Location
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MnAEYC’s 2026 Annual Conference will be held January 30-31, 2025
at the
Sheraton Minneapolis West Hotel
12201 Ridgedale Dr,
Minnetonka, MN 55305
Fees
EARLY BIRD RATES (2025)
One Day Nonmember* $200
One Day Member $150
Full Conference Nonmember* $350
Full Conference Member $250
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REGULAR RATES (2026)
One Day Nonmember* $250
One Day Member $180
Full Conference Nonmember* $400
Full Conference Member $300
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*Nonmember registration includes a complimentary NAEYC/MnAEYC membership ($72 annual value).
#Groups of 10 or more receive a 5% discount per person
Scholarship Information
Scholarship funding for the MnAEYC Annual Conference is made possible through the generous support of Greater Twin Cities United Way (80x3) and the Start Early Funders Coalition.
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Scholarships are intended to support early childhood professionals who may otherwise face barriers to accessing high-quality professional learning opportunities. Priority will be given to applicants from underrepresented communities, rural/outstate Minnesota, and programs connected to 80x3.
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Application open: January 5–15, 2026
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Notifications sent: By January 19, 2026
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Recipient requirements:
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Confirm attendance promptly
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Notify MnAEYC if unable to attend within 48 hours of the event
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Event Schedule​​
FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2026
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7:00am - 8:00am Registration/Check-in​
8:00am - 9:45am Continental Breakfast
8:00am - 9:00am Exhibit Hall
9:00am - 10:00am Keynote
10:15am - 11:45am Concurrent Sessions A
11:45am - 12:45pm Lunch
11:45am - 1:30pm Exhibit Hall
1:30pm - 3:00pm Concurrent Sessions B
3:15pm - 4:45pm Concurrent Sessions C
SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 2026
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7:00am - 8:00am Registration/Check-in​
8:00am - 9:45am Continental Breakfast
8:00am - 9:00am Exhibit Hall
9:00am - 11:00am Keynote
11:00am - 12:30pm Exhibit Hall
11:30am - 12:30pm Lunch
12:40pm - 2:40pm Concurrent Sessions D
2:50pm - 4:50pm Concurrent Sessions E
Keynote: Friday, January 30, 2026
From Awareness to Action:
Anti-Oppressive, Trauma-Informed Care
In this keynote, we will explore how historical and systemic oppression shapes the lived experiences of families, and communities—and why educators play a vital role in healing and liberation. Traditional trauma-informed care is not enough when we ignore the broader systems that cause harm.Together, we'll shift our lens to Anti-Oppressive Trauma-Informed Care, an approach that centers justice, accountability, and community well-being. You’ll gain insight into how trauma manifests, how oppression impacts mental health and the body, and how we can co-create environments that support healing, resilience, and equity.This session will offer not only reflection, but also real steps you can take to build more inclusive, supportive, and liberatory spaces—for the children in your care and for yourselves.
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Jamil Stamschror-Lott, MA, LICSW
Jamil Stamschror-Lott, LICSW is a nationally recognized public speaker, mental health therapist, and the CEO and co-founder of Creative Kuponya. As a Black man, representing less than 4% of licensed therapists in the U.S., Jamil brings both lived experience and clinical expertise to his work as a healer and facilitator. Honored as a 2024 Bush Fellow and featured in The New York Times, USA Today, Rolling Stone Magazine, and more, Jamil has offered over 250 professional speaking engagements, blending honesty, humor, and humanity to spark transformative conversations about mental health and equity.In 2017, Jamil and his wife Sara co-founded Creative Kuponya, a practice dedicated to reshaping how people experience mental health care by providing "Room, Relief & Resource" to people that have historically been underserved. Through their theory of Transformative Community Healing Sessions, along with education & training, they’ve created accessible pathways for care that meet people where they are.
Concurrent Sessions A
Session A: 10:15am-11:45am
Session A2: Leading with Heart: Building Culturally Responsive Early Childhood Programs Through Critical Equity Leadership
Presenter: Lanise Block
Audience: Directors/Administrators
Early childhood leaders need courage to create truly inclusive environments that honor every child's cultural identity. This session introduces practical frameworks for examining organizational practices through an equity lens, building culturally responsive staff teams, and making difficult decisions that prioritize belonging for all families and children.
