Want More Professional Recognition?
2023-02-01 16:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
If you answered YES! to wanting more professional recognition, then we have a program for you! NHSA can help you to showcase your education, professional development and professional achievements with our new Digital Portfolio!
NHSA is proud to announce the creation of a Digital Portfolio especially for its membership, which will bring professional recognition directly to you – at no cost! NHSA’s Digital Portfolio stores all of the professional development (PD) you complete within NHSA and all of the PD you complete outside of NHSA.
Whether you complete a course, credential, attend a webinar or conference, this easy to access, easy to share resource will be at your fingertips to showcase that work. Join us for this exciting webinar as we launch the Digital Portfolio and help you showcase your professionalism.
Moderator:

Dr. Deborah Bergeron, Dr. B served as director of the Office of Head Start from 2018-21. From 2019-21 she broadened her leadership as director of the Office of Early Childhood Development in the Administration for Children and Families. Known as “Dr. B” to former students and teachers, she spent three decades in pre-K–12 public education as a classroom teacher and school administrator. She currently serves as deputy director for Community Engagement and Innovation at the National Head Start Association.

Presenter:
Tawsha Scord has been an Account Manager at Accredible since September 2021. She manages about 80 accounts and ensures they are getting the most out of their partnership by being her customers’ biggest advocate and providing business reviews and strategy planning. Outside of work, Tawsha enjoys living the adventure life in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons.

How to Create a Positive “Classroom” Environment!
2023-02-02 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
How to Create a Positive “Classroom” Environment with Social & Emotional Learning!
NHSA is teaming up with Harmony Social & Emotional Learning to bring you an outstanding, 2-part, positive classroom training. We intentionally put classroom in quotations because the best practices, resources, and examples shared in this series can be applied to ALL places Head Start supports are provided: in the classroom, in the home, in the play areas, on the bus, in the community, in the dining area, and on and on!
Developing healthy relationships with children is vital to their social and emotional development. The Sanford Harmony Essentials Kit can help you make every interaction a meaningful one! In this interactive session, attendees will learn how to use the Meet Up and Buddy Up tools. Every participant can then sign up to receive the toolkit – FREE.
Education Managers: you can sign up to receive a kit for every educator you support.

Presenter: Jako Tjoutuku

Sponsored by:

Family Engagement in the Trenches
2023-02-14 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
A look at family engagement in the trenches from fellow practitioners. A three-part informational series supporting family engagement through the use of data, tools, and best practices. Experts from across the topics will convene to host transformational webinars to share their tried and true strategies with fellow practitioners.
Attendees register once and can choose one or more occurrences to attend.
Feb 14, Mental Health Wellness (Watch Recording!)
Feb 21, Administrator Planning and Organizing (Watch Recording!)
Feb 28, Staff Interview Sensitivity Training (Watch Recording!)
Family Engagement in the Trenches: Mental Health Wellness
Presenter: Maria Valdez with Communify Santa Barbara County, CA

Family Engagement in the Trenches: Planning and Organization of Data
Panelists:

Liz Bender of Youth in Need, MO
Nyanda Finley de Santos of Community Services for Children, PA

Family Engagement in the Trenches: Staff Interview Sensitivity Training
Panelists:

Sherry Day, Family Service Worker, Leads, Inc.
Jessie Hixon, Family Service Worker, Leads, Inc.
Scott Sykes, Family Service Worker, Leads, Inc.

Sponsored by:

The Future of ERSEA in Head Start
2023-02-15 14:00 - 16:00, 2023-05-16 14:00 - 16:00 UTC
With our partners at Wipfli, NHSA is hosting online, two-day training series on current best practices with your professional peers and exploring challenges and solutions regarding the future of ERSEA in Head Start.
Learning Objectives:

Review regulation requirements from the HS Act and for 45 CFR Part 1302, Subpart A (ERSEA).
Share best practices in implementing ERSEA in the program.
Explore future challenges and solutions regarding ERSEA in Head Start.

