76th Annual SECA Conference has ended

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76th Annual SECA Conference

Welcome! We’re so glad you’re here!

8:00am CDT

Voices of Early Childhood Educators: Conversations About Change in the U.S. South; Meet the Authors and Hear About SECA’s New Book. Legends I Be the 1 that Makes a Difference! Legends VJudy Prine Supporting Language and Brain Development in Early Childhood Legends VIIBeth Haynes • Beth Haynes Using Play Intentionally to Build Social Skills and Prevent Challenging Behaviors Legends VIRebecca Freedman • Francine Prince Working with Families of Preschool Children with Special Needs Legends IIINancy Kidd • Miranda Newland • Mee-Ryoung Shon Making Marks and Spinning Stories: Sparking Creativity in Emergent Writers Legends II

9:00am CDT

2025 SECA Leadership Summit Legends I

9:15am CDT

Using Core Competencies to Support Planning Time & High Quality Environments Legends VAnna Burton • Erin Hamel Exploring Art Appreciation for Toddlers Legends IIINatalie Jackson Sensory Processing 101 for Early Childhood Educators: Recognizing Signs and Creating Supportive Environments Legends VIIVickie Maertz Open Ended Play Explorations Legends VIMariah Burnley "Penning Playfully: Sparking Literacy in Preschoolers Through Shared and Interactive Writing!" Legends IICristy Dothard • Contessa McCloud • Amy Harbour Inclusive Practices for General Education Classrooms Legends ICindy Galloway • Amanda Bailey

11:30am CDT

The Five Pillars of Purpose-Driven Profit Legends IKathy Ligon Educating Secondary Students to Fill the Child Care Educator Pipeline Legends VShelli Henehan Creating Math Experiences for Young Children: How Do I Do That? Legends VISusan Clark Breaking the Barriers of Limitations! Together We can! Legends VIIMansur Choudry Choices: Essential to Preschool Children's Cognitive and Social/Emotional Development Legends IIIKaran Marshall Integrating Media and Technology in Early Childhood Education: Legends IIStacey Holmes

1:30pm CDT

Children and Lead: What We Don't Know Can Hurt Them Legends VTunga Otis Code Me a Story: Linking Literacy with Computational Thinking and Engineering Legends IIMaria Beattie • Tasha Felder Imaginative Small World Play Legends VIRebecca Evans Creating Meaningful Activities and Interactions that Provide Opportunities for Children to Thrive Legends VIIMary Hannah Mills Strengthen the Profession by Strengthening the Professionals Legends IIIKristine Jenkins

2:45pm CDT

Perceptions and Experiences of Climate Change in Early Childhood Education Legends IIIErin Hamel • Emily Adah Miller • Hong Tran STEAM-based Activities for Young Ecologists Legends VIAmy Velchoff AI in the Classroom: Innovative Strategies for Engaging Early Childhood Learners Legends VIILisa Cook Managing Your Monkeys: Keeping Tasks from Overwhelming Your Day Legends VKate Woodward Young • Childcare Conversations Working Smarter, Not Harder - part 1 and part 2 Legends IIJudy Whitesell • Becky Wardlaw

4:00pm CDT

Loose Parts Play in the Preschool Classroom Legends VIMichelle Brunson • Omar Vigo The Magic of ABC-123 Behavior Change Plans Legends VIIRebecca Freedman • Francine Prince Shooting for Exceptional Professional Development: Creating Connection & Capacity Legends IIIBeverly Alford • Sharon Jackson

5:00pm CDT

SECA Fossils Meeting Legends I

7:30am CDT

What Pushes Your Buttons? Recognizing and Reacting to Your Triggers Legends VIICindy Galloway • Amanda Bailey Early Childhood Development, But Make It BINGO Legends IIDerrick Toups Recognizing Developmental Delay in the Early Childhood Setting Legends IIIElizabeth Barnard • April Crutcher Moving Beyond PowerPoint: Making Virtual and In-person Training Engaging, Interactive, and Effective Legends INancy Alexander The Left Brain of Quality: Leadership and Logistics Legends VNiki DaJon, MBA

8:00am CDT

ust for Students Breakfast: Students Start YOUR Engine!! with Lisa Maddox Vinson Champions 3

8:45am CDT

Shooting for Parent Engagement in Their Child's Learning: Plans & Resources Legends VIISharon Jackson Building Background Knowledge Using Literacy and Engaging Activities Legends ICaydan Roberson • Niekisha Walker From Reaction to Reflection: Supporting Social-Emotional Development in the Preschool Classroom Legends VIKristin Hommel-Miller • Vanessa Leal Emotional Intelligence: The Role of the Early Childhood Educator Legends IITara Dickerson • Mary Thorne Sounds Like Play: Using Play to Foster Phonemic Awareness with Young Children Legends IIIDouglas Bell

