Featured Sessions
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19 | ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER
A Child-Centered Approach to Fostering Inclusive STEM Experiences
8:30 – 10:30 AM
W315AB
Chih-Ing Lim, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute Megan Vinh, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute Douglas Clements, University of Denver Julie Sarama, University of Denver
All Children Earn 0.2 CEUs for this session.
SPONSORED BY
What’ s the Real Challenge? Changing Your Mindset from Challenging Behaviors to Developmentally Appropriate Expectations
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
W315AB
Stephanie May, University of Nevada Reno Extension Monica Salazar, University of Nevada Reno Extension
Toddlers Earn 0.2 CEUs for this session.
SPONSORED BY
OPENING SESSION
A Conversation with Documentarian and Journalist Soledad O’ Brien
Whether it’ s reporting on natural disasters, sporting events, or politics, or creating award-winning documentaries on the weighty topics of hunger, race, and education, Soledad O’ Brien understands the power of storytelling to inform, illuminate, and inspire.
At the 2025 NAEYC Annual Conference, CEO Michelle Kang hosts a conversation with O’ Brien, a journalist, author, and philanthropist whose media production company is dedicated to telling empowering, authentic stories on a range of social issues.
Inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame in 2023, O’ Brien has anchored shows and specials on CNN, MSNBC, Nat Geo, BET, ABC, and CBS, co-anchored NBC’ s Weekend Today, and reported for PBS NewsHour and HBO Real Sports. She currently anchors and produces“ Matter of Fact with Soledad O’ Brien,” a political program seen across the country.
O’ Brien’ s work, which spans television, podcasts, documentaries, and books, has been recognized with four Emmy awards – including one for her CNN series“ Kids and Race”-- three George Foster Peabody Awards, four Gracie Awards honoring women in media, two Cine Awards in documentary film, and many others.
Along with her husband, O’ Brien also runs the PowHerful foundation, which has helped dozens of young women get to and through college and connects with thousands of others through regional mentoring conferences.
Join the Opening Session to hear O’ Brien’ s stories and kick off this year’ s conference, embracing the theme:“ In This Place, We Learn. For Every Child, We Lead.”
4:30 – 6:00 PM
WEST A4
48 2025 NAEYC Annual Conference: In this Place, We Learn. For Every Child, We Lead.