ONSITE CCAL Spring Education Conference
The "Heart" of Louisiana - Leading with HEART
and Inspiring the Future
Friday, April 10, 2026
Saturday, April 11, 2026
Holiday Inn South
9990 Airline Highway
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Lunch will be provided on both Friday and Saturday
General Session - Friday, April 10, 2026
8:55 AM Welcoming Remarks and Introduction of the Keynote Speaker – Tara Emery, CCAL President
9:00 AM "Leading from Where you Are" - Regina Miller, Keynote Presenter
This one-hour keynote presentation will motivate and inspire early childhood leaders and educators to work and grow from their current base of knowledge to become the best for our youngest learners.
Regina’s first workshop “The First Teachers Matter the Most” will focus on the importance of building a healthy relationship with parents and students to maximize full learning potential. Regina will discuss mental health and the need to ensure that we are at our best for the children. Regina’s second workshop “Reigniting the Joy of Teaching” will focus on the importance of being your best self in early childhood education. Participants will learn techniques on how to be their best selves.
10:00 AM LDOE Regulatory Panel
- Moderator - Karen Powell, Deputy Superintendent
- Barry Carter, Assistant Superintendent, Early Childhood Education
- Shelia Campbell, Executive Director, Early Childhood Education
- Edlink Update
- Bulletin 137 Licensing Updates
- Child Care Criminal Background Checks
- Adult and Child Care Food Program (CACFP)
11:00 AM Legislative Advocacy Panel
Jonathan Pearce, Jennifer Stevenson & Cindy Bishop
12:00 Noon - Lunch and Door Prize Giveaways
Afternoon Workshops Friday, April 10, 2026
The Leader in the Middle – Danielle Credeur
This workshop is a hopeful and encouraging session for early childhood leaders who navigate pressure from every direction while still having to lead with purpose and heart. This presentation sheds light on the often-unseen role of a leader that feels “stuck in the middle” and shows that it is a place of strength, growth, and meaningful influence. Participants will be reminded that they can lead with confidence without carrying the weight of everyone else’s expectations, stay true to their voice during hard seasons, and find a renewed clarity in the work they do each day. Danielle’s goal is to have conference participants leave this 1.5-hour workshop feeling encouraged, restored, and confident that being in the middle is not a burden but in fact an opportunity to lead with impact and intention
Climbing Towards Success:
Classroom Management for Preschool Teachers
Treva Hackett and Felicia Lewis
This workshop provides preschool teachers with realistic, developmentally appropriate, classroom management strategies to create structured, positive and thriving learning environments. It focuses on the power of routines, the importance of consistent expectations and procedures, building strong relationships, supporting social emotional development and effective time management.
Hiring and Onboarding Staff - Tafta Miller and Bob Lansing
Calling all child care business owners– bring your laptop and build your employee manual and a New Hire Success Onboarding Manual in one power-packed workshop. Join us for a hands-on session where you will create mobile-friendly policies, age-group checklists, emergency plans and a step-by-step new hire success guide – then link everything to a QR code for instant, on-the-job access. Leave this workshop with a working draft, QR codes ready to print, short training videos, and a practical onboarding flow that ensures that new staff are confident, compliant, and classroom -ready from day one! Spots will be limited so grab your computer and turn your manuals into living tools that keep children safe and staff successful!
Inclusion Starts Early: Strategies for Supporting Special Education Students Across Early Childhood – McKenzie Esta with co-presenters Kasey Genusa, Heather Donelon and Lili Guilbault
This professional development session focuses on practical, in-class strategies for supporting children with special needs across the infant, toddler, and preschool stages. Participants will explore developmentally appropriate ways to adapt classroom environments, routines, and teacher-child interactions to meet individual needs while promoting engagement, independence, and social-emotional development. The session highlights concrete supports specific to each age group, including responsive caregiving for infants, embedded supports within daily routines for toddlers, and intentional scaffolding and accommodations in preschool classrooms. Emphasis is placed on creating inclusive learning environments that support all learners and help teachers feel confident meeting diverse needs within their classrooms.