Session A3: Inclusion from the Start: Collaborating with Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education in Early Learning Environments
Presenter: Jenna Strain Lutz, Andrea Robbins & Michelle Kvikstad
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Audience: Family Child Care, Child Care Center, Early Elementary, Infant/Toddler Age,
Preschool/PreK, Directors/Administrators, General Audiences
Learn the basics of early intervention (EI) and early childhood special education (ECSE), including discussion on how to effectively collaborate with EI/ECSE professionals in childcare and preschool settings. Discover strategies to support inclusive practices, enhance communication, and create strong partnerships that benefit all children.
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Meeting ID: 826 8712 8252
Passcode: 560991
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Session A4: Math is Everywhere! How to Support Math in the Preschool Setting
Presenter: Alyssa Wilt & Amy Betz
Audience: Family Child Care, Child Care Center, Preschool/PreK
The language that teachers use during all activities, from routines and reading books to math staples like blocks, impacts the way children make sense of foundational math concepts. Come learn how to select materials and develop your own math language to support children’s mathematical understandings in the context of play.
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Session A5: Facilitating Cultural Relevant Learning in the Early Childhood Classroom.
Presenter: Amina Aleyideino & Wookiye Win
Audience: Family Child Care, Child Care Center, Early Elementary, Infant/Toddler Age,
Preschool/PreK, Directors/Administrators, General Audiences
This presentation aims at equipping Early childhood educators with the knowledge of how to create a more inclusive and responsive educational environment that honors all learners culture and lived experiences. It gives practical examples of how to align culturally relevant learning with emergent curricula. It Spotlights the cultural practices of the nature based Pre-K Dakota language nests at the Child Development Laboratory School.
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Meeting ID: 810 2657 9183
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Session A6: Making a Difference in the Early Years: Celebrating & Supporting Early Childhood Educators
Presenter: Kelly Kazeck
Audience: Family Child Care, Child Care Center, Early Elementary, Infant/Toddler Age,
Preschool/PreK, Directors/Administrators, General Audiences
Let’s celebrate those at the heart of our early childhood care and education system, our early childhood professionals! Hear about how career pathway supports are transforming people’s lives. Walk through the landscape of grants, scholarships, and support efforts and share your ideas for resource navigation tools. Together we can all Make a Difference in the Early Years!
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Concurrent Sessions B
Session B: 1:30pm-3:00pm
Session B1: Building a Sturdy Bridge for Kindergarteners: Turning Data into Practice
Presenter: Olivia Christensen
Audience: Early Elementary, Preschool/PreK
As the first universal access point to Minnesota’s PK-age 22 system, kindergarten should be a sturdy bridge to starting school. Principals play a critical role in establishing this bridge and ensuring a positive transition into kindergarten. To best support successful learners, it’s important to consider multiple perspectives and experiences. This session will share the latest data and analysis on kindergarten in Minnesota from MDE’s statewide kindergarten teacher survey, focus groups with kindergarten students, and kindergarten attendance data. Centering the voices of children, families and teachers is critical to understanding and what makes the transition to kindergarten welcoming, joyful and inclusive and establishes a love of learning.
Session B2: Proposed new child care licensing standards – a primer and Q&A
Presenter: Katherine DiBenedetto & Kent Disch
Audience: Family Child Care, Child Care Center, Early Elementary, Infant/Toddler Age,
Preschool/PreK, Directors/Administrators
Join the MN Department of Children Youth and Families (DCYF) as they review the Department’s work on revising child care licensing standards and their recent report to the Minnesota legislature. Participants can expect to learn highlights from this work, ask questions, and learn about the legislative process and next steps.
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Meeting ID: 826 8712 8252
Passcode: 560991
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Session B3: Sharing a Small World: Hands-on Ecology and Geography for Young Learners
Presenter: Dr. Keitha-Gail Martin-Kerr
Audience: Early Elementary
Discover interdisciplinary, hands-on activities that help foster environmental awareness and global citizenship in children, while also building knowledge and skills in science, social studies, math and language arts. Engage in role-playing simulations, mathematical modeling, problem-solving challenges and interactive stories. Participants receive lesson plans matched to state standards.
Session B4: Fundamentals of the Reggio Emilia Approach
Presenter: Marty Watson
Audience: Family Child Care, Child Care Center, Early Elementary, Infant/Toddler Age,
Preschool/PreK, Directors/Administrators, General Audiences
Learn the fundamentals of the Reggio Emilia Approach. Become aware of the wealth of knowledge each child already brings to a learning environment and the way the teacher can build on that knowledge. Understand the use of documentation in guiding learning, how open ended materials and the environment become the third teacher, and the important role of family and parents.
