SCC to Host Early Childhood Education Conference

Child care and early education leaders and teachers from throughout eastern Missouri will gather at St. Charles Community College for the spring conference of the Rivers Bend Association for the Education of Young Children (RBAEYC) April 12-13.

RBAEYC’s annual “Spring Curriculum Conference” and the “Stepping Up to Leadership” preconference event will offer opportunities for early childhood teachers, providers, administrators and college students seeking careers in child care and early education to enhance their skills and share their experiences.

The annual Spring Curriculum Conference will be held 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 13, in the Daniel J. Conoyer Social Sciences Building on the SCC campus. More than 40 workshops will be available for teachers and teacher-education students. Several vendors will also be onsite to provide educational resources for the classroom, including children’s books, puppets and blocks.

The Stepping Up to Leadership preconference event will take place the day before the conference, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, April 12. The preconference event is for early childhood program managers, directors and administrators. The keynote speaker, Linda Estes, SCC child care and early education program coordinator, will encourage participants to embrace the concept of optimistic leadership in early childhood education. There will also be selected workshops for leaders and perspective leaders.

“The conference provides students the opportunity to get involved and learn more about the field and to network with area professionals,” said Estes. “There will be more than 300 teachers and administrators who work with children from birth through third grade at the conference.” 

The cost includes lunch and is $55 for the conference, $95 for the preconference event and $130 for both events, if postmarked by March 30, or registered online by April 6. Additional discounts are available for those who are members of National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Continuing Education Units are available for an additional fee.

For more information, visit the RBAEYC website, www.rbaeyc.org, or contact Estes at 636-922-8669 or lestes@stchas.edu.

RBAEYC is the Eastern Missouri chapter of the Association for the Education of Young Children of Missouri, which is part of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The mission of the association is to promote excellence in early childhood programs through education, professional development, and advocacy.

St. Charles Community College is a public, comprehensive two-year community college with associate degrees and certificate programs in the arts, business, sciences and career-technical fields. SCC provides workforce training and community-based personal and professional development as well as cultural, recreational and entertainment opportunities. For more information, visit www.stchas.edu.