76th Annual SECA Conference: Full Schedule

Welcome! We’re so glad you’re here!

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7:30am CDT

Moving Beyond PowerPoint: Making Virtual and In-person Training Engaging, Interactive, and Effective LIMITED

Friday March 21, 2025 7:30am - 8:30am CDT

This session will focus on strategies to include more engagement and interactive opportunities for participants in training sessions both virtual and in-person. Engagement land interaction are just as important to adults as to children.New and easy-to-use digital tools will be introduced to facilitate effective training that is robust, energetic, and adaptable to many settings.

Speakers

Nancy Alexander

Director, NSU Child and Family Network

Nancy P. Alexander is director of Northwestern State University Child and Family Network. NSU Child and Family Network provides a variety of professional development programs including webinars, CDA training, coaching, online, and conferences. Nancy earned a bachelor’s degree from... Read More →

Friday March 21, 2025 7:30am - 8:30am CDT
Legends I

Professional Development

8:45am CDT

Building Background Knowledge Using Literacy and Engaging Activities LIMITED

Friday March 21, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am CDT

Legends I

This session will provide early childhood educators information about the importance of building background knowledge. It will also demonstrate how educators can use literacy to and engaging activities to build background knowledge. The participants will then have the opportunity to create a short literacy lesson that builds background knowledge with a group that has a measurable objective and an engaging activity.

Speakers

Caydan Roberson

Niekisha Walker

Senior Training Specialist, Department of Veterans Affairs

I am a training specialist with the VA. I have previously worked as an Instructional Systems Specialist with the Air Force and Army. I also have experience as a govt contractor with the Navy. Before I began working with the government, I was Media Specialist for K-5th and a teacher... Read More →

Friday March 21, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am CDT
Legends I

Age Level, Infant/Toddler, PreSchool, Kindergarten

1:00pm CDT

Apples, Alligators, and All That! LIMITED

Friday March 21, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Legends I

"Apples, Alligators, and All That" will be a jam-packed fun and entertaining session! In the session we will gain knowledge of phonological awareness and its importance. We will sing and dance and learn new alphabet songs to use in the classroom to help your students to be strong in early literacy with definite letter recognition and confidence in letter recognition and letter sounds. Many door prizes and giveaways! Come join us!!

Speakers

Stephanie Carroll Books /Apples, Alligators, and All That

Pre-K Teacher, Ferriday Lower Elementary

Friday March 21, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Legends I

Curriculum, Literacy

2:15pm CDT

Strengthening the Early Childhood Workforce: Strategies from New Orleans LIMITED

Friday March 21, 2025 2:15pm - 4:30pm CDT

Legends I

In 2022, New Orleans voters passed a 20-year property tax (millage) that allocates over $20 million annually to provide free early childhood seats and services. With state matching funds that doubles this investment, New Orleans has had to rapidly expand its early childhood infrastructure, including its workforce. Join the leader of the city’s early childhood workforce task force to learn how New Orleans is thinking about teacher preparation and pathways, pay and benefits, and retention and recruitment for early childhood educators.

Speakers

Derrick Toups

Deputy Director, Center for Early Childhood Advancement, Agenda for Children

Derrick Toups lives in New Orleans where he serves as Deputy Director, Center for Early Childhood Advancement at Agenda for Children. At Agenda, Derrick annually oversees more than $45 million of public funding, contracts, and capacity building initiatives as part of implementing... Read More →

Orleans Parish Early Care and Education Workforce Task Force Playbook pdf

SECA 2025 Strengthening the Early Childhood Workforce Strategies from New Orleans pdf

Friday March 21, 2025 2:15pm - 4:30pm CDT
Legends I

Advocacy Admin