Conference of Champions – Raising the Next Generation!

The leaves are falling – that means it is time for our Fall Conference of Champions at Tyler Junior College – main campus.  We will be back in the Jenkins building for classes and then the Apache rooms in Rogers Student Center for a hot lunch and a keynote speaker.  Our theme this year is Raising the Next Generation.  As early educators, we have such an important job that builds the foundation for their schooling and even their careers in life.

We have 9 presenters for all of the ages – Infant, Toddler, Pre-K and School-age teachers.  We also have director classes this year.

This year you are free to choose your own classes – once the room is full you will have to go to a different class (similar to state conferences).

1.Title: Show Me How to Be a Successful Friend!

Amber Welguisz, M.Ed. ECE

Room 212

Times – 8:30-10:00, 12:00 – 1:30, 1:45-3:15

Description: Learn the importance of building a solid social/emotional foundation to help children play kindly with each other and be successful in your classroom.

Ages – Infant, Toddler, Pre-K, School-age, Directors

2. Title: Navigating the Cost of Quality Care Calculator for Directors

Tonia Crawford, M.Ed. ECE

Room 237

Times – 1:45-3:15 only

Description: Learn how to generate a detailed revenue and expense statement to help you manage a financially sustainable child care program.

Ages – Directors, Administrators, or soon to be Directors

3. Title: Recruitment and Retention of Staff

Brandee Overshown, CDA

Room 237

Times – 8:30-10:00 only

Description: Learn creative tips to help with recruiting and retaining staff for your early childhood program.

Ages – Directors, Administrators, or soon to be Directors

4. Title: Understanding Infant and Toddler Brain Development to Elevate Your Classroom Practices!

Kayla Hartweg, M. Ed. ECE,

Room 242

Times – 8:30-10:00, 12:00 – 1:30, 1:45-3:15

Description:  Discover how connecting brain development to your everyday teaching practices for Infants and Toddlers can elevate your classroom practices, curriculum and the child’s over all development.

Ages – Infant, Toddler, Pre-K, Directors

5. Title: I’ve Planned My Classroom Expectations – Now What Do I Do!

Kim Paetzel, M.Ed. 

        Room 236

Times – 8:30-10:00, 12:00 – 1:30, 1:45-3:15

Description: Planning and posting your classroom expectations is not all there is to a well-behaved classroom of children.  Be ready to be organized, have a plan and a backup plan to help your students successfully meet the expected appropriate behaviors.

Ages – Pre-K, School-age, Directors

6.Title: Too Stressed?      Let’s Change That!

Marilyn McKinney, B.S., LSW

Room 229

Times – 8:30-10:00, 12:00 – 1:30, 1:45-3:15

Description:  Learn ways to help your stress and the children’s stress turn into a better day for all!

Ages – Pre-K, School-age, Directors

7.Title: Montessori in Action!

Suzannah Gillespie, AMS-ECE

Room 210

Times – 8:30-10:00, 12:00 – 1:30, 1:45-3:15

Description:  Learn about Maria Montessori’s philosophies and curriculum and how to implement them into your classroom.

Ages – Infant, Toddler, Pre-K, Directors

8.Title: Directors – Do You Know about WIX and AI Integration?

Michelle Saucedo, Business Advisor for Tyler Small Business Development Center

Room 237

Times – 12:00-1:30 only

Description: Learn about using WIX and AI integration to enhance your early childhood program.

Ages – Directors, Administrators, or soon to be Directors

Keynote Title: Protecting the Children of Today for a Better Tomorrow!

               Kristin Omo, B.S., EIS-FQ

Apache room in the Rogers Student Center first floor

10:15 – 11:15

Description:  Your job is stressful!  We have to protect children from child abuse and neglect – whether it’s a childcare worker or one of their family members.  Learn the signs and procedures for handling these very important issues.  This class fulfills the one hour mandated training for child abuse/neglect.  It is sponsored in part by the Texas Law Foundation.

Age Groups: All

We are encouraging you to join our Tyler Early Childhood Professionals Association.  You recieve a 25% discount on the conference fee and additional perks.  Directors can sign up the whole center or you can join as an individual.

Here is the URL code to join:  http://weblink.donorperfect.com/TECPA

Certificates are now issued through Texas Early Childhood Professional Development System – TECPDS

Join Texas Early Childhood Professional Development System to track your career!

Child care must have specific training and TECPDS will help you track your training to submit to your employer. With TECPDS, you can take all of your training with you if you change centers.

Who has access to your TECPDS account?

You control your TECPDS account and must give permission for your employer to access your information. This is your personal account to keep all your training in one place and you should never give out your password to anyone.

SIGN UP WITH A GOOGLE ACCOUNT:

• 1. On a computer or phone, navigate to tecpds.org
• 2. Click on “Sign Up”
• 3. Click on TECPDS Account Set-up
• 4. Enter your gmail account and password
• 5. Give google permission to access your account
• 6. Complete all of the fields about yourself and “submit”
• 7. Note your TECPDS number on the next page (Dashboard)
• 8. Write down your email address and TECPDS number to provide to your employer

SIGN UP WITHOUT A GOOGLE ACCOUNT:

• 1. On a computer or phone, navigate to TECPDS.ORG
• 2. Click on “login”
• 3. Select “log in with Google”
• 4. Click on “Create Account” then enter your first and last name
• 5. Enter your birthday and gender
• 6. Select “Use your existing email”
• 7. Enter your non-gmail email address
• 8. Check your email for the verification code
• 9. Enter the verification code to verify your email address
• 10. Create your user name and password
• 11. Complete all of the fields about yourself and select to “submit”
• 12. Note your TECPDS ID number on the next page (Dashboard)
• 13. Write down your email address and TECPDS ID number to provide to your employer
• 14. When you log into TECPDS, you will use your non-gmail email address and the password you set up to access your TECPDS account.

HOW TO CONNECT TO YOUR CENTER:

• 1. Login to TECPDS and select “Manage Center Affiliations” on your dashboard.
• 2. Click the “Add a Center” button.
• 3. Search for your Center or Facility. Find your center in the listing, then click the “Select” button and “Submit.”
• 4. You can authorize and un-authorize the Center Director from editing and/or viewing your information at any time. Select “Authorize to View” to allow your center director to view your profile. Select “Authorize to Edit” to allow your center director to add professional development and education records on your behalf.
• 5. Click the red trash can button to disconnect from a center, and remove any access the center director has to view or edit your account.

When you complete a training at Champions for Children, your certificate will be automatically added to your account and a copy of the certificate will be sent to your TECPDS-linked email address.

Access TECPDS here: https://public.tecpds.org/