Early Years Conference Brings Power to the Professional

The San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE)’s Early Education team welcomed more than 1,300 attendees to the 21st Annual Early Years conference. This year's theme was Power to the Professional: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and approximately 800 people attended on Friday, March 15, and more than 500 on Saturday, March 16.

Over the course of two days, participants attended sessions geared to teachers and caregivers as well as leaders and administrators, in English and Spanish. Topics ranged from literacy development to creating equitable learning experiences. 

The conference featured three keynote speakers: Senta Greene and Dr. Kathleen Van Antwerp on Friday, who discussed empowering families and creating welcoming environments, and Dr. Talisa Sullivan, executive director of equity for SDCOE, who conducted a fireside chat with her mother, a former teacher. Dozens of breakout sessions and many sponsors provided additional opportunities for learning and sharing best practices for working with our youngest learners.
                                                                                                                                                                               
This year, SDCOE received a grant from the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, which allowed them to offset the cost of registration, reducing it from $250 for two days to $55.

“We are so grateful for the grant this year because it allows so many people who couldn’t afford the registration fee the opportunity to attend and enhance their program,” said Dr. Rita Palet, executive director of early education for SDCOE.

The Early Years Conference is an opportunity for personal learning for child care providers and administrators focused on continuous improvement of early childhood education. This year's conference theme was aimed at showcasing how early educators foster diversity, equity, and inclusion in all early learning and care settings.