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Early Years Conference Logo

21st Annual Early Years Conference

Power to the professional: diversity, equity, inclusion

 March 15 and 16, 2024
Town and Country Resort
500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108

 


~ The conference has sold out for both days and registration is now closed. ~
We look forward to seeing attendees in March.


 


About the Conference

Join us for the 21st Annual Early Years Conference on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion! The Early Years Conference is a celebration of your personal learning journey and unwavering dedication to the continuous improvement of early childhood education. This year's conference promises to be an enlightening experience, aimed at showcasing how your role as an early educator fosters diversity, equity, and inclusion in all early learning and care settings.

We eagerly anticipate your participation in this upcoming year's conference, where we will collectively celebrate your journey, commitment, and dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion in early learning and care settings. Together, we'll equip ourselves with the knowledge and tools to create a more responsive and empowering educational experience for every child and family.

Cancelation and Refund Policy

To cancel your conference registration, please contact the Conference team at eeconferences@sdcoe.net. No refund will be made for requests received 14 or fewer calendar days before the event date. You may request a refund by sending an email to eeconferences@sdcoe.net. Be sure to include your name; the name of the conference; the reason for requesting a refund; your phone number; and your email address. Failure to include all necessary information may delay processing. By registering for this event, you agree to the above cancellation/refund policy.

Keynote Speakers

Composite bio images of Senta Green and Dr Kathleen Van Antwerp

Friday, March 15: Senta Greene and Dr. Kathleen Van Antwerp

Mrs. Senta Greene and Dr. Kathleen Van Antwerp, “Dr. K,” celebrate a 30-plus-year proven track record in professional learning and development and leadership services with expertise in family empowerment, disabilities services, trauma-informed care and practices, and anti-bias, anti-racist and anti-hate work for child-youth social justice. In 2022, Senta and Kathleen led thousands of committed educators and program leaders nationwide and across service industries in inclusive practices and trauma-informed care and responsive practices work. Their deep understanding of human development, brain science, organizational development, and the importance of emotional intelligence is a distinctive element of why they are nationally recognized as human developmentalists, skilled facilitators, trainers, and systems strategists. As former early intervention and inclusion specialists, collectively, their work has been the catalytic action for systems change for children and families in Austria, Amsterdam, China, England, Finland, Jamaica, and the United States.

In their unique co-facilitation and co-directorship, Senta and Kathleen unite their voices, their hearts, purpose, and capacity as women in leadership that model and deliver personal empowerment, conscious leadership, and effective teaming for collective healing and social justice.

Bio image for Dr Talisa Sullivan

Saturday, March 16: Dr. Talisa Sullivan

Dr. Talisa Sullivan currently serves as the executive director of Equity for the San Diego County Office of Education, and has been an educator for more than 20 years, serving students, teachers, staff, families, and the community across five large counties in Southern California: San Diego, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Orange. She specializes in serving marginalized populations who have experienced intergenerational inequities and marginalization and has built a rapport as an equity leader for county offices, comprehensive and alternative schools, and programs throughout the Greater Los Angeles Area. She earned a bachelor of arts in Spanish and a teaching credential from Cal State Dominguez Hills, a master of arts in Educational Administration from Cal State San Bernardino, and a Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis on Urban Leadership from  Claremont Graduate University. 

In addition to serving as an educator in K-12 public education, Dr. Sullivan serves as an adjunct professor in the School of Education for the Teacher Education Program and the Ethnic Studies program as well as the Doctoral in Education Leadership Program at local universities. She also serves as the founder, CEO, and lead  consultant for Transformational Leadership Consulting. 

Dr. Sullivan has a magnitude of knowledge and training in education and is passionate about working with educators who prepare students for 21st-century college and careers. She specializes in the following areas;  Adaptive Leadership, Equitable Practices, Marginalized Populations, Alternative Education, Restorative  Justice, Diversity, Leadership Development, and Cultural Proficiency. She has developed an equity framework and conference called Quantum Ten (Q10).
 

 

 

 

Conference Objectives

Anti-Bias Education: Ensure educators are anti-racist and free of bias, student-centered, and focused on the whole child, including their social and emotional needs. Build understanding of how children develop the concept of race at an early age and how this impacts their understanding of self and the world. Foster inclusive conversations that promote tolerance and respect.

Culturally Relevant Strategies: This conference strives to equip the workforce with strategies that are culturally relevant and responsive. Learn how to engage with children, families, and communities from diverse backgrounds effectively. Promote an asset-based lens and emphasize strengths, talents, and potential in every child and family.

