Leadership Connections Conference ($400, after April
1st $425)
Chicago Marriott O'Hare
May 10-12, 2007
Simply the best conference in the country for early childhood administrators.
Three jam-packed days of skill-building sessions, networking, and fun. Return rejuvenated and ready to take you program to a new level. Total
conference package is $400 (after April 1st $425). The discounted rate for groups of 10 or more is
$375. Participants may
register online now. For more information, download a
brochure or contact
Donna Jonas at (800) 443-5522, ext. 5058.
Optional Preconference Activities
May 9, 2007
Innovations Train-the-Trainer Seminar: Join author
Dr. Kay Albrecht for this focused event. Learn how to use Innovations—The
Comprehensive Infant, Toddler, and Preschool Curriculum series to help teachers
fully incorporate all components of the curricula. Lunch included. There is an additional $150 fee for this
seminar and pre-registration is required. Enrollment is limited.
Kohl Children's Museum/Abbott Laboratories Tour: Explore the extraordinary Kohl
Children’s Museum, then tour the 46,000 square foot world-class Abbott Laboratories child care
campus. Box lunch included. End the day with a dessert reception at the Marriott. There is
an additional $70 fee for this tour and pre-registration is required. Enrollment
is limited.
Chicago Children's Museum/Millennium Park Tour: Explore
the Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier, then head to Millennium Park to experience the
sights and sounds of this extraordinary Chicago attraction. Box lunch included. End the day
with a dessert reception at the Marriott. There is an additional $70 fee for this tour
and pre-registration is required. Enrollment is limited.
Professional Development Advising Opportunity
May 10, 2007
Provided free of charge for all conference participants through Gateways to Opportunity,
Illinois' Professional Development Network. An experienced, trained Professional
Development Advisor will be available for individual and confidential advising
on Thursday from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Advising is by appointment only. Sessions are
30 minutes in length and can be continued after the conference if necessary. To
make an appointment, contact
Mark Obuchowski
at (888) 548-8080.
[Cover Story by Kathleen Sheridan]
You have a board meeting scheduled in two months and you need to find a
replacement for a board member who recently moved. What do you do? If you are
like most early childhood program directors, you've spent more time recruiting
your teachers and support staff than you have recruiting board members for your
program. When directors are asked how knowledgeable they are about their role as
board recruiter and nurturer, they usually confess "not very." Most expect that
they will deal with recruiting board members and nurturing board membership only
when confronted with an impending meeting or pressed to solve a problem that
requires board intervention and assistance.
In 2005-06, the McCormick Tribune Center for Early Childhood Leadership
conducted an evaluation study of Illinois Great START and T.E.A.C.H. Early
Childhood® professional development initiatives. The purpose of the research was
to examine the program characteristics associated with utilization of these two
professional development initiatives. Great START is a wage-supplement program
that compensates eligible practitioners for educational attainment in early care
and education that exceeds the minimum required by licensing standards. T.E.A.C.H. provides scholarships to teaching staff, directors, and family child
care providers to enhance their professional qualifications. Great START was
designed as a complement to T.E.A.C.H. to attract and retain practitioners and
help them advance along a career path in early care and education.
Hurry, course starts April 10th! Administering an effective and efficient early childhood program in today's
world requires expertise in computer technology. Let us help you improve your
computer skills and integrate technology into the management of your child care
program. This course consists of six class sessions. There is also an additional
online component and follow-up assignments to reinforce the skills you have
learned. Classes will meet at Heartland Community College in Bloomington-Normal, IL from
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Funding is provided by the Illinois Department of Human
Services (IDHS) and enrollment is limited. For more information,
download a