Featured Sessions
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21 | ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER
How Other People Do It: Unlocking Our Implicit Biases Regarding Parenting Practices to Deepen Relations with Families
1:00 – 2:30 PM
W109A Amanda Holliday-Bembridge, Doctor Teacher Mommy All Children
Earn 0.2 CEUs for this session.
Don’ t Wait Until Pre-K: Foundational Experiences for Infants and Toddlers That Support Literacy Learning
3:00 – 4:30 PM
W109A
Germaine Tauati, INPEACE: Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture
Colleen Whittingham, Loyola University Chicago
Infants & Toddlers
Earn 0.2 CEUs for this session.
SPONSORED BY
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22 | ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER
Evolving Understandings: Alphabet Knowledge and Phonological Awareness in More Than the ABCs
8:00 – 9:15 AM
W109A
Kathleen Paciga, Columbia College Chicago Christina Cassano, Salem State University
Adults Earn 0.1 CEUs for this session.
SPONSORED BY
Hip-Hop Hooray! Engaging Kindergartners Through Rhythms, Rhymes, and Play
9:30 – 10:45 AM
W109A
Anthony Broughton, Alabama State University
Kindergartners Earn 0.1 CEUs for this session.
SPONSORED BY
The Intentional Teacher: Cultivating Child-Centered Discovery, Content-Rich Learning, and Joy
11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
W109A
Amy Schmidtke, Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska
Preschoolers Earn 0.1 CEUs for this session.
SPONSORED BY CLOSING SESSION
Leading with Hope
Hope is always on the horizon. In a world that often feels heavy, fast-paced, and overwhelming, it’ s easy to lose sight of the light ahead. But hope isn’ t just wishful thinking, it’ s a choice, a direction, and a daily practice. In Leading with Hope, Erin will reignite your spirit through heartfelt stories, powerful imagery, and practical tools rooted in six transformational choices we all can make— choices that bring light not only to our lives but to the lives of those around us.
With authenticity, humor, and grounded wisdom, Erin invites you on a journey from burnout to renewal, fear to boldness, chaos to clarity. You’ ll laugh, reflect, and walk away with actionable strategies.
This keynote is more than motivation, it’ s a call to realign with what matters most. Through Erin’ s guidance, you will reflect deeply on what’ s possible in your life and career and reclaim your energy, purpose, and personal power.
Come with an open heart and leave with a renewed sense of hope, because brighter days are not only ahead, but they also begin with you.
12:30 – 1:45 PM
VALENCIA BALLROOM W415D Erin Ramsey
SPONSORED BY 50 2025 NAEYC Annual Conference: In this Place, We Learn. For Every Child, We Lead.