McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership: Leadership Connections - National Leadership Conference - 2015

1. BRACE
CHANGE
Leadership Connections™
NATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
MAY 13–16, 2015
Leadership Connections™
NATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
MAY 13–16, 2015

2. Change is good—and we’ve gone first.This year marks the 15th
anniversary
of Leadership Connections and we’ve taken a hard look at how to improve
the national conference for attendees, presenters, and exhibitors alike.
Here are a few highlights of the improvements we’ve made:
ƒƒ New skill-building tracks and more session options: Participate in
your choice of seven sessions from any themed track
ƒƒ Special Interest sessions: Spend 60 minutes learning about a specific
tool or resource
ƒƒ Dine and Discuss: Join other professionals for sharing or planning
over dinner.We book the restaurant; you choose your topic and your meal.
What will stay the same is the exceptional quality of this professional
experience. Leadership Connections will continue to offer you an array
of national experts who designed their sessions to connect current
practices with innovative ideas.
We hope you’ll join us in celebration of continuous improvement.
Sincerely,
SUE OFFUTT, PH.D.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Conference Schedule
PRECONFERENCE | WEDNESDAY | MAY 13
Fostering Emotional and Social Development 9:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
BasicsofCulturallyandLinguisticallyAppropriatePractice 9:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Changing theWorld for Children:Six Steps toAdvocacy 9:00 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.
An Introduction toTransitions 1:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Getting Ready for the PAS 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
THURSDAY | MAY 14
Continental Breakfast 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Session 1 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Opening Keynote Luncheon 10:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Public Policy Forum 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Networking Break 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Session 2 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Dinner Reception | Marketplace open 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Leadership Colloquium 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
FRIDAY | MAY 15
Continental Breakfast | Marketplace open 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Session 3 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Networking Break | Marketplace open 10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Session 4 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Lunch Buffet | Marketplace open 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Session 5 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Marketplace open 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Special Interest Sessions 4:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Dine and Discuss 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
SATURDAY | MAY 16
Breakfast Buffet 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Session 6 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Session 7 10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Closing Keynote Luncheon 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
LEADERSHIP CONNECTIONS 2015
Leadership Connections™
2015
Register at McCORMICKCENTER.NL.EDU

3. LEADERSHIP CONNECTIONS 2015
The conference was highly organized. Each detail of
the day was coordinated with the Westin conference
center so that it ran smoothly and provided a relaxed
atmosphere for attendees.
— MELISSA NAGENGAST, PENNSYLVANIA
Register at McCORMICKCENTER.NL.EDU
Conference
Highlights
JOIN US IN CELEBRATION OF
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
10th
anniversary of the Program Administration Scale,
15th
Leadership Connections conference, and
30th
anniversary of the McCormick Center
Celebrations for these milestones will occur throughout the
conference. Join us as we highlight past achievements, create new
memories, and look to the future.
NEW Skill-building tracks and more sessions
The seven tracks include: Leadership, Coaching, and Mentoring;
Technology; Program Management; Instructional Excellence;
Social Emotional Development; Program Assessments; and Early
Childhood Education Policy.You now have seven total session times,
up from three.You can choose to attend any session in any track.
NEW Special Interest sessions
Join us to learn about specific tools or resources to magnify your
leadership. From ECE degree programs to program assessment tools
and from quality improvement plans to credentials, these 60-minute
sessions will provide big ideas for professional growth.
NEW Dine and Discuss
Finding time to connect with colleagues can be a challenge. Let us
help you! We book the restaurant; you choose your topic and your
meal. This is a great opportunity to exchange ideas and/or plan
collaborations.
5th
Annual Paula Jorde Bloom Leadership Colloquium
Join us for wine and dessert as Joan Lombardi discusses her journey
of visionary leadership.This is an opportunity to dialogue with
a renowned leader in the field of early care and education while
considering your own visionary leadership journey.

