ASK Conference 2025 Program

2025

ASK ADVANCING SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

CONFERENCE

A day of virtual professional development for early educators!

SATURDAY MARCH 1, 2025

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WELCOME

Dear Early Care and School Age Education Professional, On behalf of the planning committee and Child Care Services Association, we invite you to join hundreds of early childhood professionals from across North Carolina at the Annual Advancing Skills and Knowledge (A.S.K.) Conference. This year the A.S.K. Conference will be virtual and scheduled for one day only.

We are excited to share this year’s program! The A.S.K. Conference has always served classroom teachers as our primary audience. Although there is something for every early childhood professional, the majority of workshops support instructional strategies. It is the planning committee’s priority to bring you a full range of professional development opportunities. As is tradition at this conference, you have the opportunity to choose workshop sessions when you register for the day.

Again, this year we are collaborating with The Abecedarian Education Foundation (AEF). They provide early childhood professionals, parents, and caregivers with empowering knowledge and effective strategies to enhance development and learning for children ages 0-5. The Abecedarian Education Foundation is hosting a Featured Session which will provide participants with tools to support rich adult-child interactions and will be live streamed from The Nest, Kidzu Children’s Museum’s new early learning lab for infants, toddlers and their caregivers.

Special Guest Presenters

We are excited to host Rhodus Riggins, Jr., educator, researcher, consultant; Mallory Mbali, Director of Learning and Education for Fred Rogers Productions; and Stuart Stotts, author, songwriter, storyteller, educator as our Featured Speakers. We believe the conference will meet the professional development needs of all who attend!

CCSA is also sponsoring a learning thread for Durham PreK educators at the A.S.K. Conference. These workshops are designed to support high quality teaching and learning for public classrooms for 4-year-old children.

Special thanks to our primary sponsor:

See you at the Conference, The 2025 A.S.K. Conference Planning Committee

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3 CONFERENCE INFO Program Contents CCSA WELCOME 2 FEATURED PRESENTERS 4 KEYNOTE SPEAKER 4 FEATURED SESSIONS 4 DURHAM PREK 6 ABECEDARIAN 7 SESSION 1 9 SESSION 2 11 SESSION 3 14 FAQ 16 We have aligned all workshops with the nine subject areas required by NC licensing standards, shown below. All workshops impacting teacher classroom practice are aligned with the North Carolina Foundations for Early Learning Development (NC FELD) planning a safe, healthy learning environment.

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Planning a safe, healthy learning environment Children’s physical & intellectual development Children’s social & emotional development Productive relationships with families Program management Professionalism Observing & recording children’s behavior Child growth and development Inclusion of children with special needs

Conference Schedule SESSION 1

8:30-10:00AM

SESSION 2

10:30AM- 12:00PM

BREAK

10:00AM-10:30AM

BREAK 12:00PM-12:30PM KEYNOTE

SESSION 3

12:30-1:30PM 1:45-3:15 PM

Our Mission Child Care Services Association is dedicated to leading efforts to strengthen accessible and affordable quality early care and education.

CCSA’s Triangle Area Child Care Resource and Referral Division supports early care and school age educators by conducting professional development, training and technical assistance activities all year. View our monthly training calendar on the website for additional learning opportunities.

A.S.K. Conference Committee Linda Chappel Charlene Daye Tierra Garrett Monnie Griggs Logan Jackson Nita McAdoo Tammorah Mathis Heather Noe

Wendy Price Carolyn Reynolds Adrienne Stephens Ginger Thomas Swanda Warren Amy Wearing Beverly Williams

The A.S.K. Conference is made possible by your registration fees.

FEATURED PRESENTERS

2025

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F EAT UR ED

Keynote Speaker

Session

Tanya Dennis, M.Ed.

Early Childhood Education Specialist Planner and Consultant

Tanya is committed to serving young children, their families, and early educators. Tanya has over 38 years of Early Education and Care experience. Her formal education is woven into the strength of the NC Public School System, NC community college, and university systems.

She has worked for noted programs such as Head Start, Smart Start partnerships, NC Public Schools, UNC-Frank Porter Graham, and our North Carolina Community College. Tanya is a native of North Carolina and resides in Fuquay Varina among her family, friends, and kin!

Join Tanya for keynote:

“Life Be Lifing! Bouncing and Bringing Back Your Best You While the World is in Mayhem!”

12:30pm – 1:30pm

Featured Session

Rhodus Riggins, Jr.

