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Why Attend?
Why you should Join Us!
The Greater Houston Chapter of Texas AEYC is pleased to offer this high-quality professional development opportunity that is designed to enhance your practice with children, families and other early childhood professionals.
Networking
Our virtual conference platform allows you to stay connected to other participants, speakers and our Chapter conference team!
High-Quality Speakers
We have assembled an incredible array of national, state and local speakers that offer presentations on a wide variety of topics!
Meaningful Professional Development Hours
By participating in our virtual event, you will have the opportunity to earn 15 clock hours of high-quality training from qualified folks!
Have Fun and Celebrate!
Our virtual events are filled with fun and energy and offer a community of early childhood professionals just like YOU!
KEYNOTE, FEATURED & BREAKOUT
Event Speakers
Corey Garza
Specialist
Child Care Licensing/ Texas Health & Human Services
Beth Cannon
SPEAKER | TRAINER | COACH
Beth Cannon Speaks
Lauren Burrow
Associate Professor
Stephen F. Austin State University
Corinne Goyette
Artist, Writer, Illustrator, Speaker and Advocate
Mindy May
Director of Partnership and Professional Development
Brazelton Touchpoints Center Boston Children's Hospital
Prerna Richards
Early Childhood Educational Consultant and International Speaker
Audrey Rowland
CEO
Green Space Learning & Development
Eva Rivera, MSW
Professional Development Program Manager & National Facilitator
Brazelton Touchpoints Center Boston Children's Hospital
Debbie Elder
Owner
Shady Oak Primary School, Richmond, TX
Vicky Hepler
Master Instructor
Conscious Discipline
Eric Knustrum
Principal
Texas Star Alliance
Carrie Cutler
Clinical Assistant Professor
University of Houston
Jennifer Fiechtner
Program Manager
Healthy Families Southern Maryland
Sharon Young
Instructor
Tarrant County College
Kay Albrecht
President
Innovations in Early Childhood Education
Diane Goyette, MA
Founder & Owner
Early Childhood Specialties
Kim Hughes
Master Instructor
Conscious Discipline
HOW IT WORKS...
OUR EVENT OFFERS LIVE VIRTUAL SESSIONS AND RECORDED SESSIONS AT YOUR CONVENIENCE
Because this is a virtual conference, participants have an opportunity to earn a maximum of 15 clock hours!
In order for this to happen, a participant would have to attend three live virtual sessions on Tuesday, three live virtual sessions on Wednesday and two live sessions on Thursday as well as watch the seven recorded sessions they could not attend over the course of three days.
The LIVE portion of clock hour training will offer 8 clock hours and the RECORDED sessions will offer 7 clock hours.
Registrants will be able to access content for a period of 30 days after the conference ends.
SCHEDULE DETAILS
Event Schedules
- 10:00 - 11:00 AM
- Audrey Rowland, MS, MBA
No Justice in Preschool
Is a conflict-free classroom really the goal? When adults take on the role of law enforcement in the classroom, the quest for fairness often leads to frustration. Join Audrey Rowland to learn how to support social risk taking, intervene only when appropriate, and allow for more learning opportunities for children.
- 12:30 - 1:30 PM
- Diane Goyette, MA & Corinne Goyette
Challenging Children Belong Here Too!
Dealing with challenging children may feel overwhelming, especially now! Our framework of emotional support will help you, teachers, and children: You’ll learn to support your teachers; the teachers will have strategies to more confidently handle challenging children; and the children will have tools to help them manage their own behavior.
- 12:30 - 1:30 PM
- Vicky Hepler
Conscious Discipline Training
Self-Discipline: Moving from Chaos to Calm
- 2:00 - 3:00 PM
- Mindy May, MS - Brazelton Touchpoints Center
Choosing Your Attitude: Using Strength-Based Family Assumptions
Providers’ assumptions and emotions can sometimes get in the way of effective engagement with families. For example, when a family doesn’t follow through on a recommendation, the provider can become frustrated. Choosing to adopt strength-based family assumptions supports providers in discovering the strengths of the families with whom they work, which leads to improved relationships. In this webinar, you will learn how to use strengths-based assumptions in our interactions with families. You will learn about family engagement strategies for using the Strengths-Based Family Assumptions that you can immediately apply to your work.