4. Conference
Information
PRECONFERENCE SESSIONS
Changing theWorld for Children: Six Steps toAdvocacy $75
Fostering Emotional and Social Development $50
Getting Ready for the PAS*
$10
Basics of Culturally and LinguisticallyAppropriate Practice*
Free
An Introduction toTransitions*
Free
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
Thursday–Saturday (Early Bird ends February 28, 2015) $450
Thursday–Saturday (After February 28, 2015) $500
Thursday or Friday only $200
Saturday only $175
A discounted conference rate of $25 off per person is available for groups
of 10 or more.There will be a $50 processing fee for all cancellations.
No refunds will be issued after April 21, 2015.
CONFERENCE HOTEL
The Westin Chicago North Shore is located at 601 North Milwaukee
Avenue,Wheeling, IL 60090–just 30 miles north of downtown
Chicago.The conference room rate is $153/night (single or double
occupancy) plus tax.To make reservations call 888.627.8531.
The conference rate ends April 19,2015.
ATTENTION ILLINOIS
PROFESSIONALS
*
Leadership Connections is a
Gateways to Opportunity RegistryVerified Conference.Also, three of
the preconference sessions and two sessions from the Instructional
Excellence track count toward ExceleRate™
Illinois required sessions.
Conference Note:The session titles and presenters on the following pages
are subject to change. Please visit McCormickCenter.nl.edu for the
most up-to-date information.
Keynotes
and Forums
Register at McCORMICKCENTER.NL.EDU
LEADERSHIP CONNECTIONS 2015
Be inspired by leaders in the field while
building your early childhood peer network.
Opening Keynote:
Creating a Climate of
Powerful Interactions
Judy Jablon is an educational
consultant who focuses her
work on the importance
of relationships, teacher-
child interactions, effective
communication, and
assessment. She is co-author
of Powerful Interactions: How
To Connect With Children
to ExtendTheir Learning
and Coaching with Powerful
Interactions.
Closing Keynote:
What You Need to
Lead as Only You Can:
We’ve Got Your Back!
Holly Elissa Bruno, best-selling
author, international keynote
speaker, and radio host of
“Heart to Heart Conversations
in Leadership;Your Guide
to Making a Difference,”
engages her audience with
laughter, legal expertise, and
the authority that comes from
taking the road less traveled.
Public Policy Forum
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Thursday
Innovative thought leader and
remarkable public servant
Joan Lombardi will take us
on a journey, looking back
at the policy environment
of disjointed services for
young children and leaning
forward toward a national early
childhood policy that embraces
collaboration at the community,
state, and federal levels.
Networking
The following activities are
designed to support you in
connecting with colleagues:
Opening Luncheon (Thursday)
10:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Dinner Reception (Thursday)
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Marketplace (Friday)
7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Dine and Discuss (Friday)
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Closing Luncheon (Saturday)
12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

5. Instructional
Excellence
Providing learning experiences that
support healthy development and
help all children succeed
Creating
Conversations with
Young Children
NancyToso
COMPASS for kids
It All Adds Up: Early
Math Leadership
Rebeca Itzkowich, Susan
Munro, and Madelyn James
Erikson Institute and
Voices for Illinois Children
Clatter in the
Classroom
Sandra Duncan
Educational Consultant
Illinois Early
Learning Guidelines:
Part 1 & Part 2
Colleen Bandy
INCCRRA
Finding A Curriculum
that Works for You:
Part 1 & Part 2
Stacy Gatewood
INCCRRA
SKILL-BUILDING TRACK
Leadership, Coaching,
and Mentoring
Supporting individuals and teams
in professional growth and improved
quality efforts
Empowering Visionary
Leaders and Team
Builders
Alison Pepper
Jewish Community
Centers of North America
Leadership
Development:
An Approach to
PreK-3 Administrator
Effectiveness
Kristie Kauerz and
Molly BransonThayer
National P-3 Center
University of Washington
A Professional
Learning Community
for Site Supervisors
and Directors
Terrissa Hein
Contra Costa County
Office of Education
Helping Those Who
Help Others Through
Relationship-Based
Coaching
Jodi Whiteman
ZEROTOTHREE
Leading Yourself
and Your Team
During Change
Susan Neustrom
Consultant
Using Job-Embedded
Professional
Development to
Improve Teacher-
Child Interactions and
Instruction:
Part 1 & Part 2
Debra Pacchiano and
Marsha Hawley
Ounce of Prevention Fund
SKILL-BUILDING TRACK
LEADERSHIP CONNECTIONS 2015Register at McCORMICKCENTER.NL.EDU
ExceleRate Illinois required training
ExceleRate Illinois required training
Special Registration
Options
Expand and enhance your conference
experience with these additonal offerings.
Basics of Culturally
and Linguistically
Appropriate Practice
Rosita Nardi
9:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Wednesday
Price: Free
An Introduction
to Transitions
Aleida Jaimes
1:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Wednesday
Price: Free
Getting Ready for the PAS
Linda Butkovich and
Paula Steffen
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday
Price: $10
Changing the World
for Children: Six Steps
to Advocacy
Ken Jaffe
9:00 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Wednesday
Price: $75
Fostering Emotional
and Social Development
Kay Albrecht, Michelle
Forrester, and BarbaraVolpe
9:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Wednesday
Price: $50
Leadership Colloquium
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Thursday
Price: Included with registration
Special Interest
Sessions
4:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Friday
Price: Included with registration
Dine and Discuss
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday
Hosted at local restaurants
Price: Cost of dinner on your own
Register at McCORMICKCENTER.NL.EDU
ExceleRate™
Illinois approved training
ADDITIONAL SESSIONS
ExceleRate™
Illinois approved training
ExceleRate™
Illinois approved training