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Meeting ID: 810 2657 9183
Passcode: 623932
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Session B5: From Neuroscience to (Minnesota) Nice: How we can Cultivate Executive Function and Empathy Skills in Young Learners
Presenter: Dr. Stephanie Carlson
Audience: Family Child Care, Child Care Center, Early Elementary, Infant/Toddler Age,
Preschool/PreK, Directors/Administrators, General Audiences
Dr. Carlson will share her expertise on brain development and the links between executive function skills and prosocial development in early childhood, including sharing and perspective taking. The role of adult caregivers and practical strategies for cultivating these skills will be emphasized.
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Session B6: Building Resilience with EGG Toolkit
Presenter: John Everett Till
Audience: Family Child Care, Child Care Center, Preschool/PreK, Directors/Administrators,
General Audiences
This session introduces the EGG Toolkit (Empowering Generational Greatness), a trauma-responsive, brain-based curriculum to build executive function and self-regulation skills in children ages 3–5. Participants will explore how EGG supports both child development and teacher well-being, and how its components—language, storytelling, and mindfulness—create joyful, resilient learning environments.
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Session B7: Leading through Volunteering: Becoming a committee or board member at MnAEYC
Presenter: Jodie Riek, MnAEYC President
Audience: Family Child Care, Child Care Center, Early Elementary, Infant/Toddler Age,
Preschool/PreK, Directors/Administrators, General Audiences
Are you passionate about advancing early childhood education in Minnesota? Join us for an interactive session exploring how volunteering with MnAEYC—on a committee or the board—can help you grow as a leader, strengthen your professional network, and make a meaningful impact on our field. Learn what’s involved, hear from current leaders, and discover how your unique skills and experiences can shape the future of early childhood education in our state.
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Meeting ID: 818 9051 9167
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Concurrent Sessions C
Session C: 3:15pm-4:45pm
Session C1: MNAEYC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Presenter: MnAEYC Board
Audience: All MnAEYC members
Join us for MnAEYC’s Annual General Meeting, where members come together to hear organizational updates, review key accomplishments from the past year, and learn about upcoming initiatives that strengthen the early childhood profession statewide. This session is an opportunity to engage directly with board leadership, ask questions, and participate in the governance of your professional association. All members are welcome—your voice and participation help shape the future of MnAEYC.
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Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 818 9051 9167
Passcode: 476634
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Session C2: Building a Bridge: Practical Training for ECE Professionals and Parent-Supported Literacy
Presenter: Lucy Arias
Audience: Family Child Care, Child Care Center,
Early Elementary, Infant/Toddler Age,
Preschool/PreK, Directors/Administrators,
General Audiences
This session will provide early childhood education professionals with a framework for utilizing the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Families READ Toolkit as a tool for staff development and engaging families in early reading instruction. The session will highlight the MDE's partnership with Cox Campus, an online platform offering free, research-based professional development on the science of reading.
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Session C3: How to Nurture Race Equitable Learning Environments
Presenter: Celeste Finn
Audience: Family Child Care, Child Care Center, Early Elementary, Infant/Toddler Age,
Preschool/PreK, Directors/Administrators, General Audiences
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Nurture a more compassionate world through learning communities that embody race equity. Grounded in local data of racial inequity, participants will learn to identify white supremacy culture and decenter whiteness. Through Big Wonder’s action research, discover a framework that nurtures racial equity through policy reform, compassionate accountability, representation, trusting relationships, storytelling and courageous conversations.
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Meeting ID: 826 8712 8252
Passcode: 560991
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Session C4: Spiritual Flourishing - Not Trauma
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Presenter: Deborah Schein
Audience: Family Child Care, Child Care Center, Early Elementary, Infant/Toddler Age,
Preschool/PreK, Directors/Administrators, General Audiences
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Participants experience and reflect on Loose Parts Play for themself and their students. This experience demonstrates spiritual flourishing and its power to heal trauma through attunement, joy, gratitude, and positive self-awareness. Participants simultaneously learn about research on spiritual flourishing and where it might exist within their own classroom.