9:00am CDT

Coffee with the Exhibitors Discovery Ballroom Silent Auction Begins Registration Visit with the Exhibitors! Discovery Ballroom

10:00am CDT

Friday Keynote Speaker Steve Gross and The Healing Power of Play and Optimism Legends IV Ballroom

12:15pm CDT

Visit with the Exhibitors! Discovery Ballroom

12:30pm CDT

In pursuit of What Is in the Best Interest of Children: Reflections on Practices that Support Children’s Success: A Panel with Authors Legends VII Your Voice Matters - The Preschool Revolution: Building a Culture of Equity from the Start Champions 3Audrey Rowland

1:00pm CDT

Cultivating a Connection: Ensuring Every Child Feels Valued Legends IIITammy Compton • Teresa Phillips Add Pop to Parent Participation Legends VHely Martinez The Power of Failure; Helping Build Resilient Kids Legends IIJolene Tollett • Rosmery Nieto Enhancing Family Engagement in Early Childhood Education Legends VIStacey Holmes Apples, Alligators, and All That! Legends IStephanie Carroll Books /Apples, Alligators, and All That

2:15pm CDT

Visit with the Exhibitors! Discovery Ballroom Owning Your Power Legends VKate Woodward Young • Childcare Conversations Storytime STEM: Fusing Inquiry, Literacy, and Playful Learning Legends VIIDiane Jackson Schnoor Hands-on Activities to Encourage Emotional Development in Early Education Legends IIConnie Stout O'Dell Tanya Stewart Empowering Minds, Nurturing Hearts: Trauma-Sensitive Teaching for Student Resilience Legends IIIPamela Cernjul, Ed.D Strengthening the Early Childhood Workforce: Strategies from New Orleans Legends IDerrick Toups

3:15pm CDT

Visit with the Exhibitors! Discovery Ballroom

3:30pm CDT

SECA Conversations for Change Champions 3 Top Secret Tips to Keeping Your Incredible Staff Legends VKate Woodward Young • Childcare Conversations Advocacy, It's Everyone's Job Legends VIITammy Rutland ECE Partnerships: Convergence of the Ideal and Reality Legends VIRyan Alverson • Jaesook Gilbert Connecting with the Entire School Community to Supercharge your Music Program. Legends IIIRob Sayer How to Speak Up: It’s Even For Introverts Legends IITonya Lehman

4:45pm CDT

Silent Auction Ends! Registration

6:00pm CDT

You’re Invited! SECA Awards Reception Legends IV Ballroom

8:00am CDT

Intentional Light Play with Infants and Toddlers Legends IIIMariah Burnley Building Strong Partnerships: Enhancing Early Childhood Education for Exceptionalities Legends IRebecca Aslinger Discipling Big Emotions Through The Arts Legends VIIDr. Maria Rutherford Implementation of a Multi- Component Workshop Model for Teachers in Inclusive Centers. Legends VILucy Gitonga PhD Image of the Child: Developmental Cascades Legends VMary Harper, PhD • Danielle McLellan-Bujnak • Josh Thompson • Zlata Stankovic-Ramirez Coffee with the Exhibitors! Discovery Ballroom

9:15am CDT

Visit with the Exhibitors! Discovery Ballroom Mindfulness in the Classroom: Cultivating Calm and Focus in Early Learners Legends IIPamela Cernjul, Ed.D Let's Recycle! Project-Based Learning through the Lens of a PreK Classroom Legends IMaria Beattie • Julia Hensler Social Emotional Development for Young Children: The Power of Positive Affirmations and Self-Love Legends IIICrystal Campbell

10:15am CDT

Visit with the Exhibitors! Discovery Ballroom

10:30am CDT

Integrating Arts and Artists in Early Childhood Literacy Legends VIAngela Dittmar Building Emotional Bridges with Colleagues and Young Children: Restorative Communication Techniques for Early Childhood Educators Legends IIIJennifer Moore The Joy of Shared Leadership: Leveraging Everyone’s Strengths; Support School Community Legends IAnna Burton Calm, Cool, and Connected: Working with Challenging Behaviors Legends VDouglas Bell

12:30pm CDT

Visit with the Exhibitors! Discovery Ballroom

12:45pm CDT

The Power of Play: Neurodevelopmental Techniques and Play Interventions Legends IIIMaria Sargent Oral Storytelling: Creating A Literate Foundation in Young Children Legends VIDavid Brown • Melanie Loewenstein Introducing Young Learners to Art and Artists through Children’s Books Legends VLin Moore Nurturing Young Writers: CLASS Strategies for Early Literacy Success Legends IIKatherine Dyson Beyond the Basics: Transforming Early Learning Through Visionary Leadership and Proven Strategies Legends IDr. Daphene Booker-Harris