Division for Early Childhood 2024 Conference: Full Schedule

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9:00am CDT

The Pyramid Model for Kindergarten: How it Started...How it's Going!

Friday September 20, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am CDT

The PM is a tiered framework used in diverse early childhood settings to promote social-emotional competence and address challenging behaviors. In recent years, kindergarten teachers in multiple districts have been trained to implement PM in their classrooms. Find out more about the new PM-K materials, hear what outcomes have been noted, and see the practices in action!

Speakers

Kiersten Kinder

Assistant Professor, Vanderbilt University

Kiersten Kinder, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of the Practice in Early Childhood Special Education at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. She has recently coordinated large multi-year research studies to support implementation and sustainability of the Pyramid Model... Read More →

Andrea Riddle

Education Consultant, Vanderbilt University

Beth Vorhaus

Education Consultant, Vanderbilt

Mary Louise Hemmeter

Professor of Special Education, Vanderbilt University

Dr. Mary Louise Hemmeter is a professor of Special Education at Vanderbilt University and holds the Nicholas Hobbs Chair of Special Education and Human Development. Her research focuses on effective instruction, supporting social emotional development and addressing challenging behavior... Read More →

Friday September 20, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
GrandSalon 21 - 1st fl

Practice

Age 5-8
Audience 1 Practitioners
Audience 2 Administrators
Content Level Introductory

9:00am CDT

Develop, Nurture, and Coach: Deconstructing Key Skills in a Leader

Friday September 20, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am CDT

GrandSalon 10 - 1st fl

This session will highlight how leadership can be developed, nurtured, and coached in all ECSE practitioners. Leadership must also be viewed as an ongoing process to positive outcomes for young children (0-8) and their families and building capacity in practitioners. These efforts can also contribute to fostering equity and inclusive practices in the field.

Speakers

Deborah Bruns

Professor, Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Annie George-Puskar

Assistant Professor, Fordham University Graduate School of Education

Elizabeth Beavers

University of Houston-Clear Lake

Friday September 20, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
GrandSalon 10 - 1st fl

Professional Development

Age 0-5
Audience 1 Practitioners
Audience 2 Administrators
Content Level Introductory

9:00am CDT

Impact of Pyramid Model Behavior Incident Reports in Early Childhood

Friday September 20, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am CDT

GrandSalon 16 - 1st fl

Research highlights the need for improved social-emotional learning (SEL) in preschool, necessitating professional development (PD) for effective SEL practices (Buettner et al., 2016). This quality PD study included coaching and BIR training to empower educators with effective SEL strategies, enhancing academic success and mitigating challenging behaviors.

Speakers

Stephanie Farris

Audra Classen

Associate Professor, University of Southern Mississippi

Friday September 20, 2024 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
GrandSalon 16 - 1st fl

Research

Age 3-5
Audience 1 Practitioners
Audience 2 Administrators
Content Level Intermediate

10:15am CDT

Using Part C Exit Data to Understand the Experiences of Families of Color

Friday September 20, 2024 10:15am - 11:15am CDT

Marlboro A - 2nd fl

Children and families from marginalized backgrounds face many disparities in early intervention (EI) services. Analysis of Section 618 exit data by exit reason and across racial/ethnic categories can provide insight into the reasons historically marginalized families exit and transition EI programs. In this session we discuss implications for Child Find and transitions.

Speakers

Diana Abarca

Evandra Catherine

Director of Disability and Mental Health Policy, Children's Equity Project

Using Part C Exit Data to Understand the Experiences of Families of Color (1) pdf

Friday September 20, 2024 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Marlboro A - 2nd fl

Policy

Age 0-5
Audience 1 Practitioners
Audience 2 Administrators
Content Level Intermediate

10:15am CDT

Building Tier-3 Behavior Supports for Child Care: One State’s Journey

Friday September 20, 2024 10:15am - 11:15am CDT

Kabacoff - Riverside Bldg.