Description:
Head Start/Early Head Start programs have a specific set of requirements to assist program leaders in identifying, recruiting, and selecting those children and families with the most need in their communities. This training will focus on all of the eligibility, recruitment, selection, enrollment, and attendance requirements, best known by the initials ERSEA, including adjusted guidelines and areas of Determining community strengths Documentation Recruitment options Attendance Fees, And more!
Presenter:
Tammy Jelinek, Principal
Tammy has spent more than 20 years working in and with grant-funded and fee-for-services nonprofit organizations. She engages with leadership teams to strategically align their goals to grow, expand, and meet their mission. Tammy has trained nationally in the areas of OMB Uniform Guidance, Head Start/Early Head Start Act and program regulations, parent/volunteer involvement, organizational development, human resources, leadership, and management. In helping clients make changes to impact their communities, she has engaged in organizational development and culture initiatives, process design and implementation, financial analysis, and change management (including coaching). Tammy holds a B.S. in business management (psychology minor) and an M.B.A. (emphasis in organizational development) from Upper Iowa University. She answers questions for the My Wipfli Annual Membership.
Certificate of completion is good for two months.
Regular Rate: $350
NHSA Member Rate: $300

Family Service Certification Information Session
2023-02-21 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Curious about NHSA’s Family Service Certification? In this one-hour information session, you will meet our reviewers and learn about the process of building a portfolio. We will also share information about the learning platform candidates will use, and the support that is provided to candidates as they work through the competencies. The end result is a certification that meets the qualification requirements laid out in the Head Start Performance Standards for family service staff, and an achievement of which you can be very proud.
Attendees will gain:

a better understanding of what this certification entails;
course intensity;
what support is provided by the enrollment process;
what support is needed for the student;
understanding of the program’s policy and procedures;
understanding of family services as the comprehensive support of Head Start; and
knowledge and skills needed to be a family services worker.

Moderator: Rachel Hutchison
Presenters:
Donita Brunson
Donita Vaughn-Brunson has worked in family services with Head Start for nearly three decades, training staff in areas of family engagement, eligibility services, home-visiting, and mentoring/coaching. In addition to grading NHSA’s Family Service Credential portfolios, she is certified to train the Exploring Parenting 21 st Century program and Conscious Discipline Parenting Education Curriculum. Donita is passionate about supporting families in becoming self-sufficient.

Sara Langi
Sara Langi is part of a Head Start/Early Head Start program in sunny Florida. She holds a Bachelor’s in Sociology and Master’s in Educational Leadership from Grand Canyon University. Sara has vast experience coaching staff utilizing the PFCE Framework and navigating the family partnership process. Sara has also earned NHSA’s Family Service Credential and is eager to support others through the process.

Four-Week Mindfulness Workshop for Head Start
2023-02-21 19:00 - 2023-03-14 20:00 UTC
NHSA is proud to partner with Starling Minds to offer a four-week mindfulness workshop to help Head Start staff to learn self-care tools for better mental clarity, presence of mind, and calmness. This workshop will allow you the time and space to focus on your wellbeing and learn self-care tools.

February 21, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. ET
February 28, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. ET
March 7, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. ET
March 14, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. ET

This Four-Week Mindfulness Workshop for Head Start is available for free through NHSA membership! Not a member? Encourage your program to start the year off right and sign up today!

How Garden Programs Combat Food Insecurity
2023-02-23 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
How Garden Programs Combat Food Insecurity: GroMoreGood Garden Webinar
Sarah Pounders of KidsGardening will share how Head Start/Early Head Start can use garden programs to combat food insecurity. We will also hear from two Head Start programs who are GroMoreGood grantees about how their garden programs are making a difference in their communities.

Presenters:
Sarah Pounders, While working toward her master’s degree in Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University, Sarah Pounders served as a school garden coordinator and conducted research on the benefits of using school garden programs to teach nutrition. She went on to work at various botanical gardens and for Cooperative Extension in Virginia and Texas. Since 2005, Sarah has been an education specialist at KidsGardening, coordinating numerous children’s gardens and writing curricula and activities for youth of all ages. Sarah enjoys gardening at home with her two children and serves as the volunteer garden coordinator at her son’s elementary school.

2021-22 GroMoreGood Garden Grant Recipients: Jennifer Bagdanov, Acelero Learning and Polly Philips, Verner Center for Early Learning will share about their garden program experience.