Educator, Researcher, Consultant and Adjunct Instructor Rhodus Riggins, Jr. is Quality Enhancement Coordinator at the Education Quality Improvement and Professional Development Project (EQuIPD) at the University of North Carolina- Greensboro. He is Adjunct Faculty member at Alamance Community College and UNC-Greensboro. He is co-founder and co-owner of Bailey, Pullis, & Riggins LLC, a racial equity consulting organization.

Rhodus has over 33 years of extensive experiences in research, technical assistance, professional development, evaluation, and higher education.

Rhodus is a grassroots advocate and early childhood champion from the Low Country region of South Carolina. He holds a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, Public Policy, & Advocacy in Early Childhood.

Join Rhodus for a featured session:

Session 3: #24 “Equity Mindsets: Habits of the Heart, Head, and Hand”

8:30am – 10:00am

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2025

Featured Session

F EAT U R ED

Mallory Mbalia

Director of Learning and Education, Fred Rogers Productions, educator, principal, kindergarten teacher

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“Since I was a little girl, I have felt a part of the ‘neighborhood,’” said Mbalia. “Mister Rogers had a beautiful way of making every child feel special every day. Before joining Fred Rogers Productions, Mbalia was Director of Education at PBS North Carolina in Education and Innovation, where she created and delivered educational initiatives statewide for educators, parents and caregivers, and children of all ages. In 2018, she was named a PBS Digital Innovator All Star for her work as an education outreach trainer. Prior to her tenure as a Director at PBS NC, Mbalia was an assistant elementary school principal after starting her career as a kindergarten teacher.

Join Mallory for a featured session:

Session 2: #22 “Timeless Lessons, New Tools: How the current programming from Fred Rogers Productions carries forward Mister Roger’s Neighborhood’s Legacy”

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Featured Session

Stuart Stotts

Stuart Stotts, Author, Storyteller, Educator and Songwriter

Stuart Stotts is an author, storyteller, educator, and songwriter. He’s sung with and performed for kids and families in schools, libraries, and community settings around the world since 1984. Stuart is a Kennedy Center teaching artist and a frequent presenter at educational events, keynoting conferences and leading workshops for early childhood and elementary school teachers, librarians, and social service professionals around the country. His keynote presentations are funny, practical, engaging, and based in everyday practice and experience. Although the topics may vary, Stuart always emphasizes the importance of story, relationship, brainbased research, and on-going learning in striving for improvement and success. Stuart offers school assemblies, family concerts and student writing workshops. Stuart gives over 200 concerts every year and has released several recordings. He’s also the author of six books for children.

Join Stuart in the featured sessions:

Session 2: #18 "Music is central to the early childhood classroom."

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CCSA WELCOME

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Durham PreK Learning Thread

Durham County is directly involved in a variety of ways with early education, and since 2016, has invested extensive funds in creating a universal preschool program called Durham PreK. Key components of Durham PreK include improved pay and professional development for teachers, intensive technical assistance with early educators designed to raise quality, and work with local educational institutions to increase and improve the supply of early education teachers. Child Care Services Association (CCSA) serves as the management agency for Durham County Government for the local investment in public preschool for four-year-olds.

It’s Okay to have Big Emotions: Managing Emotions in the Classroom

8:30 AM – 12:30 PM, White Rock Child Development Center, Fayetteville St., Durham, NC Participants will engage in an interactive, hands-on session presented by Community Partnerships Inc. Do you feel like you struggle to help children who have BIG feelings? Are you seeing BIG feelings occur daily in your classroom? In this workshop you will learn where these emotions come from, and how to respond when these emotions occur. Participants will leave with practical tools that can be used in their classroom, as well as a variety of strategies to prevent and respond to big emotions.

Co Presenters: Jenna Tarleton, Kathryn King, and Whitney Gaffney Whitney Gaffney is an Inclusion Consultant/Trainer for the Partners In Inclusion (PII) program. “My goal is to support the children in the classroom to conquer any barriers or stressors they might be facing. I also want each teacher to feel that he or she is able to meet the needs of all the children in their programs. “In my role, I’m there to provide strategies, tools, and tips to teachers so that they feel empowered and supported,” ”Whitney has a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education.

Kat King is an Inclusion Consultant for Community Partnerships’ Partners In Inclusion (PII) program. This is her third time as an Inclusion Consultant with Community Partnerships.

