2025 SCECA Conference: Full Schedule

We’re excited to see that you’re planning to attend the 2025 SCECA Conference in Myrtle Beach, SC on February 6-8, 2025 at the Sheraton Hotel and Myrtle Beach Convention Center. We look forward to seeing you there!

2:00pm EST

PRECON: Strategies for Multiage Lesson Planning

Thursday February 6, 2025 2:00pm - 4:00pm EST

Rm. 104-105

This session will provide strategies and hands-on activities to help participants prepare engaging lesson plans for multiple age groups in their classroom. We will address the benefits and challenges of multi-age lesson planning as we introduce strategies for success.

Speakers

Karen (KT) Thompson

Professional Development Manager, Appalachian Early Childhood Network

I love my job! I enjoy meeting early childhood professionals and learning about their roles in the field and motivating those within my realm of influence! My strengths lie in curriculum development and most any topic covered in the CDA! I am celebrating 40 years in the field... Read More →

Thursday February 6, 2025 2:00pm - 4:00pm EST
Rm. 104-105 2101 N. Oak Street, Myrtle Beach, SC

Curriculum

Audience PreK

7:00am EST

The Children Are Ready…Are We?

Friday February 7, 2025 7:00am - 8:00am EST

Rm. 104-105

We will focus on creating inclusive environments in early childhood programs by fostering a sense of belonging for all children. Through activities like "Circles of My Multicultural Self," we will explore the impact of identity and stereotypes on children and discuss strategies and policies to promote inclusivity. You will identify effective strategies, develop supportive policies, and determine necessary professional development to enhance practices in your program. By the end, directors/administrators will be equipped to ensure every child feels valued and included in their early childhood settings.

Speakers

Tammy Compton

Program Director, SC First Steps

Teresa Phillips

Technical Assistance Provider, SC First Steps

Friday February 7, 2025 7:00am - 8:00am EST
Rm. 104-105 2101 N. Oak Street, Myrtle Beach, SC

Program Administration

Audience Admin.

8:20am EST

Setting the Mood

Friday February 7, 2025 8:20am - 9:20am EST

Rm. 104-105

Encouraging meaningful relationships with parents and students. Creating an engaging classroom environment

Speakers

Creiana Bailey

First Grade Teacher

I come from a family of educators, so education is truly in my blood! I graduated from Winthrop University in 2018 with a degree in Early Childhood Education, and in 2022, I completed my Master's in Executive Leadership Studies from Gardner-Webb University. This blend of teaching... Read More →

Friday February 7, 2025 8:20am - 9:20am EST
Rm. 104-105 2101 N. Oak Street, Myrtle Beach, SC

Professional Development

Audience 5K, PreK

11:50am EST

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL: ABCQ Intentional Teaching Practices Guidance

Friday February 7, 2025 11:50am - 12:05pm EST

Rm. 104-105

This session will focus on how positive guidance promotes self-control, teaches responsibility and helps children learn to make thoughtful choices. Topics will include effective strategies that help children have a more pleasant, productive day by encouraging appropriate behavior while spending less time and effort correcting misbehavior.

Speakers

Arielle Brown

Speakers

Erin Perry

Program Coordinator II, ABC Quality Rating and Improvement System

Friday February 7, 2025 11:50am - 12:05pm EST
Rm. 104-105 2101 N. Oak Street, Myrtle Beach, SC

Child Guidance

Audience IT, PreK, Admin.

1:10pm EST

Canva Tips and Tricks

Friday February 7, 2025 1:10pm - 2:10pm EST

Rm. 104-105

Do you see flyers or presentations and wonder how they look so professional? Learn more about Canva and how to incorporate all of the features! Bring your iPad or laptop to experience it for yourself!

Speakers

Jenna Carson

Librarian, Pelion High School

Friday February 7, 2025 1:10pm - 2:10pm EST
Rm. 104-105 2101 N. Oak Street, Myrtle Beach, SC

Professional Development

Audience All

2:40pm EST

Strategies for Effective Leadership

Friday February 7, 2025 2:40pm - 3:40pm EST

Rm. 104-105

Everyone wants to be an effective leader. Participants will take away a few strategies for leading. These strategies apply to all individuals, who view themselves as a leader, regardless of their title.

Speakers

Zack Goebel

Speakers

Jared Totsch

Friday February 7, 2025 2:40pm - 3:40pm EST
Rm. 104-105 2101 N. Oak Street, Myrtle Beach, SC

Program Administration

Audience Admin.

4:00pm EST

District 5 Discussions

Friday February 7, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm EST

Rm. 104-105

Attendees will participate in a group discussion on the information they received in the day’s previous sessions and learn how to implement these ideas into their own centers and/or classrooms.

