Skip To Main Content
Power to the Professional

20th annual early years conference - prenatal to third grade

March 10 and 11, 2023 ● Town and Country Resort Hotel
Power to the Professional: B-3

Conference has reached capacity. Registration now closed.

Learn more ▼

 

 

 

 
 
 

About the Conference

Join us for the 20th Annual Early Years Conference where we will celebrate your personal learning journey and commitment to continuous improvement in early childhood education. By attending this conference, you will learn how your role as an early educator is the key to bridging early learning programs and kindergarten through 3rd grade.  Attendees will also increase their knowledge of developmentally appropriate practice to support a strong B-3 (birth through third grade) continuum. 

Research shows that early childhood educators make a difference in the lives of the children they care for. There is a direct relationship between children’s school achievement and their caregiver’s knowledge, skills, and disposition. Our approach to closing the opportunity gap is exposing educators to high-quality professional learning and building their self-confidence, self-awareness, and self-worth.  We look forward to you being a part of the conference this upcoming year. 

 
 
 

 

This conference strives to…

  • Equip the workforce with strategies that are culturally relevant and responsive
  • Promote an asset-based lens when working with children and when engaging with families and communities
  • Promote the use of differentiated supports to meet the needs of dual language learners
  • Respond to the needs of children in all levels of ability
  • Build understanding of how children develop concept of race at an early age and how this impacts their understanding of self and the world
  • Ensure educators are anti-racist and free of bias, student-centered, and focused on the whole child, including their social and emotional needs
  • Supply information about removing barriers for families within the education system
 
20th annual early years conference - prenatal to third grade

 

By attending this conference, you will learn how your role as an early educator is the key to bridging early learning programs and kindergarten through 3rd grade. Attendees will also increase their knowledge of developmentally appropriate practice to support a strong B-3 (birth through third grade) continuum.

 

 

Featured Keynote Speaker

Bio image of Jennifer Selbitchschka

Jennifer Selbitschka
Director of the Teacher Education Program at Boulder Journey School, a masters/licensure program in partnership with University Colorado Denver and the Colorado Department of Education

Jennifer began as a toddler teacher and then transitioned into the position of Studio Teacher in 2005, working with all ages in the school, infants through kindergarten. She has been a part of the Teacher Education Program team since 2005 and took on the role of director for the program in 2018. In addition to her Director position, she supports the pedagogical work of the classrooms in the school and is Course Lead for four of the graduate courses in the Teacher Education Program as well as the Innovative Early Childhood Education program, a fully online master's degree program inspired by the Teacher Education Program and in partnership with University Colorado Denver. Outside of Boulder Journey School, Jennifer has served on numerous statewide committees and work groups focused on ECE workforce development and has been a member of the Advisory Council to the Early Childhood Council of Boulder County since 2007. She received her master's degree in Educational Psychology in 2001 and her doctoral degree in Leadership and Innovation, with a focus in ECE, in 2009. She draws heavy inspiration from the work of the schools in Reggio Emilia, Italy, and values from the schools are interwoven in every aspect of her work. Fun fact, she is a California native and graduated from UCSD (Marshall College). Her sister lives in San Diego, so San Diego remains a favorite place to visit and thus, she is so excited to be here!

 

 

Young kids playing with building blocks

 

Target Audience

Individuals who work directly with or in support of the following age groups: Infant/Toddler (I/T), Preschool (PK), Transitional/Kindergarten (TK/K), and 1st through 3rd Grade (1-3).

 

 

 

Thank you to our sponsors


Partner Sponsor

Frist 5 San Diego logo


Platinum Sponsors

Benchmark education logo
 
 
San Diego College of Continuing Education
First 12 days of preschool logo

 

The discovery source logo
Lakeshore logo
YMCA logo
Leaning Genie logo


Gold Sponsor

dr mike logo
 
San Diego Foundation logo
Discount school supply
Schools First Federal Credit Union Logo


Silver Sponsors

Frog Street logo
Hooray for TK logo
Tootris Logo
Heinemann logo
Empathy in Nature Project Logo

 

 

 

Accommodations

Early Years Conference Hotel Room Rates: First come, first serve for the hotel courtesy rate of $299 for Thursday night and $179 for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night. Courtesy room rate is based on availability at the time you contact the reservations team at:
800-772-8527.

Town and Country
Resort Hotel

500 Hotel Circle North
San Diego, CA 92108
800-772-8527