Other stepping stones in Kat’s career include adjunct faculty at UNC-Chapel Hill, School-Age Specialist with Child Care Services Association, and Partnerships Director at Kids Included Together. Kat has shared her passion for disability inclusion through consultation, workshops, and keynotes all over the country as well as Japan, South Korea, Bavaria, and England Jenna Tarleton is the Manager of Childhood Services at Community Partnerships, Inc. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Family and Community Services and a Master’s Degree in Child Development and Family Relations from East Carolina University. She has been with Community Partnerships for over 17 years supporting inclusion in community programs and child care settings. “I love seeing parents smile once they realize that their child really does have the opportunity to be a part of any activity he or she wants,” she says.

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Abecedarian Education Foundation The Abecedarian Education Foundation (AEF) is about creating a better future for children and our world by focusing on the most developmentally significant portion of life: the very beginning. We aim to provide early childhood professionals, parents, and caregivers with empowering knowledge and effective strategies to enhance development and learning for children ages 0-5, especially those living in under-resourced families. Our approach to early childhood education and development, the Abecedarian Approach (called 2A for short), builds on the work and research of Dr. Craig Ramey, Dr. Joseph Sparling, and their colleagues and was originally developed for the renowned Abecedarian Project. 2A is child centered, playful, and non-prescriptive and equips caregivers to use seemingly simple concepts and techniques in intentional and developmentally powerful ways.

Session 1: #6 Layering Research-Based Strategies into Your Teaching Practice Learn from researchers from The STEM Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education (STEMI2E2) Center and the Abecedarian Education Foundation about two different areas of early childhood research and their outcomes. Join in conversation with educators from Kidzu Children's Museum about how they put these research outcomes and strategies into practice in the Nest, Kidzu Children's Museum's early learning environment for infants, toddlers, and their caregivers.

STEMI2E2 focuses on elevating the competence and confidence of early childhood practitioners, families, faculty, and professional development and technical assistance providers in early STEM learning for young children with and without disabilities.

The Abecedarian Education Foundation aims to provide early childhood professionals, parents, and caregivers with empowering knowledge and effective strategies to enhance development and learning for children ages 0-5, especially those living in under-resourced families. AEF's approach to early childhood education and development, the Abecedarian Approach, builds on the work and research from the renowned Abecedarian Project.

Participants will leave with strategies and tools they can implement in their specific contexts.

Co-Presenters: Kimberly Meunier, Maureen Costello Dwyer, Samantha Shannon,

Melanie Hatz Levinson, and Dr. Jessica Amsbary

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Kimberly Meunier is the Executive Director of the Abecedarian Education Foundation and has over 20 years of experience in leading and managing early childhood education and development initiatives focused on improving the lives of vulnerable young children and families. She is an expert on the Abecedarian Approach and has worked in multiple countries (Australia, Canada, Denmark, Jordan, Mexico, Singapore, etc.) and settings to adapt and apply this approach and other researchvalidated early childhood programs. Kimberly has a MBA from Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina and has done graduate studies in Applied Developmental Psychology and Education.

Maureen Costello Dwyer has an M.Ed. in special education and literacy studies and a B.A. in Early Childhood Education. She is a Project Approach educator and staff developer and has led workshops and seminars for educators on the Project Approach and implemented it in the preschool classroom for over a decade Maureen is researching the development of Kidzu’s learning platform rooted in early experiential learning and informed by Kidzu’s established academic relationships with the Abecedarian Education Foundation and UNC/FPG Child Development. Maureen Costello Institute’s STEMIE Center of Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education.

As the longest tenured member of Kidzu Children's Museum, Melanie Hatz Levinson has shepherded the organization through its expansion from a 2000 to 12,500 SF facility, ensuring that all design, educational programming, and academic research efforts fully support the museum’s mission and educational goals and vision. She oversees the museum's educational and strategic master planning process for Kidzu's next expansion, of which the Nest, Kidzu's newest early learning environment for infants, toddlers and their caregivers. Melanie worked for over a decade on the curatorial staff of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History from the University of Michigan, and holds graduate degrees in Art History and Archaeology from Columbia University and the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University. She has worked in museums and galleries across the country and in Europe for over 30 years.

Samantha Shannon (she/her) has a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and has spent the past 10 years working with young children and their families. As the Nest Coordinator, she brings her education and experience to The Nest, where she curates the space, creates the programming, and facilitates play with children and their caregivers.