Sponsors:

Want even more? Check out our Gardening with Kids Basics course provided by The Academy and the GroMoreGood Garden Grants.

Health Service Certification Information Session
2023-02-27 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Curious about NHSA’s Health Service Certification? As part of Head Start’s comprehensive services, every Head Start and Early Head Start program provides services to promote health, behavioral health, and safety for children and families. New and experienced health services staff can use Academy at NHSA courses to learn more about health services and the role of health services staff.
In this one-hour information session, you will meet a course instructor and a certification graduate. We will also share information about the learning platform candidates will use, and the support that is provided to candidates as they work through the competencies. The end result is a certification that meets the qualification requirements laid out in the Head Start Performance Standards for health service professionals, and an achievement of which you can be very proud!
There will be an opportunity for Q&A so interested candidates can better understand the certification requirements and see themselves completing this certification.
Presenters:
Kristina Ellis, Director
Kristina is director of The Academy at NHSA. As a Head Start alum, Kristina’s interest in early childhood stems from a rich background in social services work and her commitment to early childhood education and family engagement. Before NHSA, Kristina worked for CAP Tulsa, one of the largest anti-poverty nonprofits in Oklahoma and a nationally recognized provider of research-based, high-quality early childhood education for low-income children.

Jackie Rivera, Instructor
Jackie has been a Health Administrator at a Head Start in central Missouri for over 10 years and is a Certified Community Action Professional. Before becoming a nurse, Jackie spent 10 years as an early childhood education teacher. Jackie oversees health and safety at her agency and is project manager for the agency’s Childhood Obesity and Diabetes Prevention Project and Women and Infant Relief Program. Jackie is a Licensed Practical Nurse, Child Development Associate, and Lactation Counselor. Jackie is certified to train in many topics, such as Compassion Fatigue, CPR/First Aid Motivational Interviewing, I Am Moving, I Am Learning, Family Wellness, Infant Massage, Mind in The Making, and Experiential Facilitation. Jackie has had the honor of being named for a National Child Plus Community Service Award and received MOCAN Healthcare Profession Award.
Certification Graduate, Adriene Etheridge-Holden, YMCA of Metro Atlanta Early Learning Health Service Manager

Certification Graduate, Rene Guernsey, Floyd County Head Start Health Assistant

Webinar: Child Nutrition Programs Proposed Rule
2023-03-01 14:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York)
Join us for a webinar with USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) in collaboration with NHSA and national partners. USDA will provide an overview of the proposed rule Child Nutrition Programs: Revisions to Meal Patterns to be Consistent with the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and its impact to operators of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
Co-Sponsors

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Afterschool Alliance
Alliance for a Healthier Generation
Child Care Aware of America
CACFP Roundtable
CLASP (Center for Law and Social Policy)
Feeding America
Food Research & Action Center
Homegrown
National Association of Family Child Care
National CACFP Forum
National CACFP Sponsors Association
National Farm to School Network
National Head Start Association
National Recreation and Park Association
No Kid Hungry Campaign by Share Our Strength
Partnership for a Healthier America

Paving the Way to Your CDA!
2023-03-01 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Earning a CDA® credential demonstrates educators’ knowledge, skills, and abilities in the early childhood education field as well as their commitment to professional development. Designed for working Head Start and Early Head Start professionals, The Academy’s CDA® Training Pathways program gives learners the flexibility and support they need to achieve their goals.
Join us as we share how NHSA is making the CDA credential a smooth process for professionals. Together, we will explore the CDA pathways to determine which path and learning experience is just right for YOU!
We are here to support you as you achieve your goals. To do so, we have created a comprehensive curriculum that includes all of the materials you will need. In this webinar you will get to hear from the course author, 2 graduates, a program leader, and a CDA coach. Please join us to learn how you can pave your way to your CDA!
Moderator: Zuly Vazquez

Zuly is the Manager of Early Head Start Professional Learning at NHSA. She has worked with Head Start, and Early Head Start programs for over a decade, specializing in training, mentoring, coaching, facilitation, curriculum implementation, and management. She worked for several years in the classroom, providing high-quality education to children from different cultures, traditions, and ethnicities. She is a former EHS/HS parent. She has vast experience supporting and providing technical assistance to teachers, family child care providers, education specialists, and families in large EHS/HS programs in Florida and Georgia. Over her career, she designed a supplemental Christian early childhood curriculum, bilingual online lessons, and classroom observation tools and has facilitated early childhood education courses in English and Spanish at the college level. As an active early childhood advocate, she is a board member of her local NAEYC affiliate and Family Child Care Home Alliance of Georgia. She is a senior advisor of Latinas United for the Children of America.

