The Michigan Washtenaw County Early Childhood Directors Association (ECDA) is a professional organization for the directors, administrators, and leaders of early childhood programs. Our goals are to support directors, to serve as advocates of children's issues, and to provide resource and networking opportunities for early childhood professionals.
Topic: Nurturing Grieving Children at School and Care
Speaker: Suzanne Bayer
Learn how to support grieving young children by integrating relevant childhood bereavement support theory with best teaching practice. In this session you will gain an understanding of children's developmental grief responses and discover methods of support and assistance.
Topic: Work and Purpose
Speaker: Etta Heisler, Executive Director, Apple Playschools
This year has given leaders more than our fair share of challenges. What do we have to hold onto that keeps our schools and ourselves grounded, focused, and ready to respond? Explore a variety of ways that defining vision and clarifying values - on a personal and organizational level - can provide stability and direction. Then, reflect on how your own strengths can carry your vision and values forward. We'll have some story sharing, some reflection, and lots of tools to jump start a visioning or values process for strategic planning, annual reports, or just a personal recommitment to work and purpose.
Topic: Media and Kids
Speaker: Jenny Radesky, M.D., a pediatrician and expert on children and media at the University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital
As technology evolves, young children increasingly are interacting with an array of digital media, including video-streaming services, internet-connected toys and devices, and smart speakers. Learn about the long term and short-term effects of media on children and how to best support children and families.
Topic: Hot Topics In Early Childhood
This session is designed to allow you to network and problem solve with your peers about the topics most important to you and your work. Guided discussions on topics you help determine!
Topic: Gender Identity Development in the Early Childhood Classroom
Speaker: Katrina & Sasha Hamann-Azanov
This presentation aims to provide early childhood educators with the tools to understand gender beyond stereotypes and to analyze their own current teaching practices for the ways that they hinder and/or promote children's ability to safely explore gender in the classroom.
Joint Meeting with the Southern Chapter of MiAEYC
Topic: Teaching Inclusion
Speaker: Katie Andrews, Morning Star Child Care
Join us as we explore issues of implicit bias, marginalized groups, and dominant culture in order to better understand how to promote inclusion in early childhood settings.
*Please note that this meeting ends at 3:00 p.m.
Topic: Mental Health in Staff • Anxiety and Depression
Speaker: Carly Ly, Mental Health Consultant, WISD
Working in early childhood education can be stressful, and certain types of stress can negatively affect physical and mental health. Preschool teachers face high demands, such as managing disruptive classroom behaviors, completing required paperwork, and ensuring that children are socially and academically ready for kindergarten. In this session, we will address some of the causes of staff stress, coping strategies that staff can use to mitigate the impacts of stress, and specific actions that programs can take to minimize staff stress.
The trainings are intended for Directors, Administrators and Leaders of Early Childhood Programs. Twice a year we offer a joint luncheon with WCAEYC that focuses more on teachers and day to day classroom support.
Out of respect for the speakers and participants, we strongly discourage you from bringing your child, the meetings are long and there are no 'play areas' to help entertain them. Exceptions can be made for in arms infants only with permission. Please contact our current president Carrie Anderson at 734-424-9193 if you have any further questions.
The training fee does include lunch, but you are welcome to come for just the training which begins at noon. If you do plan on eating please arrive at 11:15AM. There are gluten free and vegetarian options available. You can request 'special dietary requests' when registering for the training.
We understand that the kids come first and we cannot always get away from our programs. There is no need to contact anyone but unfortunately you are still required to pay for the training. You can mail your payment to the treasurer or bring it with you to the next meeting. If you chose to pay ahead for the whole year there will not be a refund if you stop attending the meetings. You also have the option of sending someone in your place if you can't make it.
Yes, each participant will receive a certificate that includes their name, the topic of discussion, hours of training and date.
Yes, once your organization is a member you're welcome to bring as many people from your program as you would like. Please register each person separately each month, the $20.00 fee applies to each person.
If you would like to join ECDA or become a part of the Steering Committee, please email us at contactus@wcecda.com. You are welcome to attend one meeting without becoming a member. The $20.00 training fee would still apply.
Child Care Network's mission is to promote the success of children, families and our community through quality child care education, advocacy and family support. Child Care Network is committed to improving the quality of child care and providing resources to help the community make educated choices about early childhood education. CCN has been providing services to families and early childhood professionals since 1977. Child Care Network provides services for six southeast Michigan counties: Hillsdale, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Monroe, and Washtenaw.
The Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children is committed to improving the education and welfare of children from birth through age eight. MiAEYC works for young children, their families, and early childhood professionals. MiAEYC supports the professional development of its members through quality training, materials and services. More than 3,000 early childhood educators and suppliers of children's services belong to MiAEYC in 16 affiliate chapters and 3 local chapters.
Founded in 1926, The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is a professional membership organization that works to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age 8, by connecting early childhood practice, policy, and research. We advance a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children. The association comprises nearly 70,000 individual members of the early childhood community and more than 300 regional Affiliate chapters, all committed to delivering on the promise of high-quality early learning. Together, we work to achieve a collective vision: that all young children thrive and learn in a society dedicated to ensuring they reach their full potential.
The ECDA Steering Committee is composed of program directors and representatives from local organizations.