Infant and Toddler Development: Magda Gerber’s Educaring Approach - Derrick Toups
This workshop will introduce participants to Magda Gerber’s Educaring Approach and how it is connected to research on infant and toddler development. The session will focus on techniques for supporting individual children in the infant and toddler classroom as well as on developmentally appropriate experiences that support infant and toddler gross motor development, social and emotional development, language development, play, and learning environments. While this session is geared toward infant and toddler teachers, all are welcome to learn more about the Educaring Approach.
The Secret Sauce for Retention: Creating a Culture of Connection for a Place Where People Want to Come to Work – Jamie Martin
In this engaging and practical session, The Secret Sauce for Retention: Creating a Culture of Connection for a Place Where People Want to Come to Work, participants will explore how strong workplace relationships, playful leadership, and a shared sense of purpose directly impact staff retention in early childhood settings. Designed specifically for child care leaders and administrators, this session will uncover the key ingredients that foster trust, belonging, and engagement among school families. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to strengthen communication, boost morale, and cultivate a supportive culture where educators feel valued, inspired, and excited to show up each day—because when people feel connected, they stay.
Stop, No, Don’t, Get Down, Everyday Something is Happening in this Classroom: The Secret Ingredient is H.E.L.P.
Karen Stevens and Jody Mann
Have you ever said I hope today will be better than yesterday? Classroom chaos can be overwhelming and suddenly you’re looking for an exit. H. E. L. P. is on the way! This workshop is designed to support center staff members by reducing classroom frustrations through creating hopeful language, building confidence and trust and fostering curiosity in young children from birth to five years of age.
Why Do Children Do What They Do? Classroom Management
Loretta Hall and Barbara Williams
This workshop will demonstrate the reasons why children misbehave and entertain themselves. We will provide some tips and strategies on how to prepare a plan to manage your children’s daily routines and activities. We will also discuss lesson planning and classroom transitions.
Saturday, April 11, 2026 Workshops
Reigniting the Joy of Teaching – Regina Miller, Keynote Presenter
This workshop will be a reflective, hands-on training where participants will learn practical strategies to manage stress, strengthen connections with children and rediscover meaning, balance and joy in their daily teaching practices. Participants will engage and rediscover the fulfillment that first inspired them to teach.
Burnt Out… For What?! LaRonda Bowman
This workshop is a reflective, engaging professional development presentation designed for Head Start, Early Head Start, family child care and center-based early childhood staff. This session addresses the realities of educator burnout by exploring its causes, warning signs, and impact on teacher well-being, classroom climate, and child outcomes. Participants are guided through honest self-reflection, a short video segment, and practical strategies that promote sustainability, healthy boundaries, and renewed purpose—without guilt. The presentation emphasizes that burnout is not a personal failure but a systemic challenge, empowering early childhood professionals to protect their well-being while continuing to serve children and families with intention and balance.
Careful If you Hire Them: Protecting Your Center without Becoming a Villain - Coach Stacey Byes Byarse
Coach Stacey B helps child care business owners strengthen hiring decisions and protect their centers while still leading with fairness and respect. The session provides practical, non-confrontational scripts and boundary-setting strategies so directors can hold staff accountable, reduce turnover and conflict, and maintain a healthy workplace—without being labeled “the bad guy.”