Dr. Jessica Amsbary is a Technical Assistance Specialist at the FPG Child Development Institute where she engages in the development of resources related to STEM Innovations for young children with disabilities. She is the Program Coordinator of the Early Childhood Intervention and Family Support (ECIFS). She has a Master’s Degree in Education for Experienced Teachers program at UNC-Chapel Hill. Dr. Amsbary’s primary research is focused on family support initiatives related to very young children with autism and other developmental delays.

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SESSION 1 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM 1

4 FLIP IT for Infant and Toddlers

SPANISH Bilingualism: Learning More Than One Language

Tipfanie Suitte, MSW, LCSW Early Childhood Outreach Mental Health Consultant, Zulaykha Clemons-Dunn and Aurelia Mangum-Brown, Exchange Family Center

Presenter: Judy Batista, M.S., CCC-SLP/Bilingual Speech Language Pathologist, Laughing Monitos

This workshop will explore the benefits, challenges, and strategies for supporting bilingual language development in young children.

FLIP IT is a strategy that offers a simple, kind, strengthbased, commonsense and effective four step process to address children’s day to day challenging behavior.

The four steps are embodied in the FLIP mnemonic which stands for F-Feelings, L-Limits, I- Inquiries and P- Prompts.

FLIP IT is nothing new but transforms best practice into a strategy that is easy to remember, applicable in a variety of challenging situations and portable.

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NEW FOR 2025

Family Child Care: Self Study

Presenters: April McCain, MS.Ed. and Kelly Shaw, ECMH-E, NC Family Child Care Professional Development Anchors, Southwestern Child Development Commission Wondering why the Family Child Care Self Study is a big deal for anyone in family child care? Come hang out with us at this training session to get the lowdown on how to do a Self-Study properly. It's not just about ticking boxes; it's a real game-changer for your family child care business. You'll learn the ins and outs of assessing your own program. And you know what? Better quality often means you can bring in more revenue too. It’s about making sure your space is not only safe and nurturing but also top-notch, so parents are knocking on *your* door.

So, whether you're looking to brush up on some skills, make your day-to-day easier, or even bump up your income, this training is where it’s at. Trust me, it's worth your time!

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Introduction to the ECERS-3

Presenter: Allison Hall, Reliability Checkers for NCRLAP This training will provide information about basic terms and definitions of the ECERS-3. Information about the benefits of assessments and how ECERS-3 assessments are conducted will be explained. Examples of high quality classroom practices will be shown to provide ideas and explain different rating scale requirements.

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Fine Motor Skills

Presenter: Swetal Thaker, Occupational Therapist and Clinical Director at Developmental Therapy Associates

2025 Layering Research-Based Strategies into F E AT Your Teaching Practice UR Sess Presenters: Samantha Shannon, Maureen ion Costello Dwyer, Melanie Hatz Levinson, Kimberly Meunier, Dr. Jessica Amsbary, Kidzu Children's Museum, Abecedarian Education Foundation, STEMIE/Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute

Learn from researchers from The STEM Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education (STEMI2E2) Center and the Abecedarian Education Foundation about two different areas of early childhood research and their outcomes. Join in conversation with educators from Kidzu Children’s Museum about how they put these research outcomes and strategies into practice in the Nest, Kidzu Children’s Museum’s early learning environment for infants, toddlers, and their caregivers.

Participants will leave with strategies and tools they can implement in their specific contexts.

This training is a discussion of the sub-skills needed for coordinated fine motor skill will provide the knowledge for selecting fine motor activities for preschoolers.

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CCSA WELCOME

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SESSION 1 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM 7

Mirror Check: Empowering Excellence in Early Care and Learning Leadership and Administration

about what this means for infant toddler development.

We will discuss optimal verbal interactions with young children and strategies to incorporate literacy in early childhood education settings. It’s never too early to start working on literacy skills and lay a solid foundation for future growth and development. Babies learn to express themselves by being bathed in language from the start.

Presenter: Margo L Ford Crosby, M.Ed, TLC Consulting

Join us for an interactive and empowering session on the spirit of excellence in leadership and administration within early care and learning arenas. This session is designed to empower, equip, and evolve each participant. Empowered to step out of comfort zones, equip participants with current research, skills and knowledge, as well as evolve mindsets to positively impact children, families, educators and colleagues.

