We are Better Together: Full Schedule

12:00pm EDT

Early Registration /Check In

Tuesday November 1, 2022 12:00pm - 1:30pm EDT
Registration Table

1:30pm EDT

Panel Discussion

Tuesday November 1, 2022 1:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
Chesapeake Room Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa And Marina | 100 Heron Blvd, US-50, Cambridge, MD 21613

Chesapeake

5:00pm EDT

Happy Hour

Tuesday November 1, 2022 5:00pm - 6:00pm EDT

8:00am EDT

Registration Opens / Breakfast- (Chesapeake A/B/C/D)

Wednesday November 2, 2022 8:00am - 9:15am EDT
Registration Table

9:30am EDT

Welcome / Opening

Wednesday November 2, 2022 9:30am - 11:30am EDT
Chesapeake Room Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa And Marina | 100 Heron Blvd, US-50, Cambridge, MD 21613

Chesapeake

11:30am EDT

Lunch (Chesapeake A/B/C/D) / Vendor Visits/Networking

Wednesday November 2, 2022 11:30am - 1:00pm EDT
TBA

Vendor

1:00pm EDT

Systems Thinking Workshop | Wednesday Session

Projected Workshop Outcomes:

Participants will engage in strategies that build cross sector collaboration and communication skills.
Participants will gain a comprehensive “big picture” understanding of the Maryland early childhood system through professional relationships that build an informed approach to blueprint implementation.
Participants will learn and practice methods that enable them to collect and show evidence of measurable progress leading to successful outcomes for children and families
Participants will become systems thinkers who are better prepared to design and implement systems that support the MSDE blueprint on behalf of Maryland’s children and their families.

Objectives for Wednesday, November 2, 2022

What is a system? Explore the system characteristics of the Judy Centers Early Learning Hubs and Head Start centers systems.
How best to understand and influence systems individually and as a team.
Why Habits and Circle of Influence benefits systems thinkers?
What are collectively showcase strengths?

Speakers

Tracy Benson, Ed.D.

President, Waters Center for Systems Thinking

As a leader, author and innovator in the field of systems thinking, Tracy Benson, Ed.D., brings extensive practitioner experience to education, government and corporate sectors in her role as president of the Waters Center for Systems Thinking, a nonprofit organization internationally... Read More →

Wednesday November 2, 2022 1:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Chesapeake Room Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa And Marina | 100 Heron Blvd, US-50, Cambridge, MD 21613

Chesapeake

5:00pm EDT

Happy Hour- Micheners Library

Wednesday November 2, 2022 5:00pm - 6:00pm EDT

8:00am EDT

Breakfast and Institute Check-In (Micheners Library)

Thursday November 3, 2022 8:00am - 9:00am EDT

9:15am EDT

Systems Thinking Workshop | Thursday Session

Projected Workshop Outcomes:

Participants will engage in strategies that build cross sector collaboration and communication skills.
Participants will gain a comprehensive “big picture” understanding of the Maryland early childhood system through professional relationships that build an informed approach to blueprint implementation.
Participants will learn and practice methods that enable them to collect and show evidence of measurable progress leading to successful outcomes for children and families
Participants will become systems thinkers who are better prepared to design and implement systems that support the MSDE blueprint on behalf of Maryland’s children and their families.

Objectives for Thursday, November 3, 2022

Introduction to the Iceberg as a framework for understanding systems and the outcomes they produce.
Mental models: What role do mental models play as we work hard to achieve our goals and strive to understand people and systems that we want to influence?
Introduction to the Ladder of Inference
Mirror and the Star Exercise- Exam how it is easier it to function from our own point of view and understand the limits of that orientation.
Patterns and Trends level– paying attention to patterns and trends with Behavior-over-time Graphs

Thursday November 3, 2022 9:15am - 11:30am EDT
Chesapeake Room Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa And Marina | 100 Heron Blvd, US-50, Cambridge, MD 21613

Chesapeake

11:30am EDT

Lunch & Networking

Thursday November 3, 2022 11:30am - 1:00pm EDT

1:00pm EDT

Systems Thinking Workshop | Thursday Session

Projected Workshop Outcomes:

Participants will engage in strategies that build cross sector collaboration and communication skills.
Participants will gain a comprehensive “big picture” understanding of the Maryland early childhood system through professional relationships that build an informed approach to blueprint implementation.
Participants will learn and practice methods that enable them to collect and show evidence of measurable progress leading to successful outcomes for children and families
Participants will become systems thinkers who are better prepared to design and implement systems that support the MSDE blueprint on behalf of Maryland’s children and their families.