Growing Stronger Teams: Empowering Staff Through Meaningful Training - Tameka Bryan
Many childcare programs struggle with inconsistent performance, low morale, and staff burnout due to a lack of ongoing support and training. This session explores how intentional staff development can transform team confidence and program quality. Participants will learn how purposeful training strengthens professionalism, improves classroom execution, and builds stronger relationships among team members. The session highlights the importance of equipping staff with clarity, encouragement, and practical tools that help them feel capable and valued in their roles. Attendees will gain insight into how empowered teams lead to calmer classrooms
Hiring and Onboarding Staff - Tafta Miller and Bob Lansing
Calling all child care owners – bring your laptop and build your employee manual and a New Hire Success Onboarding Manual in one power-packed workshop. Join us for a hands-on session where you will create mobile-friendly policies, age-group checklists, emergency plans and a step-by-step new hire success guide – then link everything to a QR code for instant, on-the-job access. Leave this workshop with a working draft, QR codes ready to print, short training videos, and a practical onboarding flow that ensures that new staff are confident, compliant, and classroom -ready from day one! Spots will be limited so grab your computer and turn your manuals into living tools that keep children safe and staff successful!
Inclusion Starts Early: Strategies for Supporting Special Education Students Across Early Childhood – McKenzie Esta with co-presenters Kasey Genusa, Heather Donelon and Lili Guilbault
This professional development session focuses on practical, in-class strategies for supporting children with special needs across the infant, toddler, and preschool stages. Participants will explore developmentally appropriate ways to adapt classroom environments, routines, and teacher-child interactions to meet individual needs while promoting engagement, independence, and social-emotional development. The session highlights concrete supports specific to each age group, including responsive caregiving for infants, embedded support within daily routines for toddlers, and intentional scaffolding and accommodations in preschool classrooms. Emphasis is placed on creating inclusive learning environments that support all learners and help teachers feel confident meeting diverse needs within their classrooms.
Literacy Starts Before Reading: Language Foundations from Birth to Age 5 Sharelle Gboro
This workshop will help participants develop a clear understanding of the key early literacy skills that emerge from birth to age five and learn how to support language and literacy development through simple developmentally appropriate strategies embedded in daily routines. Sharelle will emphasize how to integrate literacy rich practices into play, storytelling, music and shared reading while also equipping educators with practical ways to partner with families to extend early literacy learning at home. This training is designed for owners, directors, early childhood educators and instructional coaches serving children from birth to age five.
Making Storytime Fun – Regina Miller, Keynote Presenter
This workshop will teach participants how to use interactive reading, music, movement and props to create engaging Storytime experiences that build early literacy and keep children excited about learning.
Respect on Purpose: Building Stronger Classrooms Through Communication, Boundaries, and Belonging - Kimberly George
Respect is the foundation of every thriving classroom culture. This interactive session equips early childhood professionals with practical strategies for fostering respectful communication among children, families, and staff while addressing bias and navigating challenging behaviors with confidence. Participants will explore what respect truly looks like in daily practice, learn how to model it during routines and transitions, and practice real-life scenarios in small groups. Through reflection, discussion, and action planning, attendees will leave with a two-week implementation commitment designed to strengthen relationships, promote emotional safety, and create environments where every voice is valued.
Soaring to New Heights with Parental Involvement and Family Engagement – Alecia Johnson
This session is designed to build relationships with parents and families through effective communication, parent‑engaging activities, the use of community resources, collaboration with stakeholders, social media, and data analysis. Implementing these key elements will create a strong foundation of knowledge that will strengthen and enhance parental involvement and family engagement in any childcare program. Striving for excellence will give parents the opportunity to play a leading role in their child's education.
Strategies to Establish Productive Relationships with Families - Krystal Ferrier
This session is designed to help early childhood educators build strong, respectful partnerships with families that support children's learning and well-being. This presentation highlights effective communication practices, trust-building strategies, and approaches for navigating challenging conversations with confidence and empathy. Attendees will gain practical tools to create collaborative relationships with families, strengthen family engagement, and promote a shared commitment to each child’s success.
Stop, No, Don’t, Get Down, Everyday Something is Happening in this Classroom: The Secret Ingredient is H.E.L.P.
Karen Stevens and Jody Mann
Have you ever said I hope today will be better than yesterday? Classroom chaos can be overwhelming and suddenly you’re looking for an exit. H. E. L. P. is on the way! This workshop is designed to support center staff members by reducing classroom frustrations through creating hopeful language, building confidence and trust, and fostering curiosity in young children from birth to five years of age.
