Thursday, March 4, 2027

8:00 – 8:30 a.m. | Annual Conference Opening, Welcome, and Announcements
Special Guest: Michelle Kang, NAEYC

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. | Morning General Session: Agoo Amee: Engaging Young Children Through the Performing Arts
Kofi Dennis, Wolf Trap Master Teaching Artist
“Call and response” experiences are found in many traditions. Many classroom cultures around the world use forms of call and response as a way of engaging student participation and expression, and as a classroom management strategy.

Join Kofi in exploring this strategy as he brings books, rhymes, and songs to life through “call and response” and other music and drama techniques. Explore how the performing arts can enhance self-regulation, literacy, language, and math learning, while fostering memory, concentration, and listening skills.

Kofi Dennis is an Early Childhood Arts Integration Specialist who presents Family Involvement Workshops and Professional Development Workshops for Arts Professionals and Educators, as well as Residencies in schools and libraries all over the country. As a Wolf Trap Master Teaching Artist, Kofi has also led new Wolf Trap Artists Training since 2005. He’s a well-known Storyteller and Musician who frequently performs in museums, libraries, and schools. Kofi is a graduate of the School of Performing Arts at the University of Ghana and also studied Early Childhood Education at Komenda College, University of Cape Coast.

11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Advocacy Lunchtime Presentation TBA
Make plans to pre-order a box lunch and join your VAAEYC community for this fabulous lunchtime presentation.

Friday, March 5, 2027

8:00 – 8:30 a.m. | Friday Morning Welcome, Awards Presentation and Announcements

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. | Morning General Session: A Dance of Distraction: Examining the Impact of Technology on Parent-Child Interactions
Joshua Metz, PhD, LCSW

In this presentation, Dr. Joshua Metz will discuss findings from his published research on how the interference of technology (technoference) impacts parent-child interactions, and how early childhood education can and should participate in the growing debate about technology and child development.

11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Lunchtime Presentation: Inspiring Children on a Path to Playful, Purposeful Learning Through Relatable Stories: Lessons from a Military Children’s Author
Pearl Alimo, Author, Educator

What happens when a child opens a book and recognizes themselves, their lived experiences,  feelings and their world within its pages? In this inspiring keynote, you will explore the powerful role relatable stories can play in helping young children feel seen, build confidence, navigate change, and develop a genuine love for reading and learning.

Learn how  Early Childhood Educators  and professionals can use relatable stories and books  to spark curiosity, encourage playful exploration, foster a sense of belonging, and turn everyday reading moments into purposeful learning experiences in the classroom and at home. This Keynote will challenge educators to look beyond the pages of a book and discover the possibilities that unfold when children can connect what they read with who they are, what they experience, and who they are becoming.

Make plans to pre-order a box lunch and join your VAAEYC community for this fabulous lunchtime presentation.

Saturday, March 6, 2027

8:00 – 8:30 a.m. | Saturday Morning Welcome and Announcements

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. | Saturday Morning Session: Beneath the Behavior: Exploring the Roots of Challenging Behavior
Melissa Williamson, EdD, CTP, The University of Texas at San Antonio and Founder and CEO of At the Heart of Teaching, Learning, and Leadership

Challenging behavior is often what we see—but it is rarely the whole story. This interactive, trauma-informed session invites educators to look beneath children’s behavior to better understand the stress, emotions, developmental needs, past experiences, and nervous-system responses that may be driving what happens in the classroom. Participants will explore how stress and adversity can influence behavior, learning, attachment, and regulation and learn to recognize fight, flight, and freeze responses that can easily be mistaken for defiance or noncompliance.

12:00 – 1:00 p.m. | Lunchtime Presentation: ALL ABOARD! The Journey to Playful and Purposeful Learning with BOOKS
Joyce Jones, Retired Principal Woodlawn Learning Center – Hopewell City Public Schools

This presentation is an unforgettable journey of discovery of learning in classrooms with young children. Educators will be empowered and inspired with strategies and techniques to interactively use books throughout daily schedules. This journey will include ways to build confidence, help every child find their unique path to success, and create playful and purposeful experiences using BOOKS across the curriculum every day. Good Beginnings Never End with Books!

Make plans to pre-order a box lunch and join your VAAEYC community for this fabulous lunchtime presentation.