Time: 9:00 a.m.

Presenter: Karen Bentall
Session Description: Reading aloud is one of the most powerful ways to strengthen children’s early literacy and social-emotional development, but effective read-alouds don’t happen by accident. They blend the art of engaging storytelling with the science of how young brains learn. In this interactive session, you’ll explore the latest research on the connection between brain development and reading aloud. You’ll practice evidence-based techniques that boost comprehension, language growth, and joy. You’ll also learn how to evaluate children’s books so you can confidently select books that meet the needs of your learners. Leave with practical strategies, fresh insights and a renewed sense of how intentional read-alouds can transform early learning.
Registration here.

Karen Bentall has more than 25 years’ experience in libraries, literacy, and the art of reading aloud. As a school librarian, she championed the joy of shared reading with thousands of children. Her practice and research focus on interactive read-alouds that invite readers of all ages into rich conversations about picture books to create moments where vocabulary grows, comprehension deepens, connections take shape, and curiosity flourishes. She was recently recognized by the American Library Association for her “Book at Bedtime” series of online story times that brought together children, families, and teachers through conversations about picture books. Karen received a BSc (Econ) Library and Information Services from the University of Wales, and an MPhil of Education from the University of Cambridge, UK. She currently leads professional development workshops nationwide and presents regularly on the art and science of reading aloud. She can be contacted at kbentall@outlook.com.

Information on presenter(s) organization/business/program: Since 2000, Room to Read has benefited more than 50 million children and has worked in 28 countries around the world to help young learners unlock their full potential through education. Our programming supports children to develop foundational literacy skills, as well as life skills that promote gender equality. Find out more at roomtoread.org.

Time: 9:00 a.m.

Presenter: Sultana Yasmeen Jamal
Session Description: This session explores how intentional and reflective teaching practices can support children experiencing challenging behaviors while also supporting educator well-being. Drawing from teaching, leadership, and teacher-training experiences in the UAE and Bangladesh, the presenter will share practical and culturally responsive strategies that move beyond reactive discipline toward relationship-based and thoughtful responses. Participants will engage in reflection, discussion, and scenario-based learning focused on understanding behavior as communication, supporting emotional regulation, and creating inclusive learning environments. Educators will leave with practical and adaptable strategies that can be immediately used in early childhood and elementary classrooms. Register here.

Sultana Yasmeen Jamal is an international educator with over 13 years of experience in early childhood and primary education across Bangladesh and the UAE. She has served as a teacher, Academic Head, and Subject In-Charge for English and Science, working within Montessori and Cambridge educational frameworks. Her experience includes teacher training, instructional leadership, and multilingual learning environments. Her work focuses on inclusive education, teacher well-being, SEL, sustainability, and reflective teaching practices that support meaningful learning experiences for children and educators. She can be contacted at sulyasjam@gmail.com or via LinkedIn.

Time: 11:30 a.m.

Presenter: Dr. Beth Halbert
Session Description: Early childhood educators are asked to handle big emotions, challenging behaviors, and stressful classroom moments every single day — often while managing the needs of an entire group of children at the same time. This engaging and interactive session gives educators practical, compassion-based tools to better understand what children are really communicating through their behavior. Participants will learn simple, relationship-focused strategies to reduce power struggles, create emotional safety, support regulation, and build stronger connections with children and families. Educators will leave feeling encouraged, supported, and equipped with tools they can use immediately in the classroom. Register here.

Dr. Beth Halbert, PsyD, also known as DrBeth, is an emotional development educator, speaker, author, and former clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience supporting children, teens, parents, and professionals. She is the creator of the 10 Keys to Compassion and the Inner Family Zoo emotional learning system, which uses play, music, storytelling, and practical tools to help individuals build emotional regulation, connection, self-awareness, and resilience. She can be contacted at drbethcp@gmail.com or DrBeth@Drbeth.com.

Information on presenter(s) organization/business/program: Through DrBeth’s Compassionate Parenting, DrBeth helps children and the adults who support them build stronger communication, emotional regulation, resilience, and connection through playful, practical, and compassion-based tools. Through workshops, Power Hours, books, music, and interactive learning experiences, she equips educators, families, and professionals with real-world strategies they can immediately apply in classrooms, homes, and relationships. Find out more at DrBeth.com.

Presenter: Melissa Blotter
Session Description: Self-care isn’t spa days and scented candles. It’s boundaries. Recovery. Systems. Culture. In child care settings, adult regulation directly impacts child development. This session offers practical strategies to prevent burnout, support co-regulation, and build sustainable wellness practices that strengthen relationships and workforce resilience. Register here.

