The Minnesota Association for the Education of Young Children (MnAEYC) invites educators, leaders, advocates, and partners to submit proposals to present at the 2026 Summer Leadership Institute, taking place on June 18, 2026, at Minneapolis College in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The call closes on March 20 2026 so submit your proposal today!
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SAVE THE DATE!
June 18 2026
Summer Leadership Institute
Minneapolis College
We’re already looking ahead to our next professional learning opportunity and invite you to save the date for the MnAEYC Summer Leadership Institute.
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This one-day institute will bring together early childhood leaders, administrators, and emerging leaders for focused learning, reflection, and connection. More details — including session topics, registration information, and speakers — will be shared soon. We look forward to continuing the conversation and building leadership capacity together.
The Summer Leadership Institute is a premier professional development experience designed to support leaders across the early childhood career continuum—from those just beginning their leadership journey to those with long-standing experience in the field. This year’s theme, “Beyond the Myth: Leading with Evidence, Care and Courage,” invites participants to challenge assumptions, ground leadership decisions in research and lived experience, and lead with intention in complex and evolving systems.
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Target Audiences
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Aspiring / Emerging Leaders
Educators exploring leadership roles or beginning to see themselves as leaders. -
Beginning / Early Career Leaders
Individuals new to leadership positions who are building confidence, skills, and professional identity. -
Established Leaders
Experienced leaders seeking to deepen practice, mentor others, influence systems, or lead change.
Topic Areas & Leadership Lenses
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Sessions may focus on one or more of the following interconnected areas:
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Leading Beyond Myths and Assumptions
Challenging dominant narratives about early childhood education, care, and leadership, and reframing practice through research, lived experience, and systems awareness.
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Evidence-Informed Leadership and Decision-Making
Using data, research, and reflective practice to guide program improvement, instructional leadership, accreditation processes, and organizational change.
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Accreditation and Continuous Quality Improvement
Supporting leaders in understanding and navigating NAEYC Accreditation and other quality frameworks as tools for growth, accountability, and alignment.
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Coaching, Mentoring, and Leadership Development
Building leadership capacity through coaching, reflective supervision, mentoring relationships, and intentional leadership pipelines.
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Emotional Intelligence, Well-Being, and Trauma-Informed Leadership
Leading with self-awareness, compassion, and relational skill to support educator well-being, resilience, and emotionally safe learning and work environments.
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Workforce Retention and Organizational Culture
Addressing recruitment, retention, and sustainability through supportive leadership practices, inclusive workplace cultures, and systems-level thinking.
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Advocacy and Systems Leadership
Expanding leadership beyond individual programs to influence policy, funding, and systems change that strengthen early childhood education across communities.
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Equity-Centered and Inclusive Leadership
Honoring diverse identities, experiences, and community contexts—including race, language, culture, geography, ability, gender, and family structure—through inclusive, justice-oriented leadership practices.
Keynote Speaker: Dan Wuori
We are excited to welcome Dan Wuori, author of The Daycare Myth, as the keynote speaker for the MnAEYC Summer Leadership Institute.
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Dan Wuori is a nationally recognized early childhood policy expert, former kindergarten teacher, and senior leader in early learning advocacy. In The Daycare Myth, Wuori challenges persistent misconceptions about early childhood education and care, offering a research-informed, developmentally grounded perspective on what young children truly need to thrive — and what leaders, policymakers, and systems must do to support them.
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Drawing on decades of experience across classrooms, policy spaces, and public discourse, Dan brings a compelling, accessible voice to conversations about child development, workforce conditions, family needs, and the structural realities facing early learning systems today. His keynote will invite participants to critically examine dominant narratives about child care, reflect on the implications for leadership and decision-making, and consider how evidence, equity, and compassion can guide more effective early childhood systems.
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This keynote will be especially meaningful for administrators, directors, and leaders seeking to align practice, policy, and advocacy with what we know about early development — and to lead with clarity, courage, and purpose in a complex and often misunderstood field.