- 2:00 - 3:00 PM
- Eric Knustrom
A Look at How Early Childhood Education Fared in the 87th Texas Legislative Session
Did children, families and early childhood practitioners "win" in the 87th Texas Legislative Session? Join Eric Knustrom, Principal at Texas Star Alliance Public Relations Firm, in discussing what transpired for early education in the most recent state legislative session.
- 10:00-11:00 AM
- Kay Albrecht, Ph.D. & Jennifer Feichtner, MA
The Stress Test: A Toolkit of Strategies for Administrators in a Post Pandemic World
This workshop is designed for early childhood program staff who want to position themselves as a resource to children, families, and to each other to reduce the inevitable stress that accompanies being a program leader, an early childhood educator, and/or a parent.
- 10:00-11:00 AM
- Kim Hughes
It Starts in the Heart
This Conscious Discipline® strategy prepares the brain for cortical learning and turns off the stress response and connects the students to the teacher which helps maintain focused attention and the motivation to learn. It also releases oxytocin, which promotes connection and reduces aggression.
- 12:30-1:30 PM
- Eva Rivera, MSW
Nurturing the Nurturer: Self-care for Providers & Parents
In times of stress and crisis, we all need to take care of ourselves. Yet many people in caring professions and family members neglect their own mental health as they prioritize their care for others. This webinar will explore self-care practices for early care professionals and the families with whom they work. You will be introduced to a variety of self-care strategies, and learn why we all need self-care, particularly during extremely stressful times. You will learn how to make the oftentimes difficult shift from nurturing others to nurturing yourself first.
- 12:30-1:30 PM
- Debbie Elder
The Power of Connection – The Key to Resolving Staff Conflict
Traditional approaches often fall short of promoting the Inner Wealth essential for people to build successful relationships. This method has helped thousands of families, educators, and child advocates achieve new emotional portfolios of confidence and enduring levels of competency.
- 2:00-3:00 PM
- Corey Garza
What's New at Child Care Licensing?
Join seasoned Child Care Licensing staffer Corey Garza who will share information on the most recent standards as well as discuss updates related to COVID-19.
- 2:00-3:00 PM
- Lauren Burrow, Ed.D.
Quick Art Activities to Build Students’ Confidence and Creativity as Artists
The integration of visual arts should never be hindered by a teachers’ lack of confidence in their own art abilities. This session will share quick, simple art activities that any Elementary school educator can incorporate into their classrooms to build up artist confidence and creativity for themselves and their students.
- 12:30-1:30 PM
- Beth Cannon
Breaking Burnout
Have you been doing too much, for too long, for too many people? Get ready to be refreshed! Childcare Providers and Teachers experience some of the highest level of burnout in the workplace. You’ll get actionable steps and tools to help you BREAK THAT BURNOUT.
- 12:30 - 1:30 PM
- Prerna Richards, MBA
Thriving in a Responsive Classroom
Providing responsive care and interactions are at the heart of teaching, yet many educators don’t have a clear idea of what that looks like in an early childhood classroom. It is so much more than just “caring for young children and meeting their immediate needs.” We will go deeper and take a closer look at the important role of educators. Participants will learn strategies to help manage challenging and disruptive behaviors displayed in their classrooms by understanding what brain states are in action (Survival, Emotional, or executive), what the children are trying to communicate through their behaviors while chasing the “why” behind the behavior. How stress can factor into what the educator and the students are experiencing. We will discuss practical strategies to help the educator’s daily basis. We will also discuss the lack of focus, attention, and problem-solving skills that are on an increase in the classrooms. I will share strategies to support these developing skills.
- 2:00-3:00 PM
- Carrie Cutler, Ed.D.
All for Math and Math for All! Answers to Common Questions about Teaching Preschool Math and Activities that Help
What in the world is a rhombus? How high should preschoolers count? How can I teach math to squirmy 3-year-olds? Join Dr. Cutler for clear, simple explanations to these quandaries and many more. Short videos of lessons and centers, handouts, and answers to your specific questions, too. Join us!
- 2:00-3:00 PM
- Sharon Young, Ed.D.
Professionalism in the Workplace
There are times when we just don’t feel up to it. Life has a way of frustrating us with issues, circumstances, heartbreaks, and stress. Although these situations occur, we are required to leave everything at the door when we step foot into our workplace. This session addresses gossip, conversations, attitudes, appearance and a whole lot more to assist you with presenting yourself as a professional.