From conception to implementation, presenters will describe how a behavior support network came to be a viable support for child care teachers. A description of how the PTR-YC model was adapted for use in child care will be discussed and implementation successes and challenges will be shared. Join us on one state’s journey to implement behavior supports in child care.

Speakers

Stephanie McAvoy

Lead Behavior Specialist, Pyramid PIECES Behavior Support Network

Heather Googe

Research Associate Professor, University of South Carolina

Nicole Randall

Program Manager, University of South Carolina-South Carolina Child Care Inclusion Collaborative & South Carolina Pyra

Building Tier 3 Behavior Supports for Child Care pdf

Friday September 20, 2024 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Kabacoff - Riverside Bldg.

Professional Development

Age 0-5
Audience 1 Practitioners
Audience 2 Administrators
Content Level Intermediate

12:00pm CDT

Advocating for Early Intervention: Our Passion, Our Future

Friday September 20, 2024 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT

GrandSalon 12 - 1st fl

This interactive session will consist of Early Interventionists and advocates from three states to discuss the struggles, strategies, and solutions they each engaged in to form new partnerships and strengthen their Early Intervention systems. Key themes including equitable access, adequate funding, workforce recruitment/retention, and family voice will be highlighted.

Speakers

Zareen Kamal

Policy Specialist, Start Early

Leanne Barrett

Rhode Island KIDS COUNT

Leanne is a Senior Policy Analyst at Rhode Island KIDS COUNT and works to improve early childhood policy statewide (Birth – Age 8). She is the coordinator of the RIght from the Start Campaign and the Rhode Island Early Learning Council. Leanne has been a leader in developing state... Read More →

Karen Berman

Managing Director, Advocacy and Policy, Start Early

I am so happy to be joining everyone for this conference. I focus on advocacy for children and families and state level systems change to support more equitable access to high quality and inclusive early childhood experiences for child with or at risk for developmental disabilities... Read More →

Caitlin Conley

Kentucky Early Intervention Providers Association

Friday September 20, 2024 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT
GrandSalon 12 - 1st fl

Practice

Age 0-3
Audience 1 Practitioners
Audience 2 Administrators
Content Level Intermediate

12:00pm CDT

Coaching and Educator Capacity Building in Early Childhood Environments

Friday September 20, 2024 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT

GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

Alberta’s new Inclusive Child Care program is committed to educator capacity building and on-site coaching of inclusive practices. GRIT will share its role in providing short term support to prevent child expulsion and a comprehensive leadership development approach focusing on program wide implementation of Pyramid Model practices.

Speakers

Julia Moore

ASaP Manager, The Grit program

Janice Comrie

Inclusive Child Care Manager, GRIT Edmonton

DEC Coaching and Educator Capacity Building WORKBOOK pdf

Friday September 20, 2024 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT
GrandSalon 3 - 1st fl

Practice

Age 0-5
Audience 1 Practitioners
Audience 2 Administrators
Content Level Intermediate

12:00pm CDT

Opportunities and Challenges of Virtual Assessment in EI and ECSE

Friday September 20, 2024 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT

GrandSalon 21 - 1st fl

The pandemic required that early intervention and preschool special education programs adopt virtual assessments, and some programs continue to use them today. This session will share how programs are implementing virtual assessment along with its benefits and challenges. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on the potential of virtual assessment in their programs.

Speakers

Sheresa Blanchard

Kathy Hebbeler

Senior Principal Education Researcher, SRI International

Lori Ganz

Director of Clinical Services, The Resource Exchange Early Intervention

Ryan Grimm

Education Researcher, SRI International

Lauren Barton

Geneva Dischinger-Smedes

Virtual Assessment INTECA DEC 2024 pptx

Friday September 20, 2024 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT
GrandSalon 21 - 1st fl

Practice

Age 0-5
Audience 1 Practitioners
Audience 2 Administrators
Content Level Introductory

12:00pm CDT

Partnering with Newcomer Families, Community Navigators, and Schools

Friday September 20, 2024 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT

GrandSalon 16 - 1st fl

Educators frequently struggle to build collaborative relationships with newcomer families. The Leading in Newcomer Communities and Schools program was designed to address this need through a ten-session, virtually delivered CoP conducted with community leaders. Resources, lessons learned, and recommendations from the project’s implementation will be shared.