Melissa Blotter is a leadership development and training specialist with over 20 years of experience in education. She is the founder of Directed Success, where she designs and delivers engaging learning experiences that support educators, leaders, and family-serving professionals. Melissa specializes in adult learning, relationship-centered practices, and turning everyday interactions into meaningful moments that strengthen trust and connection with children and families. Her work focuses on equipping “the big people who work with the little people” with practical, actionable tools that drive lasting impact. She can be contacted at melissa@directedsuccess.com or on LinkedIn.

Information on presenter(s) organization/business/program: Directed Success designs leadership, training, and learning experiences for early childhood organizations that want their impact to last beyond the moment. Through customized professional development, onboarding support, retention strategies, e-learning content, and event experience design, Directed Success helps child care owners and leaders build stronger teams, create more intentional learning cultures, and support meaningful growth across their organizations. Find out more at directedsuccess.com.

Time: 2:00 p.m.

Presenter: Veronica Green
Session Description: Behaviour is communication—but in busy early learning environments, it can be hard to move beyond reacting in the moment. This session invites educators to pause, reflect, and look deeper at what children’s behaviour may be telling us. Using a practical 4 lens framework— relationships, educator expectations, development & learning, and sensory needs—participants will explore how behaviour is influenced by multiple interconnected factors rather than seeing it as something that simply needs to be managed or controlled. Through real-life examples, reflection, and co-learning conversations, educators will begin to shift from asking “How do I stop this behaviour?” to “What might this child be communicating, exploring, or needing?” Together, we will examine how our responses, environments, relationships, and understanding of development all shape children’s experiences. This session is designed to help educators strengthen their confidence, deepen their reflective practice, and respond with greater clarity, curiosity, and intention in everyday moments with children. Register here.

Veronica Green is an Early Childhood Educator, former college instructor, and founder of Cultivating Confidence – Early Years Consultancy. Through a holistic and reflective approach, she supports educators in understanding behaviour, play, sensory processing, and child-led learning through a high image of the child, educator, and family. As both an educator and parent to an autistic son, Veronica brings lived experience, compassion, and practical insight to her work. She can be contacted at veronica@cultivatingconfidence.ca.

Information on presenter(s) organization/business/program: Cultivating Confidence – Early Years Consultancy provides reflective, play-based professional learning for early childhood educators and teams. Through workshops, online trainings, and consulting, the organization supports educators in deepening their understanding of child-led learning, behaviour, sensory processing, and the learning environment using a holistic, relationship-centered approach. Find them at www.cultivatingconfidence.ca.

Time: 2:00 p.m.

Presenters: Rachel Swanson, M.Ed. and Maria Laique, M.A.Ed., M.A.
Session Description: In early childhood settings, challenging behavior is often a signal, not a problem to solve in isolation. This session introduces a Ci3T-informed approach to supporting behavior through proactive systems, relationship-building, and educator wellness. Participants will explore how predictable environments and adult regulation strategies can create more inclusive and supportive learning spaces. Educators will leave with practical tools and immediately applicable strategies to reduce overwhelm, strengthen classroom systems, and foster belonging for both children and adults. Register here.

Rachel Swanson, M.Ed., is a Co-Founder of Swan Lake Consulting, an MTSS District Coach, and doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership. With experience supporting educators across diverse school settings, Rachel specializes in Ci3T/MTSS implementation, educator wellness, and relationship-centered systems of support. Her work integrates Applied Educational Neuroscience, equity-focused practices, and sustainable systems that support both students and educators. She can be contacted at info.swanlakeconsulting@gmail.com.

Maria Laique is the Co-Founder of Swan Lake Consulting and an educator and school counselor with over a decade of experience. As a former English learner who grew up in poverty, her work is deeply rooted in equity, belonging, and student opportunity. Maria specializes in addressing the root causes of behavior and empowering students through emotional regulation, self-advocacy, and relationship-centered support systems. She can be contacted at info.swanlakeconsulting@gmail.com.

Information on presenter(s) organization/business/program: Swan Lake Consulting partners with schools, districts, and organizations to provide professional development, coaching, and systems support focused on MTSS, the Ci3T framework, educator wellness, school culture, and inclusive practices. The organization is committed to helping educators create sustainable systems that support both student success and adult well-being.

Time: 9:00 a.m.