During this session, we will explore various leadership styles, effective communication techniques, and develop culturally responsive strategies for building and maintaining successful teams and partnerships. Whether you are a seasoned leader, manager, administrator, just beginning your journey, or an inspiring leader, this session will provide you with valuable tools and perspectives to excel, elevate and empower. It is TIME to self-reflect and LOOK in the MIRROR!

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Infinity and Beyond: Meaningful Math for Early 10 ToLearners

Presenter: Catherine Burke, Early Educator Support Office at UNC Charlotte Young children are naturally curious and eager to explore their world, often engaging with math concepts during play. Teachers and caregivers play a critical role in nurturing young children’s math development by going beyond rote counting or memorizing shapes and including opportunities for children to reason and talk about their mathematical thinking throughout the day. Join us for a fun session where we will challenge ourselves and each other to learn more about and plan for meaningful math instruction!

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Preventing Power Struggles with Preschoolers

Presenter: Renae Lingafelt-Beeker, NC-Healthy Social Behaviors Project, Healthy Social Behaviors Coach ~Region

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We all want to be in control of our own lives. But young children usually have very few opportunities to make choices about what they do and when they do it. They’re told when to get up, what to wear, what to eat and when to eat it, where to go and what to do when they get there. Introducing choice into a young child’s life can be a powerful tool to promote improved behavior in your classroom. Come learn the five steps to using the choice making strategy and discover how easily you can embed choice-making opportunities into your classroom and short-circuit power struggles with your preschoolers.

work on that as a Team": Collaborating 11 “We with Hispanic/Latine Families to Support

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Talk It Out: Approaching Language and Communication Development with Infants, toddlers and Twos

Kristin Snellings, M.Ed., Anchor Birth-to-Three Specialist, Child Care Services Association and Shelly Martin, Birthto-Three Specialist, Southeastern Community College Have you ever experienced the silliness and fun of talking to a baby? Did you know you’re encouraging brain growth as you do this? Come join us as we learn more

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E = Everyone AD = Administration I/T = Infant/Toddler P = Preschool SA = School-age

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Communication Development in Young Autistic Children Presenter: Jessica Kinard, PhD CCC-SLP, Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities at UNC Chapel Hill

In this session, participants will discuss how to integrate family-centered principles and cultural humility into their work with Hispanic/Latine families of young autistic children with communication needs. Based on evidence-based research and true case examples of families lived experiences, participants will discuss building trust and empowerment in families, including when communicating through an interpreter; cultural and linguistic variations across Hispanic cultures that intersect with the identification and treatment of autism; and collaborating as a team with families to support the communication development of young autistic children.

The session will also review resources that are available for practitioners and families in Spanish.

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FEATURED PRESENTERS

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SESSION 2 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM 12 Book a Trip!

E = Everyone AD = Administration I/T = Infant/Toddler P = Preschool SA = School-age

15 Introduction to FCERS-3 (Family Child Care)

Presenter: Karlene F Phillips, DMin., Retired Durham County Librarian

Presenter: Tanya Clauson, Reliability Checkers for NCRLAP

NEW FOR 2025

In this workshop participants will have fun while gathering ideas about exposing their children to different countries and cultures. Basic brain development, read-aloud strategies, creative play, and craft ideas will be covered.

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Engaging in Conversations Promoting 13 DEIB: Family Strength-based Practices in Various Roles

This training will provide information about the differences between the FCCERS-R and the FCCERS-3. It will include basic terms and definitions in the FCCERS-3 as well as detailed information about specific items and indicators. Examples of different ways homes can earn credit for various indicators will be reviewed. There will be an opportunity for the audience to ask questions.

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Sentence: Supporting Children of 16 Invisible Incarcerated and Returning Parents

and Settings

Presenter: Dr. Brenda K. Williamson and Dr. Angeline Martin Woodson, Durham Technical Community College

Presenter: Melissa Radcliff, Our Children's Place of Coastal Horizons

The training session will focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in creating respectful, inclusive learning environments that promote family strength-based practices. Discover ways to plan and implement learning activities offering culturally responsive support to children, families, and staff promoting engagement for all in DEIB relationships. The techniques provided will assist all to gain feelings of acknowledgement and happiness that are key in having positive early learning experiences. Children and their families will form positive attachments with educators in early care and education through feeling a strong sense of DEIB in a thriving community of learners.

On any given day, there are an estimated 2.7 million children in the US with at least one incarcerated parent (20,000+ in NC). Participants will learn about the children, ways to create a supportive community, and available resources and leave with materials, access to book lists, and a homework assignment!