Speakers

Rashida Banerjee

Professor, University of Denver

Gloria Miller

Grace ILORI

Doctoral Student, University of Denver

Grace C. Ilori, Ph.D. is a doctoral student in the Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Denver. Before arriving in the US, she received her B.Ed, M.Ed, and Ph.D. from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and worked as a special education teacher for three years. She is a... Read More →

Savannah Hobbs

Friday September 20, 2024 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT
GrandSalon 16 - 1st fl

Professional Development

Age 5-8
Audience 1 Families
Audience 2 Administrators
Content Level Intermediate

12:00pm CDT

Review of an Evidence-Based Coaching Framework: Practice-Based Coaching

Friday September 20, 2024 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT

Starboard/Port - Riverside Bldg

Findings from a review of published research on PBC including, the (a) characteristics of coaches and coachees, (b) extent to which PBC components were described, measured, and adapted, (c) provision of coach implementation supports, and (d) quality and rigor of the literature are shared. Search methods, findings, and implications for practice and research are discussed.

Speakers

Adrienne Golden

Research Associate, Vanderbilt University

Adrienne K. Golden, Ph.D., BCBA, is a Research Associate at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. She currently coordinates two large multi-year research studies, one to support implementation and sustainability of the Pyramid Model in PreK and Kindergarten classrooms in... Read More →

Darbianne Shannon

Assistant Research Scientist, Anita Zucker Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies, University of FL

Dr. Shannon is an Assistant Research Scientist with the Anita Zucker Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies at the University of Florida. Dr. Shannon supports states and early childhood programs with the installation, implementation, sustainability and scale-up of professional... Read More →

Mackenzie Martin

Student, Anita Zucker Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies

JinHee Hur

Friday September 20, 2024 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT
Starboard/Port - Riverside Bldg

Research

Age 3-5
Audience 1 Researchers
Audience 2 Administrators
Content Level Intermediate

1:15pm CDT

Building Racial Equity in Policy and Practice Through Family Leadership

Friday September 20, 2024 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT

GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

Racially diverse families who share their lived experience by engaging in policy formation, peer support, and professional development provide invaluable contributions while building their own leadership skills. This session will showcase family leadership from multiple states, strategies to recruit and retain diverse participants, and prospective long term equity impact.

Speakers

Mary Mikus

Mary Mikus has spent close to thirty years as a technical assistance provider and family advocate for young children receiving Early Intervention services and their families. Recently retired as an Education Consultant for Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA), Pennsylvania... Read More →

Sarah Holland

Director, Parent to Parent of PA

Vanessa Allen

Family Engagement Coordinator, Department of Children, Youth, and Families

Marisol Rose

State Parent Consultant, Early Steps, CMS, FDOH

I am the State Parent Consultant for Florida’s early intervention program, Early Steps, under the Division of Children’s Medical Services within the Florida Department of Health. I have served in this capacity since April 2021. Prior to my role at the state level, I spent 6 years... Read More →

Will Moncrease, Jr.