6. Technology
Using tools to enhance program
productivity, children’s learning,
and connections with families
Strengthening Families
Evaluation Portal
Beyond Assessment:
Closing the Gap
in Family Support
JulieTarr
Mosaic Network, Inc.
Increasing Knowledge
and Know-how
Through Online
Learning to Engage
Families and Promote
Well-being
Nikki Darling-Kuria
ZEROTOTHREE
How to Market
Your Child Care
Program in the
Age of Social Media
Tom Copeland
Consultant
Growing Up Digital
Heidi Kay
Schaumburg School District 54
Get the Most
Out of Your iPad
Rob Bowe
Brookfield School District 95
Donna Wakefield
National Louis University
Strategies for
Integrating Technology
Into In-service and
Pre-service Teacher
Preparation
Ed Greene
HITN
Amanda Armstrong
Erikson Institute
Tots, Teachers,
Technology,
Transformation
Marilyn Hokanson
Pomona Unified School District
SKILL-BUILDING TRACK
Program
Management
Managing early care and education
organizations so they maintain quality
and continue to grow
ECE and Business
Savvy: A Happy
Marriage
Cecelia Westby
Rasmussen College
A Conversation
About Performance
Appraisal
Diana Courson and
Geania Dickey
Arkansas State University
Childhood Services
Utilize Your Resources
Effectively: Budgeting
and Fiscal Management
Lara Azoy and Crystal Sarino
Los Angeles Universal
Preschool
Using a Crisis to
Create a Crisis
Management Plan
Regina Folks
The Early Childhood
Education Director’s Network
Fostering
Relationships and
Strong Connections
To Improve Family
Engagement
Rebecca Pegues, Brandi
Burton, and Adrienne Mercer
EarlyYears Network,
Mississippi State University
Free Online
Resources to Build
Research-based Skills
Patricia Fahey and
Sherrie Rudick
Head Start National Center
for Program Management
and Fiscal Operations
ExceleRate Illinois
and Gateways:
Make the Connection
Mark Obuchowski
INCCRRA
SKILL-BUILDING TRACK
Register at McCORMICKCENTER.NL.EDU
LEADERSHIP CONNECTIONS 2015

