Preliminary Schedule


pattern pattern

Preliminary Schedule

Monday March 31, 2025

Time Title Location
6:00-5:00 PM

Region 9 Head Start Association Staff Office

In Person

8:00-5:00 PM

Registration

In Person

8:00-5:00 PM

Exhibitors

In Person

8:00-10:30 AM

Coffee and Pastries

In Person

8:30-10:00 AM

Opening General Session with Scott Shigeoka

In Person

10:30-4:30 PM

Board Meeting (Invited Attendees Only)

In Person

10:30-12:00 PM

“Find the Joy from Within by Taking a Joy Break and Adding Joy to Your Work in Early Childhood” with Teresa Byington, Danielle Pertile, and Monica Salazar

 

Coding with Curiosity: Cultivating Computational Thinking in Early Childhood with Maria Teresa Ruiz

 

“Build Curiosity, Wonder, and Problem Solving Skills With Simple Tools, Do-Nothing Machines and Rube Goldberg Contraptions” with Judy Ross

 

“The Big Bang of Learning: Teaching Science in Early Childhood”  with Geraldine Wynn, Lyra Bach, Charmika Hansen, Alesha Zeigler, and Chelsie Shurtleff

 

Breakout Session

In Person

12:00-1:00 PM

Lunch (provided)

In Person

1:00-2:30 PM

“Makers Fantastic Factory – The magic of STEM/STEAM….” with Dr. Shalek Chappill-Nichols

 

“All About Balance with Infants and Toddlers” With Sherri Peterson

 

“Once Upon a Time, There Were Fairy Tales, Finger Plays, and Nursery Rhymes And STEM!” with Judy Ross

 

Breakout Session with keynote speaker Scott Shigeoka

 

Breakout Session

In Person

3:00-4:30 PM

Problem Solvers: Instructional Strategies that Nurture the Next Generation of STEM Thinkers” with Rebecca Parlakian

 

“Grow to Go! Books and expansion ideas to explore biological and physical science biological and physical science” with Jennifer Montgomery

 

“Supporting STEM Readiness through Engineering Play” with David Banzer

 

Breakout Session

 

Breakout Session

In Person

Tuesday April 1, 2025

Time Title Location
6:00-5:00 PM

Region 9 Head Start Association Staff Office

In person

8:00-5:00 PM

Registration

In Person

8:00-5:00 PM

Exhibitors

In Person

8:00-10:30 AM

Coffee and Pastries

In Person

9:00-12:00 PM

Excursions: Site Visit & Obodo Urban Farm

In Person

9:00-12:00 PM

Curriculum Fair

In Person

8:30-10:00 AM

“FCCERS-3 Nature and Science can be a fun part of creating an inviting and child centered environment in your home” with Beth Hart

 

“More Than Just Stuff Discovering the Wonders of Manipulatives, Loose Parts, and Recycled Materials as Part of STEM Explorations” with Judy Ross

 

“Save the Gingerbread Man- Supporting Creativity and Creative Thinking in Children and the Adults Who Serve Them Through Play” with Kim Adams

 

“Children’s Books that Celebrate the Beauty and Power of Our Natural World” with Jennifer Montgomery

 

“Math is My Superpower:  Making Math Fun.” with Ana Reyner

In Person

10:30-12:00 PM

“Knowledge of the Natural World: Strengthening Teacher-Child Interactions Through STEM” with Milani Dobbins and Jessica Castro

 

“Curiosity, Passion, and STEM: The Key to Educator Retention” with Noelle Cook 

 

“It’s OK to Talk about STEM at the Table” with Denise Sidney and Mary Regan

 

“PITC: Exploring Spatial Awareness with Infants and Toddlers” with Paulina Escamilla-Vestal and Consuelo Espinosa

 

“Building Inquiry Through Books and Exploration” with Christina Roseli

In Person

12:00-1:00 PM

Lunch (proided)

In Person

1:00-2:30 PM

“How to Set Up Environments that Promote Joyful STEAM Learning for Infants & Toddlers” with Eric Bucher

 

“Soaring with STEAM: Exploring Imagination, creativity, and Problem-Solving through ‘Whose Wings Are These?” with Maria Teresa Ruiz

 

Leveraging Physical Science to Power Up Children’s Inquiry, Thinking, and Talk: Topics, Approaches, and. Strategies for Preschool Teachers” with Cindy Hoisington and Jessica Mercer-Young

 

Making Space for Preschool Makerspaces: An Up-Close Look at Designing a Makerspace in An Early Childhood Program” with Robin Marx-Mackerley  and Savannah Castanon

 

“Using Loose Parts to Build Numeracy Skills” with Christina Roseli

In Person

3:00-4:30 PM

“Innovative Thinking: Nurturing Creativity, Critical Thinking, and STEAM in the Early Childhood Classroom” with Maria Teresa Ruiz

 

“Messy Play: Fostering Innovation and Creativity in Early Childhood” with Niko Tupuono and Taumaoe Toomalatai

 

“The ‘E” in STEM: Demystifying Engineering” with Abby Vorenberg

 

“STEM Beyond Walls: Outdoor Learning for Young Explorers” with Mary Regan and Denise Sidney

 

Tambourine Energy Booster” with Ana Reyner

In Person

Wednesday April 2, 2025

Time Title Location
6:00-2:30 PM

Region 9 Head Start Association Staff Office

In Person

8:00-10:30 AM

Coffee and Pastries

In Person

8:30-10:00 AM

Directors Exchange

 

“Born to Build, Wonder, Create and Innovate: Burgeoning Engineers, Infants to Preschool” with Brian Mowry 

“STEM and Creativity in the Outdoor Classroom” with Ana Reyner

Breakout Session with Office of Head Start- Region IX

Breakout Session

In Person

10:30-12:00 PM

Igniting the Spark in your Classroom” with Patti Francis

 

Literacy in STEM: Partnering to Build Strong Foundations for Young Learners (Ages 0-5)” with Socorro Pacheco and Valeria Uscanga

 

Breakout Session with Delia Vicente and Dr. Alma D Guerrero

 

Breakout Session with Office of Head Start- Region IX

 

Breakout Session

In Person

12:30-1:30 PM

Closing General Session with Amanda Bryans

In Person

1:30-2:30 PM

Lunch (provided)

In Person

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Testimonials

Head Start Gear

CHECK OUT OUR NEW COLLECTION

Latest News

  • Admin
  • September 22, 2021

CCRC’s Response to Universal Transitional Kindergarten

by Michael Olenick, Ph.D., President & CEO with research by Aja Goare For more ...
Read More
  • Admin
  • May 5, 2021

Family Engagement Keynote Anthony Barrows: Applying Behavioral Science to Program Design

Do you know what’s best for you and your family? This is a simple ...
Read More
  • Admin
  • May 5, 2021

At 55 Years and in a Pandemic, Head Start Is Still Connected

By Edward Condon, Executive Director Region 9 Head Start Association Every year at Head Start’s ...
Read More

Questions? Contact us at headstartr9@region9hsa.org.