Partnership & Collaboration Manager, DCYF/ESIT

Misti Pollaro

Parent Training Coordinator, Family Network on Disabilties

About MeMisti Pollaro is a dedicated professional with over 14 years of experience at Family Network on Disabilities, where she has held various roles, from volunteer to IParent Training Coordinator. With more than 30 years of lived experience raising three neurodivergent sons and... Read More →

E Renae` Antalan

Community Collaboration Coordinator & Kinship GrandParent-Caregiver, Department of Children, Youth and Family Services (DCYF)

Good Sipping the Sweet Tea September, Everyone :-)!I hope you and yours are doing well. I come to you from the Squaxin Island and Nisqually Tribal lands of Washington State. I am a grandParent, with a capital 'P' for having raised my two special needs grandchildren for the last 9.5... Read More →

earlyint fam res update nov2023 v01 1 pdf

Division for Early Childhood Racial Equity Point of View pdf

Fact Sheet Advancing Racial Equity in Early Intervention and Preschool Special Education ECTA pdf

DEC One Page Handout FDOH Early Steps appv 9.2024 pdf

Friday September 20, 2024 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT
GrandSalon 6 - 1st fl

Family

Age 0-5
Audience 1 Families
Audience 2 Administrators
Content Level Intermediate

1:15pm CDT

Banning Culturally Relevant Books: Denying Equitable Access to the Future

Friday September 20, 2024 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT

Chequers - 2nd fl

Providing culturally appropriate books for children of color is critical as they deliver stories that mirror their identity, strengthen their self-esteem, and boost their creativity. Florida laws prevent such access and opportunities. Partnering across educational, religious and advocacy groups, we provided 660 appropriate books for young children. Here is our story.

Speakers

Suzanne Martin

Professor emerita, University of Central Florida

Recently retired and getting back to my roots in early childhood.

La Sonya Moore

AGENDA Banning Culturally Relevant Books pdf

Friday September 20, 2024 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT
Chequers - 2nd fl

Policy

Age 3-5
Audience 1 Practitioners
Audience 2 Administrators
Content Level Intermediate

1:15pm CDT

Strategic Alchemy: Forging a Powerful Stakeholder Engagement Blueprint

Friday September 20, 2024 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT

GrandSalon 10 - 1st fl

Join us in the dynamic process of transforming stakeholder engagement into an ongoing and impactful experience. Through strategic and energizing activities, this session provides tools to reshape the engagement process to authentically involve stakeholders in informing your program’s policies and structures and promoting improved outcomes for children and families.

Speakers

Greta Stanfield

TA Specialist, IDEA Data Center/University of Kentucky

Greta Stanfield currently serves as a Technical Assistant specialist for the IDEA Data Center (IDC). Through her role at IDC, she fosters relationships with colleagues and state leadership teams to build systemic processes, based on quality data, which will improve outcomes for children... Read More →

Christina MacDonald

TA Specialist, IDEA Data Center (IDC) and Data Center for Addressing Significant Disproportionality (DCASD)

Christina MacDonald is a TA Provider for the IDEA Data Center (IDC) and the Data Center for Addressing Significant Disproportionality (DCASD) at Westat. A passionate early childhood educator, Ms. MacDonald utilizes her extensive experience engaging diverse stakeholders and sparking... Read More →

StrategicAlchemyStakeholderEngagement DEC2024 508 compliant pptx

Friday September 20, 2024 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT
GrandSalon 10 - 1st fl

Policy

Age 3-5
Audience 1 Practitioners
Audience 2 Administrators
Content Level Intermediate

1:15pm CDT

Nurturing Self-Regulation: Trauma-Informed Practices for Young Children

Friday September 20, 2024 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT

Prince of Wales - 2nd fl

This session will explore the importance of cultural relevance in trauma-informed intervention and provide practical strategies for increasing self-regulation for children in marginalized communities. Through research-based strategies, professionals can create supportive environments that promote resilience for children.

Speakers

Cathy Grist

Professor, Western Carolina University

Cathy L. Grist, Ph.D. is a professor in the Birth-Kindergarten Program at Western Carolina University. Her teaching and work focus on preschool personality, assessment, infant, toddler, and preschool assessment, social-emotional issues, and self-regulation in young children

Lori Caudle

Hannah Thompson

Doctoral Student, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Friday September 20, 2024 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT
Prince of Wales - 2nd fl

Practice

Age 3-5
Audience 1 Practitioners
Audience 2 Administrators
Content Level Intermediate