Objectives for Thursday, November 3, 2022

Introduction to the Iceberg as a framework for understanding systems and the outcomes they produce.
Mental models: What role do mental models play as we work hard to achieve our goals and strive to understand people and systems that we want to influence?
Introduction to the Ladder of Inference
Mirror and the Star Exercise- Exam how it is easier it to function from our own point of view and understand the limits of that orientation.
Patterns and Trends level– paying attention to patterns and trends with Behavior-over-time Graphs

Thursday November 3, 2022 1:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Chesapeake Room Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa And Marina | 100 Heron Blvd, US-50, Cambridge, MD 21613

Chesapeake

7:00pm EDT

Movie and S'mores at the Pool

Come out and have S'mores and watch the movie The School for Good and Evil at the pool.

Thursday November 3, 2022 7:00pm - 10:00pm EDT

8:00am EDT

Registration Opens / Breakfast

Resort Map 2020 pdf

Friday November 4, 2022 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Registration Table

9:00am EDT

Why Leadership? Empowering Leaders in Early Childhood Settings

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

This workshop will provide an overview of the Theory of Change as an effective way to implement change and propel the field of early childhood education forward. In addition, we will explore the current early childhood leadership needs in Maryland and suggest the Maryland Early Childhood Leadership Program as a pathway forward. Finally, participants will have an opportunity to reflect on their own leadership aspirations and find ways to enhance their skills. Develop an understanding of the Theory of Change as a vehicle for positive change. Become familiar with current early childhood leadership needs in Maryland. Understand the Maryland Early Childhood Leadership Program in the context of a Maryland workforce initiative with the goal of improving the outcomes for Maryland's youngest children.

Speakers

Vanessa Jones

Head Start State Collaboration Specialist Collaboration and Program Improvement/ Division of Early Childhood, MSDE

I began my early care and education career in 1993 with Baltimore County Head Start. That was the beginning of my life's work -- to ensure all children are provided a quality early care and education experience. I've worked in traditional Head Start and Head Start - Child Care Collaboration... Read More →

Crystal Harris

Coordinator, DRU Judy Center Coordinator

Crystal R. Harris is the DRU Judy Center Coordinator at Dorothy I. Height Elementary School with Baltimore City Public Schools. Crystal holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development from St. Maryland’s College of Maryland and a Master’s of Social Work from the University of... Read More →

Friday November 4, 2022 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Chesapeake Room Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa And Marina | 100 Heron Blvd, US-50, Cambridge, MD 21613

Chesapeake

9:00am EDT

Integrated Family Therapy

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

During this workshop the participants will be able to learn how Family Therapy concepts of Hierarchy and Boundaries can affect children and their behavior. Participant will also be introduced to the FAN training model which is an engagement approach of “Listening to Learn”, and not give answers.

Speakers

Brijan Fellows

Program Director, University of Maryland, Baltimore

Brijan Fellows is a licensed Clinical Social worker in Baltimore, Maryland. She has been working in the field of early childhood mental health for 15 years. Ms. Fellows is the Program Director at the Taghi Modarressi Center for Infant Study at the University of Maryland, Baltimore's... Read More →

Shanique Rogers-Henry, LCSW-C

Mental Health Consultant, University of Maryland Center for Infant Studies

Shanique Rogers-Henry, is a licensed, clinical social worker with over 10 years of experience providing clinical services in mental health and co-occurring treatment for children, adults, and families, Mrs. Rogers-Henry provides exceptional case management and mental health facilitation... Read More →

Family Therapy and Engagement pdf

Friday November 4, 2022 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Clipper A Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa And Marina | 100 Heron Blvd, US-50, Cambridge, MD 21613

Clipper A

9:00am EDT

Moving Beyond Multicultural Education: Promoting Equity and Justice in Early Childhood

Limited Capacity seats available

In this session, participants will develop a better understanding about how to move beyond multicultural education to promote equity and justice in early childhood. During this session, topics related to the different forms of racism, including how they show up in early childhood spaces will be discussed. At the conclusion of the session, participants will learn about culturally responsive anti-bias educational practices that can be used to improve equity efforts in early childhood. There will be many opportunities for open, honest conversations, which are the foundation of deep transformational change.

Speakers

Jen Neitzel

Executive Director, Educational Equity Institute

Dr. Jen Neitzel is the Executive Director of the Educational Equity Institute, which is focused on eliminating the educational and opportunity gaps within communities through systems level change. Prior to this work, Jen was a Research Scientist and Technical Assistance Provider at... Read More →

Friday November 4, 2022 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Clipper B/C Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa And Marina | 100 Heron Blvd, US-50, Cambridge, MD 21613

Clipper B/C

9:00am EDT

"What Parents Need from Schools Is Understanding: why should parents participate if you don't value what they bring?"