The Leader in the Middle – Danielle Credeur
This workshop is a hopeful and encouraging session for early childhood leaders who navigate pressure from every direction while still having to lead with purpose and heart. This presentation sheds light on the often-unseen role of a leader that feels “stuck in the middle” and shows that it is a place of strength, growth, and meaningful influence. Participants will be reminded that they can lead with confidence without carrying the weight of everyone else’s expectations, stay true to their voice during hard seasons, and find a renewed clarity in the work they do each day. Danielle’s goal is to have conference participants leave this 1.5-hour workshop feeling encouraged, restored, and confident that being in the middle is not a burden but in fact an opportunity to lead with impact and intention s!
Toys, Trikes and Tantrums - Dianna Constant
This workshop provides educators with a blueprint for success with young children in the early learning classroom. Participants will learn an underlying cause of preschool behaviors and learn effective techniques to prevent problem behaviors that sometimes occur in the preschool classroom.
What Happens After they Click “Contact Us” - Jonathan Pearce
This is not a sit-and-listen session. This highly interactive roundtable (or rectangle-table) experience uses games, prompts, and real scenarios to spark honest conversation about what really happens after a family reaches out. From phone calls and tours to CRMs, staff handoffs, parent communication, and team engagement, no part of the process is off-limits. Participants will rotate through guided discussions, quick challenges, and group exercises designed to surface best practices, common breakdowns, and creative solutions. The agenda flexes based on what the room wants to tackle, making this a practical, peer-driven session that’s equal parts strategy, collaboration, and fun.
When Just Venting Becomes a Problem:
Workplace Talk that Costs Jobs - Coach Stacey Byes-Byarse
In this workshop, Coach Stacey B helps child care teachers recognize when everyday “venting” crosses the line into harmful workplace talk that erodes trust, damages morale, and harms professional reputations. Participants will explore the difference between healthy stress relief and patterns such as chronic complaining, gossip, negativity spirals, and “side conversations” that undermine leadership, teamwork, and classroom quality—and can ultimately lead to discipline or job loss. Using realistic child care scenarios and practical communication tools, teachers will learn how to pause and reset emotionally, speak up constructively, set boundaries around toxic conversations, and use appropriate channels to address concerns. Staff will leave with simple go-to phrases, conflict de-escalation strategies, and a culture-building mindset that strengthens teamwork, protects professionalism, and keeps the focus where it belongs: children and families.
Building an Advocacy Toolkit: You’re Out of Your
Scope of Expertise, What’s Next? - Shannon Villarreal
This workshop will help teachers find resources and use data to become an advocate for student services. The data will help guide them in a partnership with parents to look at and understand the services in their community for student success. The teachers will gain knowledge of data needed to support their claim of services requested from birth to age three where services are easily accessible. Then we take a closer look into what is needed once the students turn four and they are now in the same need for services as district teachers who have prek-4 in their schools. The teachers will also get information on how to approach their leadership (admin) team. Conversations can begin on how to write a school policy. This policy is for parents to understand the beginning of a partnership with the school and teacher when the teacher has provided data that supports a need for services. The goal is advocacy for the students, creating and maintaining effective partnerships with families, decreasing teacher burn-out by empowering them with a policy and procedure, and lower disenrollment of students with challenging behaviors and conditions.
CCAL Discount Hotel Room Block
CCAL has reserved a block of discounted hotel rooms at the Holiday Inn South, 9990 Airline Highway, Baton Rouge. The room block is available for the dates beginning April 9th through April 12th.
The CCAL discount rate is $99/night for 2 Queen beds or 1 King Size Bed. The room rate covers a fully cooked breakfast for each hotel guest.
Click Here to Reserve Your Hotel Room At the Holiday Inn South
For registration assistance, call Cindy Bishop at 225 933 5435 or email cindy.bishop@checkmate-strategies.com and David.roberson@checkmate-strategies.com
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