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17 Mathematics Is, Indeed, All Around Us!

Presenter: Frederique Yova, Ph. D., Child Care Services Association

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Importance of Trauma Responsive Care for BirthThree Educators

Heather Noe, Anchor Birth-to-Three Specialist, Child Care Services Association and Demeka Bryant, Birth-to-Three Specialist, Craven Smart Start The relationships children have with their caregivers plays a critical role in regulating stress and a child's response to stress during the early years of a child's life. This session will define and explore what trauma looks like for infants and toddlers. We will examine risk factors and introduce trauma-responsive care. Participants will learn ways to foster their own resilience and discover strategies to encourage protective factors for the children in their care and themselves.

Have you looked at the time today? Avoided bumping into someone? Carefully selected patterns on your shirt?

Mathematics is indeed all around us! Please join us to an engaging session around early mathematics and we will review content areas, share entertaining stories and discuss the use of picture books as a way to support young children’s growth in mathematics.

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10:30 AM – 12:00 PM 18 Pass It On Down: Singing with Young Children Presenter: Stuart Stotts

2025

Music is central to the early F E AT U childhood classroom.

Sess R E D ion Building relationships, creating emotional safety, exploring curriculum, and having fun are all enhanced by singing together. In this workshop we will sing (virtually) and learn and share songs that we have used successfully with young children. Come prepared to participate and build your repertoire of songs that work.

Learning for All Young Children: Using 21 STEM Learning Trajectories to Embed Early STEM Learning

Presenter: Jessica Amsbary, Program Coordinator, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, UNC Chapel Hill Early STEM learning opportunities and high-quality inclusive experiences lead to optimal outcomes for children and families. This presentation will provide opportunities for participants to learn about and practice using an approach to inclusive STEM that involves centering the child in engaging, intentional, and identityaffirming activities that build on their interests, needs, and thinking. Participants will: (1) Describe and identify strategies to foster inclusive STEM learning opportunities for all young children, and (2) Use free open-access learning trajectories and resources for planning and implementing inclusive STEM experiences in their work setting birth-5.

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19 SPANISH Prácticas culturalmente receptivas en la clase NEW FOR 2025

Presenter: Laura Price, M. Ed., M.A., BHIT, Spanish Instructor of Interpretation/Translation Programs Early Childhood Education Instructor Preparar a los educadores de la primera infancia para fomentar la inclusión y la diversidad mediante la implementación de estrategias de enseñanza culturalmente receptivas en las aulas de prekínder y preescolar.

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Lessons, New Tools: How 22 Timeless the Current Programming from Fred

Rogers Productions Carries Forward Mister Roger's Neighborhood's Legacy

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Presenter: Mallory Mbalia, Director of Learning and Education, Fred Rogers Productions

Reinvigorating the ECE Workforce: Leadership 20 and Support of Professional Pathways

Welcome to the Neighborhood where the series from Fred Rogers Productions (FRP) are brought to life! Join FRP as we share ways that our current programming carries forward the timeless lessons from Mister Roger’s Neighborhood. Hear about legacy ties as well as the innovative ways that the current content and resources support social-emotional learning and executive function, problem solving with STEM, and curiosity and the natural world. We will share different engagement and outreach opportunities that have been executed in their communities to meet families where they are and extend the learning beyond the screen. Walk away with a deeper understanding of series including Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Donkey Hodie, Alma’s Way, Odd Squad, Peg + Cat, and Through the Woods, as well as new ways of sharing it in your own classrooms and neighborhoods.

Presenter: Sharon Little, Ed.D, Higher Education Liaison, CCSA Scholarship Specialist This workshop provides an overview of the multiple professional pathways for early educator professionals in the state. Through conversations and illustration, this session will highlight how the various educational pathways support, connect, and provide information for all professionals in the early childhood workforce.

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KEYNOTE 12:30pm – 1:30 pm TANYA DENNIS Life Be Lifing! Bouncing and Bringing Back Your Best You While the World is in Mayhem!

Everywhere you turn, someone is saying, “Life Be Lifing!” Yeah, it does and you are built for it! Together, let’s take a closer look at ourselves, commit to being an ASSET, and gain some strategies that programs and individuals can apply to live our best life evvvveeer!

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E = Everyone AD = Administration I/T = Infant/Toddler P = Preschool SA = School-age

1:45 PM – 3:15 PM 23 Book a Trip!