Elephants with NHSA and Zoo in the Classroom
2023-03-02 14:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York)
Who wants to learn about Elephants?!? NHSA and Zoo in the Classroom is a high-energy, interactive experience that include music and movement. It is designed to keep children active, engaged, and thriving.
Join the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (SNZCBI) and NHSA for three LIVE learning opportunities about Zoo animals, created specifically for Head Start and Early Head Start programs across the country!

Program 1: Thursday, October 20: Small Mammal House (watch recording)
Program 2: Thursday, January 19: Cats of All Kinds (watch recording)
Program 3: Thursday, March 2 (National Read Across America Day): Elephants (watch recording)

Presenters for NHSA and Zoo in the Classroom:
Emily Porter – Manager of Early Childhood and Family Learning Experience
Rachel Hutchison – Associate of Special Projects, NHSA
Nick Young – Preschool Musician, PlayMotion Music
Smithsonian’s National Zookeepers

Advancing Conversations with Policymakers
2023-03-07 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
As part of the Early Head Start Rising Advocacy series, Finding Common Ground and Advancing Conversations with Policymakers, will examine techniques to find common ground with policy makers, identify tips and messages that advance conversations with decision-makers, and provide information that may be shared in your state and community to advance Early Head Start.
Moderator: Katie Dufford-Melendez
Presenters:

Joshua Harris, Senior Manager of Marketing and Communications
Allyson Frazier, National Senior Director

Sponsored by:
Voices for Healthy Kids

Spring Garden Storytime
2023-03-08 13:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York)
Spring is right around the corner and we are ready to get those gardens started! Are you? The Spring Garden Storytime is a great way to kickoff the spring season. Together, we can share the joy of gardening AND storytime with your Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms!
Our storytellers are gardeners, and in these LIVE storytime sessions they will read wonderful garden-themed books to the children, and “show and tell” about interesting plants. Both teachers and students will love this interactive learning session!
Presenters:
Noel Nicholas (she/her) is the Educational Content Manager for KidsGardening, where she co-develops original educational materials designed to help kids play, learn and grow through gardening. She holds a BA in Creative Writing from University of Southern California, where she developed a passion for informal education while teaching poetry at 32nd Street School/USC Magnet. Prior to joining KidsGardening, Noel worked as a Museum Educator at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, developing and delivering educational programs for diverse, multi-generational audiences, and managing the museum’s Storytime Live program. In her spare time she teaches in the school garden at Third Street Elementary in Los Angeles.

Sarah Pounders, while working toward her master’s degree in Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University, Sarah Pounders served as a school garden coordinator and conducted research on the benefits of using school garden programs to teach nutrition. She went on to work at various botanical gardens and for Cooperative Extension in Virginia and Texas. Since 2005, Sarah has been an education specialist at KidsGardening, coordinating numerous children’s gardens and writing curricula and activities for youth of all ages. Sarah enjoys gardening at home with her two children and serves as the volunteer garden coordinator at her son’s elementary school.

Sponsor:

Want even more? Check out our Gardening with Kids Basics course provided by The Academy.

Lunch and Learn with Parent Gauge
2023-04-04 12:30 - 2023-04-25 13:00 UTC
Bring your lunch (or coffee or mid-morning snack!) and join the Parent Gauge team for a “Lunch & Learn” series this April. Each Tuesday in the month of April, the team will focus on one component of using the Parent Gauge tool and provide an in-depth demo and best practice tips. We’ll hit important topics like setting up centers, uploading rosters, and utilizing the reports built into the tool.
The series is designed for those already using Parent Gauge, but those interested in learning about Parent Gauge are welcome to sit in! Are you interested in becoming a subscriber? Learn more!

