76th Annual SECA Conference

The SECA Leadership Summit (additional registration fee) is a one-day event held on Thursday, March 20, 2025. Educators from across the country will visit various off-site early childhood centers and end with an afternoon discussion. Please note that this event is partially off-site meaning you will not be able to attend any workshop sessions from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm during the SECA conference.  Leadership Summit will begin with tours that will leave at 9:00 am and conclude around 1:00 pm.  Participants will meet in the hotel lobby. Upon returning to the conference site, participants will conclude the day with an afternoon tea and table discussions about effective leadership with an amazing group of SECA FOSSILS.  Space is limited, so please register early.

Join us as we share our attempts at minimizing the child care staffing crisis in our state, through two initiatives that are training high school students in early childhood education best practices. The University of Arkansas Fort Smith Early Childhood Education Program, in collaboration with the Arkansas Early Childhood Association, has piloted two models for offering college credit and early childhood credentials to secondary learners. After graduating from their local high schools, these students will have the training for providing the highest quality of care to children birth-five. Furthermore, they will be able to continue their education through the fully online Early Childhood Associate and Bachelor degrees, while employed in their local child development centers. We will have a time for brainstorming alternate solutions to the current staffing crisis, as we are all in this together!

Early Childhood Education has survived the COVID era (barely), but that survival has been precarious. The urgent call for strategies to save, strengthen and build this profession has been heard for years. Find out what South Carolina is doing to build the profession in our state and identify strategies you can adopt to strengthen the profession in your state, as well as strengthen the professional within you!

SECA is desiring to work with affiliates to offer an open forum to strengthen our state organizations. This session is meant to be a learning and sharing opportunity for all. For the first hour (2:45-3:45), each state's leadership team involved in day to day business operations should plan to attend. The content will include membership, Wild Apricot, organizational techniques, and reasonable expectations. 
During the 2nd hour (4-5), we'll review information for those who are conference planners. In part 2 - we will focus more on providing ideas for state conferences/funding, how to find keynotes/ local presenters/ sponsors, program - printed or apps, and negotiating with hotels/conference centers/AV companies.
This will be an opportunity to share in an open panel with one another offering guidance to others and asking for suggestions for improvement for all. Participants are welcome to attend one or both sessions.  

Have you ever wondered about shared leadership and how you can leverage the strengths of each person you work with? This interactive training for teachers, administrators, and specialists provides you an opportunity to examine and reflect on your own practices by exploring different styles of leadership and vision statements to guide you in becoming successful leaders in any role. This is a collaborative time for understanding and using different early childhood education roles to create a culture of building school-wide partnerships and individual relationships that support high-quality outcomes for children and families. Participants will work together to compose an alignment resource that correlates state standards (including QRIS, core competencies, and early learning guidelines) and NAEYC developmentally appropriate practices to promote best practices as we encourage teachers to be leaders. After our time together you will walk away with a leadership vision, practical next steps, and a clear understanding of how leadership styles tie into your role and how to empower others to grow leadership skills in the work they are doing. We will also explore how teachers can empower their children and families to be leaders and advocates so that everyone in the school is engaging in the Joy of Shared Leadership.

Beyond the Basics: Transforming Early Learning Through Visionary Leadership and Proven Strategies

Discover how to elevate early childhood programs from surviving to thriving in this dynamic and interactive session. With a focus on children from birth to five years old, this presentation will provide actionable insights and tools to transform your childcare center into a high-quality, sustainable program. Led by Dr. Daphene Booker-Harris, The Preschool Icon™, attendees will learn from her proven 7-figure blueprint and groundbreaking approaches that have empowered over 200 childcare business owners worldwide.

Participants will explore key leadership strategies, innovative family engagement practices, and methods to align profitability with purpose, all while adhering to state licensing regulations and quality standards. Through real-life case studies, hands-on workshops, and group discussions, you’ll gain practical tools to implement immediately. Whether you’re navigating challenges or looking to expand your impact, this session will inspire and equip you to create meaningful change in your program.

Leave with a personalized action plan and a commitment to take your program to the next level. Join us to learn how visionary leadership and strategic planning can transform your center into a model of excellence, sustainability, and community impact. Perfect for childcare center owners, directors, and early childhood professionals, this session will ignite your passion for making a difference in the lives of young children and families.