Presenter: Karlene F Phillips, DMin., Retired Durham County Librarian

In this workshop participants will have fun while gathering ideas about exposing their children to different countries and cultures. Basic brain development, read-aloud strategies, creative play, and craft ideas will be covered.

25 Family Child Care: Self Study| NEW FOR 2025

Wondering why the Family Child Care Self Study is a big deal for anyone in family child care? Come hang out with us at this training session to get the lowdown on how to do a Self-Study properly. It's not just about ticking boxes; it's a real game-changer for your family child care business. You'll learn the ins and outs of assessing your own program. And you know what? Better quality often means you can bring in more revenue too. It’s about making sure your space is not only safe and nurturing but also top-notch, so parents are knocking on *your* door.

So, whether you're looking to brush up on some skills, make your day-to-day easier, or even bump up your income, this training is where it’s at. Trust me, it's worth your time!

Subject- 2 Audience-I/T, P

Mindsets: Habits of the Heart, 24 Equity Head, and Hand FEA Presenter: Rhodus Riggins, Jr., Quality Engagement Coordinator, EQuIPD/UNCG

2025

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Why do we do the things we do? How do we create the purpose of being? Shulman (2005) highlights examining habits and mindsets as a powerful experience to explore why we do the things we do and to create the purpose of being. Are we willing and open to examine the heart, head, and hand of our work to foster connections, a sense of belonging, motivation, and cultures of equity in spaces? This interactive experience will open space to create equitable cultures and climates through habits and mindsets of the Heart, Head and Hand.

Presenters: April McCain, MS.Ed. and Kelly Shaw, ECMH-E, NC Family Child Care Professional Development Anchors, Southwestern Child Development Commission

Subject-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 Audience-All

26 Healthy & Happy Routines & Transitions

Subject-1,2,3,5,6 Audience All

Presenter: Elizabeth Morris, MPH, Regional Child Care Health Consultant, NC Child Care Health & Safety Resource Center Are the handwashing and other personal care routines in your class a source of frustration? You'll leave this session with tried and true strategies to ease the stress.

We'll review and practice the requirements around handwashing, diapering/toileting, and other personal care routines. We'll also look at examples of schedules, tools, and strategies to support positive interactions and help children transition smoothly throughout the day. Participants will make this session their own with opportunities to reflect on and share challenges and successes and set goals for happier and healthier routines and transitions.

Subject- Audience-I/T, P

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CCSA WELCOME

CONTENTS & SCHEDULE

DURHAM PREK

ABECEDARIAN

FEATURED PRESENTERS

SESSION 1

SESSION 2

SESSION 3

FAQ

SESSION 3

E = Everyone AD = Administration I/T = Infant/Toddler P = Preschool SA = School-age

1:45 PM – 3:15 PM Sentence: Supporting Children of 27 Invisible Incarcerated and Returning Parents

centering the child in engaging, intentional, and identityaffirming activities that build on their interests, needs, and thinking. Participants will: (1) Describe and identify strategies to foster inclusive STEM learning opportunities for all young children, and (2) Use free open-access learning trajectories and resources for planning and implementing inclusive STEM experiences in their work setting birth-5.

Presenter: Melissa Radcliff, Our Children's Place of Coastal Horizons On any given day, there are an estimated 2.7 million children in the US with at least one incarcerated parent (20,000+ in NC). Participants will learn about the children, ways to create a supportive community, and available resources and leave with materials, access to book lists, and a homework assignment!

Subject-3.8

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Audience-AD

Math Talk with Infants and Toddlers

Amanda Hazen, Anchor Birth-to-Three Specialist, Child Care Services Association and Karen Mintz, Birth-toThree Specialist, Child Care Resources Inc.

Subject- 2,4,5,6,7,8,9

Presenter: Dr. Angela M. Clayton, Planting Seeds To Grow LLC

Young learners enjoy engaging in fun learning activities to practice the foundational skills required in literacy.

To assist in this development, I create a learning environment that allows students to make observations, then apply this learning to novice situations while learning various concepts across the curriculum. In this workshop I share these research- based strategies. In this workshop, participants will collaborate during discussions and engage in activities with poems and music to practice concepts taught during the presentation. Participants will demonstrate understanding of concepts taught by modeling and sharing ideas of what was learned using a KWL Chart.