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Approaching parent engagement with an asset frame requires school staff and administration to value parents and the communities that they come from as equal partners in the education of their children. This workshop will unpack the implicit biases inherent in school practices from intake to engagement and assist in the creation of equitable action steps for solid connections with parents that shifts power dynamics to establish authentic partnership between school and home. Participates will learn steps for creating environments that center parents and embrace the cultures of their communities and explore how to develop an action plan to revise materials that include biases and lack language that is strength-based, and asset framed.

Speakers

Burgundi Allison

Founding Partner, Imara Partnership LLC

Burgundi Allison has over 18 years of experience providing effective public-sector and non-profit leadership in youth development, workforce, and housing programs serving marginalized youth and young adults in Baltimore City. Ms. Allison received her B.A. in Political Science from... Read More →

Michelle Daniels

Founding Partner/Facilitator, Imara Partnership, LLC

Michelle Green is an accomplished entrepreneur, workshop facilitator, mental health professional, parent and community engagement expert, and mother of two. She currently serves families connected to Baltimore City Public schools. As a native of Baltimore City and former graduate... Read More →

Friday November 4, 2022 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Cutter A/B Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa And Marina | 100 Heron Blvd, US-50, Cambridge, MD 21613

Cutter A/B

9:00am EDT

Beyond Doughnuts for Dads

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Creating a male involvement friendly Early Childhood Program requires planning, work, and commitment. Engaging fathers (custodial and non-custodial) as well as other father figures that are in the child’s life not only contributes to the well-being of the child, but it also impacts the entire family and community. Participates will learn ways to create an environment in your program where fathers and father figures are welcomed, valued, and respected.

Speakers

Dr. Syretha Storey

Dr. Syretha Storey has been in the field of early childhood education for more than thirty years. In this time, she has been a Teacher, Child Care Center Director, Family Child Care Director. And Trainer. She also has significant experience as a post-secondary educator. Through her... Read More →

Friday November 4, 2022 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Galleon A Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa And Marina | 100 Heron Blvd, US-50, Cambridge, MD 21613

Galleon A

9:00am EDT

Putting Reflective Leadership into Practice

Limited Capacity filling up

Trust, support, and growth! Reflective Leadership is the key to creating a relationship-based organization. Join us as we journey towards exploring the foundational building blocks that support early childhood professionals with reflective leadership practice. Dive deep to examine your own personal skill set, along with the “Reflective” principles of self-awareness, careful observation, and flexible response.

Speakers

Crystal Ey

Educational Director, LiteBrite, LLC.

Crystal Ey is President and Executive Director of LiteBrite LLC, an MSDE approved training and consulting company. At the corner stone of Crystal’s passion for providing the highest quality professional development, is her dedication to children and families. Ms. Ey is a graduate... Read More →

Friday November 4, 2022 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Schooner A Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa And Marina | 100 Heron Blvd, US-50, Cambridge, MD 21613

Schooner A

9:00am EDT

Resilience for Grown Ups

Limited Capacity seats available

Resilience for children is a hot topic in the field of ECE, and for good reason. Resilience for grownups is also important, yet so often overlooked, because we are busy focusing on the needs of the children. This session will focus on using the DARS (Devereaux Adult Resilience Survey) to build our own resilience as adults, including a deeper understanding of what self-care is and how to implement it to strengthen our resilience.

Speakers

Angie Sparks

Professional Development Specialist, Abilities Network

Angie Sparks is an Inclusion Specialist with Abilities Network/Project ACT. She promotes high quality, inclusive early childhood education experiences for children of all abilities by providing training and consultation services to early childhood professionals. Through coaching... Read More →

Friday November 4, 2022 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Schooner B Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa And Marina | 100 Heron Blvd, US-50, Cambridge, MD 21613

Schooner B

9:00am EDT

The Science Behind Being the Perfect Caregiver

Limited Capacity seats available

This workshop will discuss how perfect does not exist within caregiving relationships and how the view of "the perfect caregiver" can get in the way of authentic, responsive relationships. We will explore the science behind attunement and what that looks and feels like in our caregiving relationships. Participants will also identify ways to repair missteps in ALL relationships utilizing an approach that addresses the needs of all involved. This session will include conversations about caregiving with those who come from a different cultural background as well as caring for children with special needs.