April 4: “Setting Up for Success” Preparing Prior to Your Interview (Watch Recording!)
April 11: “What Does This Button Do?” Buttons, Rosters, and general Parent Gauge Use
April 18: “Remarkable Reporting 101”
April 25: “Remarkable Reporting 102”

This “Lunch and Learn with Parent Gauge” series is brought to you by the Parent Gauge team at NHSA!

Learn With Walden University
2023-04-05 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Come learn with Walden University as they join you in celebrating early education, young children, teachers, families, and communities.
Every day, you support the academic and emotional growth of your students. Walden wants to support you with a webinar that will help you make your classroom an inclusive space where your students’ social and emotional needs are met.
JOIN US FOR A LIVE WEBINAR:
Calm Heart, Clear Minds, Let’s Learn!
Presenter: MoNique Waters Kirkland
Join MoNique Waters Kirkland as she shares how she includes social and emotional learning, mindfulness, and emotional awareness while prioritizing her students’ mental health in her classroom. These small but impactful shifts will not only benefit individual students but will change the dynamics and behaviors of your whole class. You will walk away with ready-to-implement ideas that will leave you and your students feeling good and learning like never before.
To learn about Walden University and all the degree and certificate programs in education, visit WaldenU.edu/NHSA or call 1-855-628-3427.

Apprenticeships in Early Learning: Getting Started
2023-04-06 11:30 - 12:30 (America/New_York)
Apprenticeships in early childhood education are gaining momentum! This webinar will feature two topics and speakers:

First, we will hear about the newly established National Center for Early Care and Education Workforce from Elizabeth Pufall Jones, the Director of Preparation and Work Environment Programs at the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment.
Then, Heather Bryant, dean of Early Childhood Education and Early Learning at Dallas College, will share about the evolution of their apprenticeship program, and the role of Head Start of Greater Dallas. The session will include time for Q&A.

This webinar will be moderated by the leader of the HeadStarter Network‘s Apprenticeship Work Circle, Pamm Shaw. Pamm is also the VP of Strategic Funding and Partnerships at the YMCA of East Bay.
Can’t join us live? No problem – registrants will receive a recording of the session. Be sure to check out our Apprenticeship Kick-Start Guide.

Sponsored by:

Prioritizing Funding Wages
2023-04-12 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
The Office of Head Start has encouraged programs to consider a change in scope as one way programs can right-size their budgets giving an opportunity to improve the staff wages. This is how we do it….
President and Chief Executive Officer at Children & Families First, Maria Layne-Stevens will share their process on how they improved staff wages by completing a change in scope, ALL while having open lines of communication with OHS. Attendees will identify strategies to work with what they have locally to make informed decisions and learn more about the advocates who continue to push for increased funding for Head Start programs across the nation.
Improving staff wages is one of the initiatives of the NHSA’s Workforce Development Hub. The Hub is a comprehensive resource and think tank, set up to provide real solutions and support the development of a national workforce pipeline for Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

Presenter:
Maria Layne-Stevens is the President and CEO at Children & Families First. Drawing on her passion for young children and families and her experience as a product of Head Start, she leads her team in executing the strategic direction of the largest Head Start provider in the State, which is also a source of comprehensive services for more than 6,000 families in Guilford and Rockingham Counties. For more than 25 years, Maria has been deeply engaged in issues around early childhood education and she continues to advocate for equitable social, economic and educational outcomes for underserved populations.
Known for being a visionary, Maria has been instrumental in the development of the agency’s programs and staff, successfully growing the budget by $3.5 million over the last five years and securing capital funding in excess of $3 million to build new facilities and complete major renovations at four facilities since 2015.
Maria holds a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Sciences from Ohio University, and a master’s degree in Psychology with a specialization in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Capella University.