Subject- Audience-I/T, Twos

Sensory Processing Disorder: Identification and 29 Intervention Swetal Taker, Occupational Therapist and Clinical Director at Developmental Therapy Associates

Subject-2 Audience-P, SA

32 SPANISH Uso del Enfoque de Proyectos y el Currículo Creativo para enseñar STEM en el preescolar Presenter: Claudia Ladino Rubiano

Subject: 2,3 Audience-All

Los maestros aprenderán los conceptos básicos del Enfoque de Proyectos Reggio-Emilia y cómo utilizarlo para implementar un proyecto en el salón de clase.

El enfoque también incluirá el aprendizaje de STEM en el entorno preescolar y presentará recursos y materiales disponibles para los maestros para mejorar la experiencia educativa de los niños en el preescolar.

Estos recursos incluirán la orientación del uso de los kits Curriculares bilingües creados por OCPYC, basados en las Guías de Estudio del Currículo Creativo para diferentes temas.

Learning for All Young Children: Using 30 STEM Learning Trajectories to Embed Early STEM Learning

NEW Presenter: Jessica Amsbary, Program Coordinator, FOR 2025 Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, UNC Chapel Hill

Early STEM learning opportunities and high-quality inclusive experiences lead to optimal outcomes for children and families. This presentation will provide opportunities for participants to learn about and practice using an approach to inclusive STEM that involves

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Audience-All

31 Using Music and Movement to Teach Literacy

This session will explain the importance of early math talk with infants and toddlers in your classroom. We will also discuss strategies and resources for Early Educators to take back to their classroom. Participants will also have a chance to share ways they are already using math talk.

This workshop is a review of the sensory systems, how to recognize sensory processing related challenges and how they impact everyday life of a child, and tips/ strategies on helping the "out of sync" child.

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Subject-2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 Audience-T, P, SA

CCSA WELCOME

CONTENTS & SCHEDULE

DURHAM PREK

ABECEDARIAN

FEATURED PRESENTERS

SESSION 1

SESSION 2

SESSION 3

FAQ

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FAQ

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Those in attendance include teachers, directors and administrators from early education and school age programs across North Carolina representing child care; public schools; Early Head Start, Head Start; NC Pre-K; Smart Start, half day preschools; special education, health and human service agency providers and child advocates.

REGISTRATION

An early bird registration is available for $30 until January 10, 2025. Beginning January 11, 2025, registrations will increase to $40. All registrations must be received on or before February 10, 2025.

Register Online here.

GROUP REGISTRATION

When seeking to register multiple people from the same program, contact the PD & Training Department professionaldevelopment@ childcareservices.org for assistance to ensure there are no challenges or issues with user IDs and passwords. Creating a new account for an individual already in the system will result in not being able to complete the registrations for the additional individuals.

REGISTRATION CONFIRMATION

All registrations that are accepted will receive a confirmation e-mail, if an email address is provided. Links for each workshop will be sent to each registrant after February 10, 2025.

PROGRAM CHANGES AND REFUNDS Refunds of registration fees will not be made.

CCSA reserves the right to make changes in workshops and speakers or to cancel workshops if enrollment criteria are not met or when conditions beyond our control prevail.

CONFERENCE CHECK-IN

Virtual check in will begin at 8:00 AM. You will be welcomed and given an opportunity to win door prizes. There will be a brief overview of the agenda for the day.

BREAKS AND LUNCH

There are breaks built into the schedule (10:00 AM and 1:30 PM). Feel free to eat your lunch during the 12:00 PM break or during the keynote session at 12:30 PM.

SCHEDULE OF THE DAY

We encourage all participants to log in at least 10 minutes prior to the start of your workshop.

Late entrances are disruptive to the presenters and other participants. All workshops are 1.5 hour sessions except for the keynote.

WHOVA EVENT MANAGEMENT APP Whova is our new event management tool that makes our conference scheduling, access to the sessions and networking experience more modern, trendy, and engaging. The Whova app is user friendly and conference attendees​ can download the Whova app for free from the App Store and Google Play or use the free web browser version​. Our team will provide you with more details.

You can register and pay online on our website!

CLICK TO REGISTER For additional registration help or for questions email: professionaldevelopment@childcareservices.org

JUMP TO:

CCSA WELCOME

CONTENTS & SCHEDULE

DURHAM PREK

ABECEDARIAN

FEATURED PRESENTERS

SESSION 1

SESSION 2

SESSION 3

FAQ