Presenter: Nina Morel, Ed.D., PCC
Session Description: Coaching Conversations for Collaboration is a 90-minute interactive session that equips professionals with the mindset and communication competencies required for more productive individual and team conversations. Drawing on the neuroscience of trust, creative thinking, and conversational structure, participants examine the foundations of a coaching approach and develop core skills in intentional listening and generous curiosity. Learning outcomes include the ability to build trust and promote creative thinking, formulate questions that generate engagement and build momentum, and apply a structured conversational frame to plan and lead effective professional conversations. Registration here.

Dr. Nina Morel is a PCC-certified leadership coach with a wealth of experience coaching, speaking, and researching in the areas of mindfulness, self-care and a coaching approach to Leadership. Dr. Morel has pioneered and led innovative coaching training programs and developed an ICF-accredited master’s degree in coaching. With over a decade of experience as an executive leader, she now thrives as a coach, speaker, professor, and researcher specializing in coaching, communication, mindfulness, and competency-based education. A recipient of the prestigious Milken National Educator Award, Dr. Morel has taught at both secondary and university levels, and served as an Executive Dean and Executive Director of a nonprofit organization, among other leadership roles. She is a tenured full professor at Lipscomb University’s College of Business in Nashville, and works and coaches in New Orleans for part of the year. Her publications include: “Developing the Well-being and Presence of a Coach,” Professional Development for Coaching Practitioners (2026), “Coaching Competencies,” Coaching Education: Foundations of Excellence, Chapter 4 (2026); How to Build an Instructional Coaching Program for Maximum Capacity (2012), Learning from Coaching: How do I work with an instructional coach to grow as a teacher? (2014), Redefining Competency Based Education: Competence for Life (2018). She can be contacted at nina@ninamorelcoaching.com and Ninamorelcoaching.com.

Time: 9:00 a.m.

Presenter: Haley Munday
Session Description: Respectful interactions are the foundation of safe, supportive, and responsive early childhood environments. This session explores how educator language, tone, self-awareness, and responsiveness shape children’s behavior, relationships, and emotional development. Participants will reflect on real classroom experiences and leave with practical strategies for fostering calm, respectful, and relationship-centered interactions with children. Registration here.

Haley Munday is passionate about exploring children’s curiosity and scaffolding their development through open-ended, hands-on experiences. She is the Education and Training Coordinator for Mid Cumberland Community Action Agency Head Start and an Affiliate CLASS Trainer. Haley supports a team of education coaches as they observe and set goals on CLASS teaching practices and uses Practice-Based Coaching and Data-Informed Decision Making (DIDM) to strengthen teaching and improve child outcomes. She can be contacted at hmunday@midcumberland.org or via LinkedIn.

Information on presenter(s) organization/business/program: Mid-Cumberland Community Action Agency (MCCAA) Head Start and Early Head Start provides comprehensive early childhood education and family support services to children from birth to age five and their families for 12 counties in Middle Tennessee. Using a whole-family approach, the program promotes school readiness by supporting children’s cognitive, social-emotional, physical, and nutritional development while also connecting families with resources that enhance family well-being. Through high-quality early learning experiences, developmental screenings, health services, and family engagement opportunities, MCCAA Head Start helps children build a strong foundation for lifelong success. For more information, visit midcumberland.org/head-start/.

Presenter: Carla Turner
Session Description: This training is designed to build educator understanding of the components & relationships that increase feelings of belonging in a classroom community, along with offering practical resources and strategies for immediate implementation in their learning spaces. Registration here.

Carla Turner is an early childhood education professional with over 21 years of experience. She began her career with Head Start and served in many roles, strengthening her foundation in child development and family support. Carla has experience in early childhood assessments, working as a CLASS Observer and a Developmental Evaluator for Early Intervention. Carla has worked for Southwest Tennessee Community College, TECTA, and is now an Early Childhood Classroom Consultant with TN Voices’s Ready. Set. Grow! Program. She can be contacted at carla.turner@tnvoices.org.

Information on presenter(s) organization/business/program: Ready. Set. Grow! is part of the Pregnancy & Early Childhood Area of Care at TN Voices, a mental health non-profit based in Goodlettsville, TN. Ready. Set. Grow! works alongside educators and families to empower and equip the adults in a child’s life to support social-emotional skill development, helping reduce challenging behaviors at home and in the classroom. Find out more at tnvoices.org/programs/early-childhood/.[/author_info] [/author]

Time: 11:30 a.m.

