aprendiendo Dos Idiomas en la Primera Infancia

11:30 AM to 12:45 PM | Griselda Perez

This session offers practical bilingual strategies to support dual language learners in early childhood classrooms. Attendees will explore how to use visual schedules, chants, bilingual books, and cultural responsiveness to foster engagement, development, and inclusion.

Supporting Young Children with Challenging Behaviors

11:30 AM to 12:45 PM | Brianna Sanford & Kelly Richmond

Young children often communicate unmet needs through challenging behaviors. This session explores the connection between behavior, brain development, and nervous system responses. Rooted in mental health and brain science, participants will gain practical strategies to support children in ways that promote regulation, resilience, and healthy development.