Speakers

Sue Tennis

Owner/Director, Carousel of Learning

Friday February 7, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm EST
Rm. 104-105 2101 N. Oak Street, Myrtle Beach, SC

Professional Development

Audience District 5 members

7:00am EST

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL: Lessons in Grace and Courtesy

Saturday February 8, 2025 7:00am - 8:00am EST

Rm. 104-105

Learn and put into practice some tried and true grace and courtesy lessons that are given in a Montessori environment. Play games that you can take to your classroom and walk away with tools on hand to help foster a more respectful, peaceful environment.

Speakers

Melissa Evans

Owner, The Cottage School

Saturday February 8, 2025 7:00am - 8:00am EST
Rm. 104-105 2101 N. Oak Street, Myrtle Beach, SC

Child Guidance

Audience PreK, 5K, Admin., Faith Based

8:20am EST

Beyond Behavior

Saturday February 8, 2025 8:20am - 9:20am EST

Rm. 104-105

Take a deeper look into how we can help our children before expulsion occurs. South Carolina has the highest preschool suspension and expulsion rate in the United States - we need to make a change. I want to help educators think about what student behavior may be telling them instead of reacting to it. Gain an understanding of how trauma and stress can impact learning, behavior, and the development of the brain. The capacity to love cannot be built in isolation. The key characteristic in a relationship that buffers stress is that it is lasting - this cannot and should not be built in a day. Learn how to give children the time and skills they need to keep them in a safe, structured, and loving environment before sending them off to the next place that may continue to break them or may even send them down the preschool to prison pipeline.

Speakers

Chelsea Adamson

Saturday February 8, 2025 8:20am - 9:20am EST
Rm. 104-105 2101 N. Oak Street, Myrtle Beach, SC

Child Guidance

Audience All

9:40am EST

A Few of My Favorite Stories

Saturday February 8, 2025 9:40am - 10:40am EST

Rm. 104-105

Participants will come away with ways to help students become life-long readers. Participants will learn practical ways to help students retell stories. Participants will learn how to make stories come alive for students. Participants will learn how to make stories more interactive. Participants will learn story patterns to help students write their own stories.

Speakers

Beverly Oglesby

Retired Primary Educator, None

I taught for 38 years, at the same school in Orange Park, Florida teaching grades Kindergarten through Third grade. I have been a member and involved in the EarlyChildhood field for more than twenty years. I have held office from President to Committee/ Commission Chairman at the... Read More →

Saturday February 8, 2025 9:40am - 10:40am EST
Rm. 104-105 2101 N. Oak Street, Myrtle Beach, SC

Curriculum

Audience PreK, 5K, Primary

1:00pm EST

Empowering Teachers: Supporting All Learners

Saturday February 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST

Rm. 104-105

Differentiated Instruction: Learn quick and effective ways to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all learners in a busy classroom.
Effective Classroom Management: Learn easy-to-implement classroom management strategies tailored for special needs settings.
Building Communication: Explore methods for supporting non-verbal students’ communication, using tools like picture exchange systems.
Sensory-Friendly Spaces: Learn how to create sensory-friendly areas in your classroom to support students with sensory processing issues.
Parent Engagement: Explore techniques for involving parents in their child’s learning process, including sharing strategies for home use.

Speakers

Jamila Phillips

Saturday February 8, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Rm. 104-105 2101 N. Oak Street, Myrtle Beach, SC

Special Needs

Audience All

2:15pm EST

Promoting Inclusion Through Itinerate Service

Saturday February 8, 2025 2:15pm - 3:15pm EST

Rm. 104-105

The special education itinerant service delivery model is a researched-based service delivery approach that supports high-quality inclusion of young children with disabilities in early childhood programs. The itinerant model supports the premise of IDEA that states “first options considered for preschool children with disabilities are those that would be considered for children without disabilities”. This model gives related service providers and special education teachers the opportunity to work collaboratively with general education classroom teachers and families through consultation and coaching to embed interventions and instruction into everyday activities. This session will highlight topics of massed versus distributed instruction, triadic model of consultation, planning matrix, direct instruction, collaborative meetings and continuum of placement.

Speakers

Tanya Hutchinson

SEIT Coach, South Carolina Partnerships for Inclusion

Saturday February 8, 2025 2:15pm - 3:15pm EST
Rm. 104-105 2101 N. Oak Street, Myrtle Beach, SC

Special Needs

Audience All

3:30pm EST

Finding the Leader in You

Saturday February 8, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm EST

Rm. 104-105

Do you consider yourself a leader? Leaders are not just our directors or our administrators. In this session we will look at ourselves to discover where we are in our leadership journey and learn about the 5 levels of leadership. We will collaboratively discuss what makes a good leader and will set goals to become great early childhood leaders. We will look at leadership levels from both a personal and professional perspective.

Speakers

Heidi Friedel

Consultant, Consultant

Saturday February 8, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm EST
Rm. 104-105 2101 N. Oak Street, Myrtle Beach, SC

Program Administration

Audience Admin.