Kids On-Campus: Head Start and Community College Partnerships
2023-04-13 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Exploring On-Campus Child Care Solutions: Head Start and Community College
A chronic shortage of affordable on-campus child care leaves student parents – especially single mothers – struggling to meet a basic need necessary for pursuing post-secondary education. The long-term benefit of obtaining post-secondary education is well understood by parents, but the reality of the lack of affordable childcare solutions is often a barrier.
Join the Association of Community College Trustees and the National Head Start Association as we launch our Kids on Campus project. During this webinar, we will provide insights on the issues faced by student parents at large in accessing childcare and highlight some of the work done thus far that has led to this project and partnership. Together, ACCT and NHSA will develop resources for partnerships to match existing Head Start providers with community college campuses that can offer free facilities.

Maximizing Your PFCE Efforts
2023-04-20 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Maximizing Your PFCE Efforts: How Small Changes Can Make Big Differences! The Parent Gauge and Ready4K Trauma-Informed teams have been working together to bring enhanced data-informed decision-making to Head Start programs.
Join us for a webinar to explore how to use information from these two tools in combination to maximize your family engagement efforts.
Moderator: Sandy Oceguera, NHSA Senior Data Product Manager
Expert Presenters:
Victoria Jones, is NHSA’s senior director of data. Victoria has prior experience in early childhood education from her five years working at Sesame Street in New York City. Victoria earned her bachelor’s degree from Barnard College at Columbia University and received her master’s in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Lorena Sernett focuses on Early Childhood Partnerships & Grants for ParentPowered, home of Ready4K. In her role, she facilitates partnerships with education providers to enhance family engagement efforts for parents of our youngest learners.Lorena supported the early childhood learning community at Teachstone Training and Teaching Strategies and was instrumental in the global expansion of CLASS®, The Creative Curriculum®, and GOLD®. Ms. Sernett holds bachelor degrees in International Business and Spanish, and has over 20 years of experience in the education and technology fields.
Brought to you by:

Vision Screening in 2023
2023-04-26 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Vision Screening in 2023 – Everything you need to know!
Preschool vision screening helps identify vision problems at an early age where treatment and prevention from the potential of life-long vision issues is still feasible. Directors will learn how to easily implement the vision screening process at their centers, while staff will learn vision screening methods.
All attendees, including parents, will have a much better understanding of the vision abnormalities to look for in the preschool setting.
Presenter:
Tammy Johnson, Director of Program Development at Plusoptix Inc., has implemented, directed, and trained others to run large-scale vision screening programs for more than 20 years. After working in the ophthalmology department at Vanderbilt University, she then worked for the Lions Clubs International Foundation in the establishment of 18 preschool vision screening programs throughout the US. Contact Tammy directly!

Vision Screening in 2023 is Sponsored by:

How Head Start Leadership Drives Program Success
2023-04-27 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Leaders Matter Most: How Head Start Leadership Drives Program Success
Research is clear. Strong leaders build strong programs. And, leaders live at all levels of programming. Whether you are a manager, supervising a small team of practitioners or a director, overseeing a large program staff, your ability to influence those who look to you for guidance will directly impact your program’s overall success.
Come find out how The Academy at NHSA is supporting leadership development at Early/Head Start programs across the nation and learn a few new skills while you’re with us! Led by Dr. Deborah Bergeron (Dr. B -) and Kristina Ellis (Director of The Academy at NHSA), this webinar will re-energize your commitment to leadership!

Presenters:
Dr. Deborah Bergeron (or Dr. B as she is known to students and educators) has spent over thirty years working to support the growth and development of children. She worked in public education as a middle and high school classroom teacher, an elementary and high school administrator and holds a school superintendents license in Virginia. Dr. B also started, grew and eventually sold her own supplemental educational services company. In 2018, Dr. Bergeron was asked to lead the Office of Head Start and the Office of Early Childhood Development at the Administration for Children and Families in the Department of Health and Human Services. It was here where Dr. B developed her passion for Head Start, Early Head Start and the early learning environment in general. In January, 2021, Dr. B joined the National Head Start Association as the Deputy Director of Community Engagement and Innovation. Here, she aims to bring the Head Start and Early Head Start community together, provide the necessary support to ensure high quality programming and be a constant reminder to the folks on the ground that THEY are the backbone of Head Start and Early Head Start. Dr. B advocates for programming that develops the whole child and embraces the value the family has in that process. “Parents are a child’s first and most important teacher,” is her favorite mantra, compliments of Head Start. Dr. Bergeron holds a B.S.Ed. from Texas State University, a Master’s Degree in Education Leadership and a PhD in Education Policy and Education Psychology from George Mason University. She lives in Virginia with her husband and has four awesome children who, although are all grown up, will always be her heart!

