DONE- Promoting Early Childhood Conference (PEC)

Promoting Early Childhood

March 3–5, 2020

Hyatt Regency and KI Convention Center, Green Bay, WI

Wisconsin’s Collaborative Leadership Forum 
The 2020 Preserving Early Childhood Conference is an Early Childhood Collaborative Event in its 17th year sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. 
 

Conference Goals: 
To provide opportunities for professionals to network and learn ways to promote and implement play and developmentally appropriate practices in the early care and education field.  

Who Should Attend? 
Early childhood leaders from schools, child care, Head Start, home visiting, environmental education and other related programs and services such as: principals, 4K coordinators, special education directors, program support teachers, school board members, child care directors, Head Start directors and coordinators, professional development trainers, community teams, Early Childhood faculty at two- and four-year colleges.  

Main Conference (March 4-5, 2020) 
Keynote Presenter: Susan MacDonald, MEd.

Susan MacDonald is passionate about inspiring positive change in the early childhood field. Her expertise is reflected in her professional speaking, coaching and her books, Inspiring Early Childhood Leadership and Inspiring Professional Growth. Susan is the founder of Inspiring New Perspectives, a consultancy focused on empowering educators and school leaders to create programs that deeply respect and nurture the possibilities that lie within each child, parent, and teacher. Susan has been developing and delivering inspirational courses and workshops for over 25 years. Her background includes director of a Reggio inspired preschool program, adjunct faculty at Lesley University and Wheelock College and Commonwealth of Massachusetts licensing supervisor. Susan holds a Master’s degree in Instructional Design, and multiple professional coaching certifications. She is the past president of Boston Area Reggio Inspired Network and past vice president of the Massachusetts Association for the Education of Young Children.

Breakout Session Topics:

• Implementing a Play-Based Approach 
• Leadership and Collaboration 
• Intentional Educational Planning 
• Family Engagement 
• Developmentally Appropriate Practice 
• Relationship Building (Children and Adults) 
• Early Academics 
• Authentic Assessment 
• Equity and Anti-Bias Curriculum 
• And More… 

Pre-Conference Sessions (March 3, 2020)

1. Nature-Based Education: Learning Naturally: Spend a day with fellow colleagues learning about how nature-based education can support learning for young children. Educators will explore how outdoor play and nature-based learning enriches the whole child, as well as your teaching experience. Come dressed for the weather as Wisconsin Green Schools Network guides us to venture outdoors and dig into how time on our schoolyards, exploring the phenomena that are emerging, not only inspires wonder and joy, but also supports academic skills, sensory integration, grit, social emotional development, problem solving, creativity, and other skills critical to wellbeing. Learn with DPI how the standards support learning naturally and how your school can get recognized! Talk with leaders from Oak Learning Center, part of Green Bay School District, about how school districts and nature centers can partner to offer these experiences.
2. Inclusive Education: The Ability to Learn Together (Wisconsin DPI, Early Childhood Special Education Team): This preconference session will provide interactive and reflective learning opportunities for teams to deepen their understanding of inclusive education. Participants will examine and enhance how programs, classrooms and activities are developed and designed so that all students participate and learn together. Schools, districts and programs are encouraged to attend as teams if possible. 

Hotel Blocks

The Hyatt Regency has a limited number of rooms held at the state per diem rate of $82.00 until February 10, for each of the nights before the conference dates (nights of March 2, 3, and 4). Attendees are responsible for reserving and paying for their own lodging. The Event name to use for the block is "Promoting Early Childhood 2020 Conference." Reservations can be made by calling (920) 432-1234 or (877) 803-7534, using the Event name, or online using the link https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/GRBRG/G-PECH.

Added January 30: We have obtained an additional block of rooms at the adjacent Hampton Inn at a discounted rate of $99.00 until February 11, for each of the nights before the main conference dates (for the nights of March 3 and 4). Attendees are responsible for reserving and paying for their own lodging. The Group name to use for the block is "Promoting Early Childhood." Reservations can be made by calling (800) 457-2929 using the Group name, or online using this link.

DPI Contacts

• For questions about the conference, contact Sherry W. Kimball, sherry.kimball@dpi.wi.gov, 608-267-9625
• For questions about registration, contact Jonas Meyer, jonas.meyer@dpi.wi.gov, 608-267-9267

Registration and Payment: Registration Closes on February 17, 2020

The registration cost depends on attendance option as follows:

• Attend both the main and pre-conference, March 3–5, for $250
• Attend only the main conference, March 4–5, for $200
• Attend only the pre-conference, March 3, for $100

(You will choose the option, and the cost will be adjusted automatically, when registering.)

Further Notes

• Possible payment methods are (1) credit card at the time of registration (preferred) and (2) check made out to DPI mailed to the DPI business office (requested to be sent shortly after registering). If you require an invoice before sending a check, please email Jonas Meyer (jonas.meyer@dpi.wi.gov) to request one. Alternatively, you can provide instructions in a notes box during registration or payment.
• If an attempt to pay with credit card isn't successful for any reason, you may need help from us to "reset" your payment to allow you to try again. Please contact Jonas Meyer (jonas.meyer@dpi.wi.gov) for help with this or any other payment questions.
• The person registering needs to have a myQuickReg (MQR) account here, at the Wisconsin DPI version of MQR. If you already have used MQR for CESA events but not for DPI events, you do need to create an additional account here.  This can be confusing, because the sites look identical but are distinct, with separate calendars and user accounts.

Mailing address for check payment:

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Attn: Accounts Receivable

PO Box 7841

Madison, WI 53707-7841