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Session C6: Take it Outside: Engage, Explore, Inspire
Presenter: Kelly Kazeck & Olivia Christensen
Audience: Family Child Care, Child Care Center, Early Elementary, Infant/Toddler Age,
Preschool/PreK, Directors/Administrators, General Audiences
Join us to discover how outdoor learning enhances academics, physical activity, and social-emotional growth. Explore hands-on strategies, nature-based themes, and adaptable lessons that meet standards while engaging students. Learn from MDE and DCYF resources designed to help educators create inspiring outdoor experiences that excite both students and teachers.
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LIVESTREAMING VIA ZOOM
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Meeting ID: 810 2657 9183
Passcode: 623932
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Session C7: Building Resilience Through Friendship Skills
Presenter: Karen Satre
Audience: Family Child Care, Child Care Center,
Early Elementary, Preschool/PreK,
General Audiences
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Learn evidence-based strategies to teach friendship skills (play organizing, sharing, assistance, affection) through culturally responsive, trauma-informed approaches. Participants will explore environmental modifications, peer-mediated interventions, and multilingual adaptations that build resilience and compassion while honoring diverse cultural expressions of friendship and supporting all learners.
Keynote: Saturday, January 31, 2026
Trauma-informed care, workplace well-being, and leadership in early childhood education
This keynote explores the intersection of trauma-informed care, workplace well-being, and leadership in early childhood education. We begin by reframing well-being as well-becoming, a dynamic process of growth and transformation that nurtures both stability and development for educators and children. Using Stephen Covey’s Circle of Control, Influence, and Concern, we’ll examine how focusing on what we can control: our thoughts, responses, actions, attitudes, and enthusiasm, creates emotionally safe environments where resilience thrives. These inner shifts ripple outward, shaping organizational culture and influencing children’s social-emotional development.
From there, we expand to the Circle of Influence, highlighting how relationships with children, families, coworkers, and professional networks amplify our impact. Practical strategies for co-regulation, reflective supervision, and equity-centered engagement will be shared, along with resources like CICC’s trauma-responsive tools and FamilyWise NEAR Science training. Finally, we connect these practices to systemic advocacy through Advocacy for Children Day, emphasizing that while we can’t solve every challenge alone, we can influence policy and funding decisions that strengthen the early childhood ecosystem. Participants will leave with actionable steps to move from awareness to measurable change building classrooms and communities that buffer stress, foster resilience, and support thriving futures.​
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Jamie Bonczyk
Jamie Bonczyk (she/her) is a Senior Program Officer at Greater Twin Cities United Way, leading 80x3: Resilient from the Start—an innovative initiative building trauma-sensitive early childhood systems that foster resilience for children and caregivers. A nationally recognized early childhood leader, Jamie is known for creating networks and partnerships that drive sustainable health and education outcomes.
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Her commitment to resilience is deeply personal. Having navigated multiple moves and medical challenges in her own early years, Jamie brings lived experience to her work. She holds a B.A. in Early Childhood Education and an M.A. in Early Childhood Leadership focusing on anti-bias education, nonprofit management and adult learning theory. Jamie has authored influential pieces on equity, trauma-sensitive care, and healing through storytelling. Her voice continues to elevate underrepresented issues in early education, inspiring systemic change and hope for every child’s future.
Develop Approved
Concurrent Sessions D
Session D: 12:40pm-2:40pm
Session D1: Engaging Adult Learners Through Compassionate, Culturally Responsive Practices
Presenter: Tamara Masters & Ashley Bonsen
Audience: Directors/Administrators, General Audiences
Apply and learn a variety of engaging strategies designed to increase participation among adult learners. This interactive course emphasizes the use of adult learning principles to create more meaningful training and meeting experiences. By practicing these strategies, participants will be able to design sessions that encourage participation, sustain attention, and ultimately lead to improved learning outcomes.​
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Session D3: Importance of Self Care
Presenter: Miss Mary Smith
Audience: Family Child Care, Child Care Center, Early Elementary, Infant/Toddler Age, Preschool/PreK, Directors/Administrators, General Audiences
Discover how self-care strengthens early childhood professionals. This session explores strategies to manage stress, boost emotional intelligence, and model resilience for children. Participants will learn practical tools to create individual self-care plans and sustain positive, effective teaching environments.
Session D4: Supporting Resilience in Children: The Little Engine That Could!
