WHSA 2025 Annual Conference has ended

Create Your Own Event

WHSA 2025 Annual Conference

8:00am CST

Registration Hours: Sunday Evening (5:30-7pm), Monday (8am-1:30pm) & Tuesday (8am-1:30pm) Cypress Registration Booth

9:00am CST

General Session—WHSA Welcome: Don’t Miss Dylan Prescott’s Opening Interactive Show and Some Very Special Guests ABC/FGHJennie Mauer • Brian Stults

10:00am CST

Keynote: Education - The M.A.N.D.A.T.O.R.Y. Mission ABC/FGHDr. Kim Johnson

12:00pm CST

1:00pm CST

Advocacy 101: Telling Your Story PortiaTanya Wooden AI as Your Teaching Assistant: Enhancing Early Childhood Curriculum Development Suite DStacy Wilkes Cultural/ Racism Awareness in the Workforce BanyanDylan Prescott Everyday C.O.A.C.H.E.S. - Leading with Excellence Suite EDr. Kim Johnson Family Partnerships: Using the Youth Wellness Hub to Create an Individualized Resource Guide GuavaElizabeth Olsen • Nadean Kannal Stress and Resilience: Strengthening Well-Being for Early Childhood Professionals TamarindNicole Cusimano Supporting Autism in Early Childhood Settings WisteriaAnna Barthen Supporting Kids with Challenging Pasts (Trauma) CypressChris Peterson

2:30pm CST

3:00pm CST

Advocacy 102: An Overview of Advocating for ECE PortiaTanya Wooden Advocacy 104: Partnering with Businesses and Community Leaders in Advocacy PortiaTanya Wooden Connecting and Communicating with Compassion Suite EJami Hoekstra Collins • Erik Perez Culturally Responsive Teaching WisteriaJeremy Walton Empowering Human Services through Artificial Intelligence Suite DJason Witt Feel Confident: Be First Aid Ready IronwoodKristin Gabriel, MSN, RN • Erin Aagesen, MPH Internal Tornadoes and Trauma: How to Help Calm The Storm GuavaTracey Atkinson • DeAnne Mackiewicz Nature Play for Every Child: Explore PLT’s “Trees & Me” TamarindNicole Filizetti • Steve Schmidt Planning & Communication: The Connection to Professional Development BanyanJulia Drought Taking the Stress Out of Parent Conferences...Even the Contentious Ones CypressChris Peterson

5:00pm CST

WHSA Evening Social: Head Start Birthday Party!!! ABC/FGH

6:30pm CST

End of Day 1 ABC/FGH

8:00am CST

Registration Hours: Sunday Evening (5:30-7pm), Monday (8am-1:30pm) & Tuesday (8am-1:30pm)

9:15am CST

Day 2: Welcome & Opening Comments ABC/FGHJennie Mauer • Brian Stults

10:30am CST

Keynote: Taking Steps To Deal With Uncertainty and Build Resilience ABC/FGHMitch Factor

12:00pm CST

1:00pm CST

Advocacy 103: Partnering with Families in Advocacy PortiaTanya Wooden Are You Where You Want to be in the Early Childhood Field? GuavaBrandy Perry Bienestar para la Educación Infantil Part 1 IronwoodYimma Davila Castro • Diana Billstrom Board and Policy Council Working Together Suite DTammy Jelinek, MBA Creating A Positive Healthy Support System For Success CypressMitch Factor DCF YoungStar Analysis and Update Project TamarindTerra Klein • Daria Hall Promoting Problem Solvers with Playful Resources from PBS KIDS Part 1 Suite EJami Hoekstra Collins • Mouna Algahaithi Taking a Deep Dive Into Neurodiversity BanyanKurstin Kolodziej • Krista Johnson

2:30pm CST

3:00pm CST

Bienestar para la Educación Infantil (Wellbeing in Early Childhood Education) Part 2 IronwoodYimma Davila Castro • Diana Billstrom Emotional Regulation: Where Do We Start? BanyanKrista Johnson • Kurstin Kolodziej Learn the Why – Open Questions and Answers with Wipfli Suite DTammy Jelinek, MBA Nature Play for Every Child: Explore PLT’s “Trees & Me” TamarindNicole Filizetti • Steve Schmidt Partnering with Families Who Have Children with Special Needs – A Family Voices Learning Session WisteriaLynn Renner • Danielle Tolzmann Positive Redirection of Children CypressMitch Factor Promoting Problem Solvers with Playful Resources from PBS KIDS Part 2 Suite EMouna Algahaithi • Jami Hoekstra Collins Wisconsin FoodShare GuavaHeidi Healy • Jules Lee

5:00pm CST

8:30am CST

Checking your Blind Spot: How Classroom Staff Can Move Forward with a Coach in the Passenger Seat GuavaMeghan Klegin • Christa Keller El Enfoque de 4 Pasos para Manejar Conversaciones Difíciles PortiaMaria Matrak • Paola Nunez-Garcia Harnessing the Power of Exploration, Play and Wonder: Conducting Hands on Investigations with Preschoolers WisteriaJennifer Sturgeon Introduction to Healthy Media Habits: A Video Series and Resources for Families and Child Care Providers of Children Ages 0-5 BanyanRebecca Mather Nourish to Flourish Suite EDr. Patricia Caspary • Mary Costello Ohana Means Family! Supporting Child-Family Relationships Both Inside and Outside of The Classroom Suite DDelechia Johnson Portage Guide 3 A Relational Perspective on Developmental Assessment and Intervention Planning for Young Children CypressMelissa Velez Using Early Literacy to Support Young Children with IEPs. TamarindSandy Miller • Cindy Prendergast

10:00am CST

10:30am CST

Challenging Assumptions: Enhancing Your Work with Children and Families CypressMelissa Velez • Rene Forsythe Creating Inclusive Environments WisteriaMary Niec Ditch the Screen! Revitalizing Creativity Through Play TamarindTerri Hafenbreadl • Melissa Vanecek First Breath: Enhancing Maternal and Child Health Outcomes by Reducing Tobacco, Alcohol and Other Substance Use During Pregnancy and Beyond Suite DElizabeth Olsen • Kalin Hiess Fostering Reciprocal Relationships Between Providers and Families Around Social Emotional Teacher Practices BanyanAbby Taylor Pequeñas Conexiones: Construyendo Relaciones para Apoyar el Aprendizaje de Bebés y Niños Pequeños PortiaMaria Matrak • Paola Nunez-Garcia Wisconsin Registry: 5 Facts You Should Know GuavaDanielle Earley

12:00pm CST

Conference Ends - Thanks for Coming! - Travel Safely!