Kristina Ellis is The Academy at NHSA Manager. Her background includes nonprofit management, early childhood development, support services, quality improvement, EHS-CCP, and other strategic partnerships. She holds a BA from the University of Central Oklahoma and an MPA from the University of Oklahoma. As a Head Start alum, Kristina’s interest in early childhood stems from a rich background in social services work and her commitment to early childhood education and family engagement. Before NHSA, Kristina worked for CAP Tulsa, one of the largest anti-poverty nonprofits in Oklahoma and a nationally recognized provider of research-based, high-quality early childhood education for low-income children.

Summer Garden Storytime
2023-05-03 13:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York)
Summer is here! The Summer Garden Storytime is sure to get you excited about the plants, fruits, and vegetables that will be coming from the garden. Together, we can share the joy of gardening AND storytime with your Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms!
Our storytellers are gardeners, and in these LIVE storytime sessions they will read wonderful garden-themed books to the children, and “show and tell” about interesting plants. Both teachers and students will love this interactive learning session!
Presenters:
Noel Nicholas (she/her) is the Educational Content Manager for KidsGardening, where she co-develops original educational materials designed to help kids play, learn and grow through gardening. She holds a BA in Creative Writing from University of Southern California, where she developed a passion for informal education while teaching poetry at 32nd Street School/USC Magnet. Prior to joining KidsGardening, Noel worked as a Museum Educator at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, developing and delivering educational programs for diverse, multi-generational audiences, and managing the museum’s Storytime Live program. In her spare time she teaches in the school garden at Third Street Elementary in Los Angeles.

Sarah Pounders, while working toward her master’s degree in Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University, Sarah Pounders served as a school garden coordinator and conducted research on the benefits of using school garden programs to teach nutrition. She went on to work at various botanical gardens and for Cooperative Extension in Virginia and Texas. Since 2005, Sarah has been an education specialist at KidsGardening, coordinating numerous children’s gardens and writing curricula and activities for youth of all ages. Sarah enjoys gardening at home with her two children and serves as the volunteer garden coordinator at her son’s elementary school.

Sponsor:

Want even more? Check out our Gardening with Kids Basics course provided by The Academy.

Support Your Staff's Mental Fitness
2023-05-04 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Directors: Helping You Support Your Staff’s Mental Fitness
Join to learn how leaders can support their own mental health and use proven tools and strategies to build resilience within their teams and workplaces.

Mental Fitness Course
2023-05-04 19:00 - 20:00 UTC
Mental Fitness Course: Unwinding Anxiety with CBT and Mindfulness

Anxiety is one of the most misunderstood emotions, but it can be our greatest teacher if we know how to harness its power. Join our 6-week workshop to learn the signs, symptoms, and manifestations of anxiety in your life and how to break the cycles of worry and fear to heal your mind and body.

During the workshop, you will learn:

The nature and purpose of stress, fear, and anxiety
Its definition and role in your life
The anatomy and science behind anxiety
Mind-Body Anxiety Reduction Strategies to find your well-being again
The power of treating anxiety using cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness

Presenter:

Tara Achkar, Mental Fitness Coach Starling Minds

Starling Minds is a 24/7, confidential, digital mental health program for stress, anxiety, and burnout, to the Head Start community for free through NHSA membership. Fun Fact: With Starling Mental Fitness, Head Start staff improve their anxiety scores by 64%.

2023 National Head Start Conference
2023-05-08 - 2023-05-11
The largest national conference devoted to all things Head Start, NHSA’s national conference brings our community together for a week of sharing, networking, learning, and celebrating.

Building Mental Fitness
2023-05-16 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
We know that Head Start staff face a unique set of difficult and challenging stressors. That’s why we’re proud to partner with Starling Minds to help you care for yourself and your family.
Join to learn how Head Start Staff can overcome feelings of stress, anxiety, and burnout to lead a happier, healthier work-life balance.