Presenter: Carrie Zelin Johnson
Audience: General Audiences
Examine the characteristics of resiliency and its relationship to children’s mental health. How do you support children who are at risk when they are handling stress, react, or adapt to negative situations, and overcome obstacles? Develop practical strategies to improve environments and programming to enhance and support resilience in young children.​
Session D5: Brain Development: Seeing and Supporting Children’s Active Bodies
Presenter: Melissa Donovan
Audience: Child Care Center, Family Child Care
This course helps teachers create learning environments that foster children's large motor skills. It offers high-quality training focused on three principles: relevance, responsiveness, and reflection. The course engages learners by providing content tailored to their needs, encouraging participation, and promoting self-reflection to improve learning retention.
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Session D6: Advocacy is for Everyone
Presenter: Elizabeth Hessler & Nicole Smerillo
Audience: Family Child Care, Child Care Center, Early Elementary, Infant/Toddler Age, Preschool/PreK, Directors/Administrators, General Audiences
This session offers a brief overview of the Minnesota legislative structure and bill process, designed to provide participants with practical tools for advocacy. Participants will walk away with clear, actionable advocacy steps, both in everyday situations and when connected with key decision-makers.
Session D7: Early Connections: Building Family Partnerships Across Cultures
Presenter: Jamesetta Diggs
Audience: Child Care Center, Preschool/PreK,
Directors/Administrators, General Audiences
Engage early childhood professionals and leaders in strengthening culturally responsive partnerships with families. Establish how honoring and understanding the value of culture positively impacts relationships, engagement, and partnerships within diverse early care communities. Promote equity that nurtures strong, trusting connections with families to support each child’s learning and development, both within and beyond early care and learning environments.
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Taking Space to Navigate Uncertainty in the Decompress, Connect & Restore Room - HYBRID SESSION
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This two-hour community processing session offers participants a supportive space to pause, reflect, and connect during a time of uncertainty. Grounded in care and collective presence, this session invites attendees to share, listen, and make meaning together—or simply be—recognizing the importance of slowing down, tending to ourselves, and drawing strength from community.
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Develop Approved
Concurrent Sessions E
Session E: 2:50pm-4:50pm
Session E1: Introduction to Trainer Competencies and Observation
Presenter: Tamara Masters & Molly Hughes
Audience: Directors/Administrators, General Audiences
This course is KCF VI, professionalism. This in person opportunity will allow professionals to learn more about the Trainer KCFs and how they can utilize the observation and coaching program TARSS offers. The presentation will be interactive, allowing participants to network and reflect on their own training practices while learning how they can use reflection to improve their training craft.
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Session E3: Self-Care: Staying Positive in Your Environment
Presenter: Mary Smith
Audience: Family Child Care, Child Care Center, Directors/Administrators, General Audiences
Caring for others begins with caring for yourself. In this engaging session, early childhood professionals will explore simple self-care strategies to reduce stress, restore balance, and stay positive. Through reflection and discussion, participants will leave with practical tools and a personalized self-care plan to support resilience and joy in their work.​
Session E4: Integrating Anti-bias Education into Our Thinking and Practice
Presenter: Carrie Zelin Johnson & Amy Ramaker
Audience: General Audiences
Integrating Anti-bias Education is a responsibility we all share. Enjoy viewing an award-winning film and engaging in reflective discussions. Learn how to relate positive cultural messages about children from a variety of backgrounds and engage families in conversations to determine what types of learning activities would reinforce home-school connections. Don’t forget popcorn!
Session E5: Equity in Leadership
Presenter: Melissa Donovan
Audience: Child Care Center, Early Elementary, Infant/Toddler Age, Directors/Administrators, General Audiences
Discover what equity means in early childhood leadership and how to implement it. This course helps professionals examine their leadership, promote systemic change, and create inclusive environments. Using real-world examples, reflections, and strategies, participants learn to define equity, develop equitable policies, and lead with purpose to ensure every child, family, and staff member thrives.
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Session E6: From Challenging to Connected: How Belonging Impacts Children's Behavior
Presenter: Sally Hansen
Audience: Family Child Care, Child Care Center, Early Elementary,
Infant/Toddler Age, Preschool/PreK, Directors/Administrators
What if we viewed challenging behaviors as opportunities for connection? This session explores how belonging shapes development and how shifting perspectives creates caring, inclusive environments. Through reflection and practical strategies, participants will learn how co-creating belonging can transform challenging moments into meaningful opportunities for connection.
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