For over 40 years, Sonia Manzano inspired, educated, and delighted children and families as "Maria" on Sesame Street. Named among the “25 Greatest Latino Role Models Ever” by Latina Magazine, Manzano broke ground as one of the first Hispanic characters on national television. Throughout her career, she has continued to contribute to enriching diversity on television, on the stage, and in the educational realm. A first generation American of Latin descent, Manzano’s tale is one of perseverance and courage as she overcame countless obstacles to become one of the most influential Latinas in television.

Before considering how to best support the social emotional needs of our students, it is critical for us, as educators, to prioritize and care for our own mental, physical, and social-emotional well-being. Dr. Ilana Nankin is an award-winning educator, wellness expert, and Founder & CEO of Breathe For Change, an organization on a mission to enhance the health and well-being of educators, students, and entire communities. Her dissertation research revealed the critical connection between educator well-being and student learning. In this interactive session, Ilana will empower and equip educators with mind-body wellness practices, social-emotional learning strategies, and mindfulness tips to use on a daily basis to ensure we are best able to support our students, colleagues, and loved ones.

Helping children label and express their feelings appropriately is a critical component of social-emotional development. In this session, Dr. Stephanie Curenton, Associate Professor at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development, will teach conversation strategies that you can use to promote emotional competence in young children.

Take your learning to the next level by reflecting on the day, engaging in discussion with peers, and connecting with a small group of fellow educators. Participation is optional and will not count towards CEUs.

In this session, you will have the opportunity to learn how to track, analyze and address behavior concerns in an early childhood setting. Johanna Mabry, licensed clinical social worker, art therapist, and Early Childhood trainer at Washtenaw ISD, will empower early childhood providers to better understand how young children communicate their needs through behavior. This session will provide strategies for how to systematically teach replacement skills to reduce or eliminate the challenging behavior. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of behavior management in early childhood through a trauma-informed approach, learning how to provide a classroom community that promotes resilience.

Arne Duncan is currently a managing partner at Emerson Collective and former U.S. Secretary of Education under President Barack Obama from 2009 - 2016. Prior to joining the Obama Administration, Duncan served as chief executive officer of Chicago Public Schools. From 2001 to 2008, Duncan won praise for uniting the city’s stakeholders behind an education agenda that included opening 100 new schools; expanding after-school, summer learning, early childhood, and college access programs; dramatically boosting the caliber of teachers; and building public-private partnerships around a variety of education initiatives.

Take your learning to the next level by reflecting on the day, engaging in discussion with peers, and connecting with a small group of fellow educators. Participation is optional and will not count towards CEUs.