Presenter: Dr. Kelley Estes-Jones
Session Description: Inclusion is often treated as a logistical hurdle or a compliance requirement, but at its heart, it is an act of justice. This session moves beyond the “what” of inclusion to the “why” and “how” of intentional design. Drawing on my background in inclusive early childhood education and supporting children with disabilities, we will explore how to dismantle barriers from the very start. Participants will engage in a “brave space” to rethink classroom environments, moving away from passive integration toward radical belonging. We will discuss practical, heart-centered strategies to ensure that every child—regardless of ability—is not just present, but is an essential, celebrated part of the learning community. Registration here.

Dr. Kelley Estes-Jones is a veteran educator, consultant, and advocate with over 30 years of experience in public education. Specializing in inclusive practices for children with disabilities, she is dedicated to dismantling the barriers that prevent belonging in the classroom. Dr. Estes-Jones focuses on the intersection of heart-centered leadership and practical instructional design, empowering educators to move beyond compliance toward intentional, equity-based teaching. She is the founder and principal consultant for Dr. Kelley Estes-Jones Educational Services and the developer of the PEACE Framework™ for Collaborative Advocacy. She can be contacted at Kelley@DrKelleyEd.com or via LinkedIn.

Information on presenter(s) organization/business/program: Dr. Kelley Estes-Jones Educational Services is a professional consultancy providing specialized training, coaching, and advocacy resources for educators and families. The mission is to bridge the gap between theory and practice in education, ensuring every child has access to high-quality, intentional learning environments.

Time: 2:00 p.m.

Presenter: Sheena Lazenby
Session Description: This session will explore ways to strengthen the home-to-school connection, an essential partnership that helps children thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or school staff member, your role in supporting this connection makes a meaningful difference in a child’s learning journey. Together, we’ll discuss strategies, share insights, and learn practical approaches to create a stronger, more supportive bridge between home and school. Registration here.

Sheena Lazenby is a devoted wife, proud mother of four boys, loving daughter and caregiver to her 92-year-old father, animal and plant enthusiast and recent graduate with a BBA. Sheena has spent over 20 years working with, and advocating for, youth and families. Sheena’s heart for families shines through in her work as a Family Support Specialist with The Ready. Set. Grow! Program at TN Voices. One of Sheena’s favorite things is sharing meals with her family, spending time laughing, talking, and reconnecting with the ones she treasures most. She can be contacted at Sheena.Lazenby@tnvoices.org.

Information on presenter(s) organization/business/program: Ready. Set. Grow! is part of the Pregnancy & Early Childhood Area of Care at TN Voices, a mental health non-profit based in Goodlettsville, TN. Ready. Set. Grow! works alongside educators and families to empower and equip the adults in a child’s life to support social-emotional skill development, helping reduce challenging behaviors at home and in the classroom. Find out more at tnvoices.org/programs/early-childhood/.

Time: 2:00 p.m.

Presenter: Annie Paraison
Session Description: Are you looking for a powerfully simple way to enhance educator growth and student engagement? This session introduces the CHALK Magic 9 framework, a set of nine high-impact teaching behaviors designed to integrate seamlessly into any curriculum. We will walk through the CHALK lifecycle: capturing real-time data, co-creating collaborative action plans, and tracking progress over time. Through peer reflection and classroom-ready examples, attendees will learn how to tackle common challenges, such as reducing transition times and scaffolding deeper inquiry. Join us to discover how professional development and collaborative coaching can create emotionally supportive, responsive environments where every child has the opportunity to thrive. Registration here.

Annie Paraison is the visionary behind Love Before ALL, a consultancy optimizing wellness through the power of relationships. A proud Haitian-born leader, her journey from New York City to Vanderbilt University ignited a passion for harnessing human potential and building “Beloved Communities.” With over 17 years of leadership experience and an Executive MBA, she challenges the status quo by proving that love is a rigorous life and business strategy. She ensures no leader has to choose between impact and well-being by supporting the transformation of unconscious patterns into conscious compassion. Annie partners with CHALK Coaching, CORE Network Nashville, and All Children Excel Nashville to elevate rich and nurturing environments for children. Grounded in faith and guided by hope, Annie is committed to a world where personal and collective success are inextricably linked. She can be contacted at annie@chalkcoaching.com.

Information on presenter(s) organization/business/program: CHALK Coaching (Coaching to Help Activate Learning for Kids) is an innovative classroom observation and professional development platform designed for early learning and kindergarten programs. Developed from research conducted at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College and supported by National Science Foundation funding, CHALK helps instructional coaches, administrators, and teachers use real-time classroom data to strengthen teaching practices and improve child outcomes. By combining objective observations, data-driven coaching, and research-based professional development, CHALK supports educator growth, program quality, and positive academic and self-regulation outcomes for young learners. For more information, visit https://www.chalkcoaching.com.