Starling Minds is a 24/7, confidential, digital mental health program for stress, anxiety, and burnout, to the Head Start community for free through NHSA membership. Fun Fact: With Starling Mental Fitness, Head Start staff improve their anxiety scores by 64%.

Celebrate with the Zoo for Head Start's Birthday
2023-05-18 14:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York)
Be sure to join us to celebrate Head Start’s Birthday on May 18, 2023 with some of our favorite zoo babies! ?????? ? ? We’ll also party like a flock star with other special animal guests! ??
Do your cuties have questions about flamingos or other babies that live at the zoo? You can get the answers to all of their questions, by submitting them HERE. Make sure to include your program’s name and the zoo crew can give you a shout out during the event or in any of the special follow-up videos!
You can see all of our virtual field trips to zoo in preparation for the birthday party by visiting our NHSA in the Classroom page. We can’t wait to celebrate with the zoo!

Birthday Hat Activity

Printable Smithsonian Activity Guide

Building Your Digital Portfolio with NHSA
2023-05-23 16:00 - 16:45 (America/New_York)
NHSA can help you showcase your education, professional development and professional achievements with our new Digital Portfolio! Join us to learn how you can build and utilize your portfolio!
NHSA is proud to announce the creation of a Digital Portfolio especially for its membership, which will bring professional recognition directly to you – at no cost!
NHSA’s Digital Portfolio stores all of the professional development (PD) you complete within NHSA and all of the PD you complete outside of NHSA. Whether you complete a course, credential, attend a webinar or conference, this easy to access, easy to share resource will be at your fingertips to showcase that work. Join us for this exciting webinar as we launch the Digital Portfolio and help you showcase your professionalism.
Moderator:

Dr. Deborah Bergeron (or Dr. B as she is known to students and educators) has spent over thirty years working to support the growth and development of children. She worked in public education as a middle and high school classroom teacher, an elementary and high school administrator and holds a school superintendents license in Virginia. Dr. B also started, grew and eventually sold her own supplemental educational services company. In 2018, Dr. Bergeron was asked to lead the Office of Head Start and the Office of Early Childhood Development at the Administration for Children and Families in the Department of Health and Human Services. It was here where Dr. B developed her passion for Head Start, Early Head Start and the early learning environment in general. In January, 2021, Dr. B joined the National Head Start Association as the Deputy Director of Community Engagement and Innovation. Here, she aims to bring the Head Start and Early Head Start community together, provide the necessary support to ensure high quality programming and be a constant reminder to the folks on the ground that THEY are the backbone of Head Start and Early Head Start. Dr. B advocates for programming that develops the whole child and embraces the value the family has in that process. “Parents are a child’s first and most important teacher,” is her favorite mantra, compliments of Head Start. Dr. Bergeron holds a B.S.Ed. from Texas State University, a Master’s Degree in Education Leadership and a PhD in Education Policy and Education Psychology from George Mason University. She lives in Virginia with her husband and has four awesome children who, although are all grown up, will always be her heart!

Presenter:

Matt Marinsek is a Senior Manager of Marketing and Design for the National Head Start Association, where among various key projects, schedules, designs, and formats data and marketing emails for the organization’s various messaging to the field, helps compile the Digital Portfolio for The Academy, and more. Prior to joining NHSA, Matt worked for various companies and industries serving in marketing and leadership capacities, and served key leadership roles in non-profit leadership development organizations during and after his undergraduate time at New Mexico State University. Matt enjoys brushing up on the latest tech trends, and teaching others how the latest innovations in digital technology can enhance others’ careers and lives.

What is Parent Gauge?
2023-05-24 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
What is Parent Gauge? Maximizing Your Parent Engagement Efforts
Learn more about Parent Gauge, the family engagement assessment tool designed specifically for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. In this session we’ll review how Parent Gauge uses a guided interview by frontline staff to explore family experiences and how leadership uses that information to inform program decisions and continue quality improvement.
Presenters:

Sandy Oceguera, Senior Data Product Manager
Lucricia Delgado, Parent Gauge Consultant