7. Instructional
Excellence
Providing learning experiences that
support healthy development and
help all children succeed
Creating
Conversations with
Young Children
NancyToso
COMPASS for kids
It All Adds Up: Early
Math Leadership
Rebeca Itzkowich, Susan
Munro, and Madelyn James
Erikson Institute and
Voices for Illinois Children
Clatter in the
Classroom
Sandra Duncan
Educational Consultant
Illinois Early
Learning Guidelines:
Part 1 & Part 2
Colleen Bandy
INCCRRA
Finding A Curriculum
that Works for You:
Part 1 & Part 2
Stacy Gatewood
INCCRRA
SKILL-BUILDING TRACK
Social and Emotional
Development
Promoting a strong and emotional
foundation as the basis for establishing
and maintaining positive relationships
Avoiding Stress:
A Strength Based
Approach
Steven Erwin
Kaplan Early
Learning Company
Reflective
Leadership to Build
Staff Resilience
Mary Mackrain
Education
Development Center
Protective Factors to
Build Child Resilience
LaToya Atkins and
Rebecca Pegues
EarlyYears Network,
Mississippi State University
Responsive Teachers
for Behavior Success
Marie Masterson
Dominican University
Healthy Minds, Healthy
Lives: Promoting
Mental Health in
Young Children
Barbara Doyle
Clinical Consultant
Exploring Executive
Function Skills
in Preschool
Georgia Bozeday
Rush NeuroBehavioral Center
Do as I Do: The Role
of Co-Regulation
in Child Behavior
Peggy North-Jones and
John Roope
Caregiver Connections
SKILL-BUILDING TRACK
LEADERSHIP CONNECTIONS 2015Register at McCORMICKCENTER.NL.EDU
ExceleRate™
Illinois approved training
ExceleRate™
Illinois approved training

8. Program
Assessments
Implementing tools and activities that
support data collection and use at the
program, staff, child, and family levels
National Accreditation
Commission as
Continuous Quality
Improvement
ColleenTracy Haddad
Association for
Early Learning Leaders
Quality Improvement:
Make Your Data Count
Tricia Sifford and
Mark Branagh
Branagh Information Group
Using CLASS®
Observations as a
Catalyst for Teacher
Professional Growth
Rebecca Berlin
Teachstone
Early Learning Scale:
A Practical
Assessment for All
Preschool Students
Amanda Sink
Lakeshore Learning Materials
Early Childhood
Assessment Systems
Analysis
Shannon Riley-Ayers and
Vincent J. Costanza
NIEER and New Jersey
Department of Education
Merging Program
Implementation,
Evaluation, and
Data Systems
Hazel Naal, Donna Escalante,
and Dennis Ebuen
LosAngeles Universal Preschool
Unveiling the
Mysteries of ERS
Monitoring Visits
Colleen McLaughlin and
Jami McCormack
McCormick Center for Early
Childhood Leadership
Early Childhood
Education Policy
Exploring current challenges in the field;
implications for professionals, children,
and families; and the policy changes
that could improve outcomes
The Great Disconnect
in Early Childhood
Education: What We
Know vs. What We Do
Michael Gramling
Western Kentucky University
Bold Moves, Hard
Decisions, and
Innovative Thinking
to Define the Early
Childhood Profession
Marica Cox Mitchell
NAEYC
Opportunities for
Public-Private
Partnership in ECE:
Building Sustainable
and Responsible
Partnerships
Myriam L. Baker
Knowledge Universe
Early Childhood
Education –
Are We a Profession?
Steven Erwin
Kaplan Early
Learning Company
Being Black Is
Not a Risk Factor
Lauren Hogan
National Black Child
Development Institute
Generational
Differences and
Leadership Transitions
in the Field
Barb Arnold-Tengesdal
Marian University
It’s All Local: Early
Childhood Systems
Building in Theory,
Policy, and Practice
Kathy Stohr
Illinois Action for Children
SKILL-BUILDING TRACKSKILL-BUILDING TRACK
Register at McCORMICKCENTER.NL.EDU
LEADERSHIP CONNECTIONS 2015

9. McCORMICK CENTER
FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD LEADERSHIP
AT NATIONAL LOUIS UNIVERSITY | 6200 Capitol Drive | Wheeling, Illinois 60090
McCormickCenter.nl.edu | 847.947.5063
Photos by: David Ropinski and Miguel Arroyo
ABOUT THE McCORMICK CENTER
FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD LEADERSHIP
AT NATIONAL LOUIS UNIVERSITY
At the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership, we empower
individuals to build the leadership and management skills they need to create
and sustain exemplary programs for young children.Through professional
development, evaluation, research, and public awareness, we promote best
practice in program administration. By working with states, professional
organizations, and directly with early childhood practitioners, we raise the
bar on program quality. Because, when it comes to early childhood education,
leadership really does matter.
To learn more about the McCormick Center, visit McCormickCenter.nl.edu
LEADERSHIP ATTERS.