Inclusive Practices: Respond to the needs of children in all levels of ability. Discover inclusive teaching methods that create an environment where every child can thrive. Gain a deeper understanding of all children, including those with exceptional needs, and discover how these practices lay the foundation for lifelong learning and success.

Multi-Language Learners: Delve into effective strategies and approaches for nurturing the language development and cultural competence of multilingual learners in early learning and care settings. Gain insights into creating inclusive environments that celebrate linguistic diversity and promote strong language foundations for all children.

Strengthening Families: Supply information about removing barriers for families within the early learning and care mixed delivery system. Empower families to engage actively in their children's education and overcome obstacles. Strengthening families is a crucial aspect of early learning and empowering parents ensures children have the support they need to flourish.

Trauma and Resilience: Explore the vital role of trauma-informed practices in early learning and how they contribute to the well-being and development of young learners. Learn strategies to create safe and supportive environments that foster resilience in children who have experienced trauma, enabling them to thrive and reach their full potential.

Graphic of hands over the letters DEI

Spotlight on Early Literacy

Early literacy plays a crucial role in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in several ways:

Language Development: By including books that feature diverse languages and dialects, children can learn to appreciate linguistic diversity and develop respect for different ways of speaking. 

Cultural Awareness: Reading stories that celebrate different cultural traditions, holidays, and customs can help children develop cultural competence and a sense of belonging, regardless of their own cultural background. 

Critical Thinking and Empathy: Exposure to diverse narratives encourages critical thinking and discussions about fairness, justice, and equality. It fosters empathy as children learn to relate to characters who face challenges due to their race, gender, abilities, or other characteristics.

Early literacy serves as a powerful tool for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion by shaping children's attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors from a young age. By exposing children to diverse voices, stories, and experiences, we can help build a more inclusive and equitable society for future generations.

 

 

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), PreKindergarten/Transitional Kindergarten (PK/TK), and/or Kindergarten (K).

Sponsors

Becoming an Early Years Conference sponsor is a valuable way to connect with early childhood education professionals, exchange information, and introduce new products and services. This in-person, two-day conference will be at San Diego’s Town and Country Hotel at 500 Hotel Circle North on March 15 and 16, 2024. This event is anticipated to draw over 1,000 professionals and is designed to provide valuable brand advertising and networking for your organization. Become a sponsor today and be introduced to this extensive group of growing professionals advancing the field of early learning and education!

Select the sponsorship level that best fits your organization!

  2-Day Platinum $1,600 2-Day Gold $1,350 1-Day Silver $900 Star Partner $500
  Platinum Level Application Gold Level Application Silver Level Application Star Partner  Application
Color advertisement/ recognition in the official event program and emailed electronically to all attendees Full Page Color
(5.5W"X4.25H")
1/2 Page Color
(5.5W"X4.25H")
1/4 Page Color
(2.75W"X4.25H")
1/4 Page Color
(2.75W"X4.25H")
Company logo visibility and recognition on San Diego County Office of Education’s website conference page (hyperlink logo) and event Included  Included  Included  Included 
Company website link on post-event thank you email Included  Included  Included  Included 
Recognition on San Diego County Office of Education’s website conference page (hyperlink logo) Included  Included  Included  Included 
Meals for company representatives (breakfast, lunch, snack) & conference entry to attend sessions 2 Representatives 2 Representatives 1 Representative  
Exhibit table to display your company materials and resources Included  Included  Included   
Post attendee email list Included  Included     
Priority selection of exhibit table location (secured after payment received) Included       
Access to exhibitor hall for pre-set up (8pm – 9:30pm evening before conference) Included       
Promotion of product or service demonstration in the conference schedule with description Included       
Banner advertisement in one of the San Diego County Office of Education’s Quality Preschool Initiative Preschool email blast (Quarter 4) Included       
 
 

Platinum Sponsors

Discount School Supply Logo
YMCA Logo
Lakeshore logo
Right Start Employment Group Logo
The Discovery Source logo

 

 

Gold Sponsors

San Diego Foundation logo
Teaching Strategies Logo
Vertical Change Logo
Teachstone Logo
NAEYC Logo
Learning Genie Logo
BrightLife Kids Logo
KAPLAN Logo

 

 

Silver Sponsors

Care Connect Logo
SD Children First Collective

 

 

Community Partners

CPIN Logo
LPC logo
SD Public Library Logo
SDCOE Educator Pathways Logo

 

 

Partner Sponsors

First 5 San Diego Logo
SD County HHSA
san diego county office of education future without boundaries horizontal secondary logo color

 

 

 

Accommodations

Early Years Conference attendees may use this courtesy link for a discount off of the best available rate depending on when guests book.

 

Town and Country Resort
500 Hotel Cir N
San Diego, CA 92108