Kansas City professionals learn together at Early Education Symposium

Early childhood education providers gathered on July 27 for Educare Kansas City’s fourth Early Education Symposium.

“Project Eagle, Educare Kansas City’s parent organization, has three primary purposes: preparing children, engaging families and promoting excellence,” said Jennifer Adhima, associate director for Project Eagle. “The symposium was developed with the intent of promoting excellence in the field of early childhood education through the sharing of information and best practices with other providers in our community.”

The event is also part of Educare’s efforts to share its practices with the early childhood field to ensure that more children have access to high-quality early learning.

Twenty early childhood professionals attended the symposium, which offered two sessions, one geared for early learning program directors and one for teachers. Directors attended “Designing Professional Development That Creates Change,” led by Jessica Haremza, school director, and Kelli Roehr, master teacher. Teachers attended “Wiggle and Giggle–A Vital Tool to Brain-Based Learning in Early Childhood Education Using Music and Movement,” led by Bonnie Rudzinski, the school’s volunteer music teacher.

Participants reported that the symposium provided them with information that will guide them in their daily work and with useful ideas to try in their own programs.

Educare staff benefit from the symposium as well, as it gives them “opportunities to further their own professional development by offering a forum where they can present information and share their experience and practices with others,” Adhima said.

Educare Kansas City staff are looking forward to the next symposium in February 2018.