Speakers

Stephanie Cooper

Infant and Toddler Lead Coach, Abilities Network/Project ACT

Stephanie Cooper is the Infant and Toddler Lead Coach with Abilities Network Project ACT. In this role Stephanie provides coaching, mentoring, and training for those who care for our littlest ones. She has been working with children from infancy up to elementary school for over 17... Read More →

Connection Versus Perfection MHSA and Judy Center pdf

connection vs perfection handout mhsa and judy center pdf

Friday November 4, 2022 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Windjammer Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa And Marina | 100 Heron Blvd, US-50, Cambridge, MD 21613

Windjammer

10:30am EDT

Why Leadership? Empowering Leaders in Early Childhood Settings

Limited Capacity filling up

Speakers

Vanessa Jones

Head Start State Collaboration Specialist Collaboration and Program Improvement/ Division of Early Childhood, MSDE

Crystal Harris

Coordinator, DRU Judy Center Coordinator

Friday November 4, 2022 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Chesapeake Room Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa And Marina | 100 Heron Blvd, US-50, Cambridge, MD 21613

Chesapeake

10:30am EDT

Integrated Family Therapy

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Speakers

Brijan Fellows

Program Director, University of Maryland, Baltimore

Shanique Rogers-Henry, LCSW-C

Mental Health Consultant, University of Maryland Center for Infant Studies

Family Therapy and Engagement pdf

Friday November 4, 2022 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Clipper A Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa And Marina | 100 Heron Blvd, US-50, Cambridge, MD 21613

Clipper A

10:30am EDT

Moving Beyond Multicultural Education: Promoting Equity and Justice in Early Childhood

Limited Capacity filling up

Speakers

Jen Neitzel

Executive Director, Educational Equity Institute

Dr. Ebonyse Mead

Birth to Kindergarten Program at Georgia Southern University

Dr. Ebonyse Mead is a Clinical Instructor in the Birth to Kindergarten program at Georgia Southern University. Prior to this, she worked at the state level promoting racial equity in early childhood by providing training on diversity, inclusion, and equity with a particular focus... Read More →

Friday November 4, 2022 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Clipper B/C Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa And Marina | 100 Heron Blvd, US-50, Cambridge, MD 21613

Clipper B/C

10:30am EDT

"What Parents Need from Schools Is Understanding: why should parents participate if you don't value what they bring?"

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Speakers

Burgundi Allison

Founding Partner, Imara Partnership LLC

Michelle Daniels

Founding Partner/Facilitator, Imara Partnership, LLC

Friday November 4, 2022 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Cutter A/B Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa And Marina | 100 Heron Blvd, US-50, Cambridge, MD 21613

Cutter A/B

10:30am EDT

Beyond Doughnuts for Dads

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Speakers

Dr. Syretha Storey

Friday November 4, 2022 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Galleon A Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa And Marina | 100 Heron Blvd, US-50, Cambridge, MD 21613

Galleon A

10:30am EDT

Putting Reflective Leadership into Practice

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Renee Mentzer

LiteBrite, LLC.

Renee Mentzer is Executive Training Coordinator and Lead Project Manager of LiteBrite LLC, an MSDE approved training and consulting company. With 25 years under her feet in early education, and still climbing, Ms. Mentzer is proud to have dedicated fourteen plus yearsas a Head Start... Read More →

Crystal Ey

Educational Director, LiteBrite, LLC.

Friday November 4, 2022 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Schooner A Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa And Marina | 100 Heron Blvd, US-50, Cambridge, MD 21613

Schooner A

10:30am EDT

Relience for Grown Ups

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Speakers

Angie Sparks

Professional Development Specialist, Abilities Network

Friday November 4, 2022 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Schooner B Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa And Marina | 100 Heron Blvd, US-50, Cambridge, MD 21613

Schooner B

10:30am EDT

The Science Behind Being the Perfect Caregiver

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Stephanie Cooper

Infant and Toddler Lead Coach, Abilities Network/Project ACT

connection vs perfection handout mhsa and judy center pdf

Connection Versus Perfection MHSA and Judy Center pdf

Friday November 4, 2022 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Windjammer Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa And Marina | 100 Heron Blvd, US-50, Cambridge, MD 21613

Windjammer

12:00pm EDT

Lunch and Networking

Friday November 4, 2022 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT

1:00pm EDT

Systems Thinking Workshop | Friday Session

Projected Workshop Outcomes:

Participants will engage in strategies that build cross sector collaboration and communication skills.
Participants will gain a comprehensive “big picture” understanding of the Maryland early childhood system through professional relationships that build an informed approach to blueprint implementation.
Participants will learn and practice methods that enable them to collect and show evidence of measurable progress leading to successful outcomes for children and families
Participants will become systems thinkers who are better prepared to design and implement systems that support the MSDE blueprint on behalf of Maryland’s children and their families.

Objectives for Friday, November 4, 2022

Review of previous learning
Patterns and Trends
Structure
Mental models
Current Reality and Desired State of the system
Goals and Gaps–How do leaders manage and address gaps?
Share resources for ongoing learning and practice

Friday November 4, 2022 1:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Chesapeake Room Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa And Marina | 100 Heron Blvd, US-50, Cambridge, MD 21613

Chesapeake