Schools

SCC Hosts Early Childhood Education Conference

Child care and early education leaders and teachers to gather for Rivers Bend Association for the Education of Young Children

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 13-14.

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

The annual Spring Curriculum Conference will be held 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 14, in the Daniel J. Conoyer Social Sciences Building on the SCC campus. More than 40 sessions will be available, covering topics such as behavior and guidance issues, math activities, special needs, planning for infants and toddlers, outdoor fun and learning, and many more. 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 13. The preconference event is for early childhood program directors and managers as well as those individuals interested in operating their own child care businesses. Featured keynote speaker Julie Ray, professor and interim chair for the department of elementary, early and special education at Southeast Missouri State University, will discuss how to develop a comprehensive family engagement for early childhood. Other topics covered in the sessions include family and community connections, tips for coaching adults and assessing early childhood centers for overall care.

“The conference draws more than 300 teachers and administrators who work with children from birth through third grade,” said Linda Estes, SCC child care and early education program coordinator. “It’s also a tremendous opportunity for students to get involved and learn more about the field and to network with area professionals.”

The cost includes lunch and is $55 for the conference, $95 for the preconference event and $130 for both events, if postmarked by March 31, or registered online by April 5. 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.


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