GAEYC Annual Conference 2019

   
Earn 6 BFTS Credits*

*The maximum number of credits you can earn for one conference is 6 hours. This is a rule of Georgia Training Approval. Each day of the GAEYC Conference, there are 6 hours available but attending both days will not award 12 BFTS credits. Partial credit cannot be awarded. To earn credits for this conference, attendees must show they have attended 6 hours of sessions. Up to 1.2 CEUs (12 hours) can be awarded.

Topic Tracks

• Curriculum (Lesson Planning, Intentional Teaching, Literacy)
• Diversity (Inclusion, Dual Language Learners, Multi-Cultural)
• STEAM (Science, Sensory, Art, Music, Creative Activities)
• Infants and Toddlers
• Leadership and Professionalism (Public Policy, Advocacy, Self-Care)
• Family Engagement Support
• Health, Safety, and Nutrition
• Quality Improvement and Assessment (Quality Rated, NAEYC Accreditation, ITERS, ECERS, GELDS)
• Guidance and Challenging Behavior
• Influences on Development (Trauma, ACES, Cognitive, Emotional, Social)

Download the Program Here

Pre-purchase a Box Lunch

Available to purchase when you register. You have the option to purchase a box lunch for $10 (sandwich, chips, cookie, and tea or lemonade; turkey, ham, or vegetarian). Lunch is also available for purchase at restaurants across the street from the venue.

Special Events

No Small Matter is the first feature documentary to explore the most overlooked, underestimated, and powerful force for good in America today: early childhood education. Through poignant stories and surprising humor, the film lays out the overwhelming evidence for the importance of the first five years, and reveals how our failure to act on that evidence has resulted in an everyday crisis for American families, and a slow-motion catastrophe for the country. The film will be followed by a discussion led by GAEYC representatives. Subtítulos en español y discusión disponible. (Friday afternoon: Reserve a seat when you register.)

Coy Bowles of the Zac Brown Band, author of the PreK 25th Anniversary book Behind the Little Red Door, will perform music from his children's album, followed by a demonstration of how to use a curriculum that Lakeshore developed around his music. (Saturday afternoon)

The College Fair (Friday)
Meet with representatives from colleges in Georgia that support Early Childhood Professionals. 

Student and Teacher Poster Fair (Friday and Saturday)
Share ideas and research with fellow students and teachers around posters. To learn about submitting, click here. 

Member Town Hall Luncheon (Friday)
Join GAEYC members in learning about what GAEYC has done in the last year to support members and our mission. Members will be treated to a free lunch with RSVP. Members and non-members welcome. Feel free to bring your own lunch.

Leadership Policy Brunch (Saturday)
Join other leaders to discuss the Child Care Development Block Grant, The State of Preschool and The State of Babies in Georgia. GAEYC and GEEARS (Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students) host the discussion over breakfast. (Registration $30; Free for Standard and Premium Members)

Quality Service Awards Luncheon (Saturday)
Join GAEYC in celebrating outstanding professionals in early childhood education. RSVP to attend. Lunch provided for awardee plus one. Nominate someone today!

GAEYC Recognition Ceremony (Saturday)
Join GAEYC in celebrating programs that were Quality Rated 3-Star or NAEYC Accredited in the last year. All are welcome to attend. Lunch provided for 2 attendees from each recognized program. RSVP when you register.

Pre-Conference Institute

Building Bridges to Trauma Responsive Learning Environments and Trauma Sensitive Care

Featuring Cheryl Smith Turner, Ed.S., Educational Consultant at Reach TLS, LLC

Join us for this full day advanced level training, which will be presented in two parts. Childhood trauma is an urgent and increasingly pervasive issue in early childhood education. Nationally, 1 in 4 children have been either exposed to or are actively experiencing some type of adverse childhood experience (ACE), triggering symptoms that are toxic to the brain and profoundly detrimental to development and learning.  

Thursday, October 3, 2019
Room 216                

3 credits $65*
6 credits $90*
*Standard Members get $15 discount; Premium Members free 

Part 1 Deconstructing Trauma (9am to 12pm) We will deconstruct trauma, its identifiable characteristics and symptoms and examine a broad view of its profound impact on brain development, cognitive functioning, social emotional adjustment, and academic learning. We will reflect on our experiences and voice ideas and questions, as we attempt to understand this epidemic through the lens of how it might possibly affect us as adults. In doing so, we are better positioned to see beneath a child’s behavior to identify what messages children are communicating through their behaviors.

Part 2 Strategies for Responding to Trauma (1pm to 4pm) Equipped with foundational understandings of trauma and an awareness of its pervasiveness throughout our early learning communities, we will begin to apply practical, appropriate and productive strategies for responding to the needs of children who are impacted by chronic stress, adverse experiences, and trauma. We will discuss ways that as education administrators, program planners, trainers and child advocates, we can support practitioners in creating safe spaces for learning that are sensitive to children’s unique needs, that reinforce feelings of safety and connection, and that provide learners with the tools needed for resilience and school success.

If you attended the 3-hour Pre-Conference Institute last year, this course will provide an opportunity to reinforce and extend your learning.

Accommodations

We have negotiated a discounted rate for the Hilton Garden Inn Windward. Room rates of $86 king/$91 dbl dbl/$96 queen queen for Oct 3 and 4. Includes breakfast. To receive the discount, visit our hotel conference site. Book by September 11 for discounted rate.

Sponsoring, Exhibiting, and Advertising
We welcome advertising and sponsorship. We have a wait list for exhibiting. Click here for more information. 

Get Involved
Get involved with GAEYC at the conference. We welcome your interest in supporting GAEYC during the conference. We also offer the opportunity to apply for a limited number of conference volunteering scholarships. Click here to apply.