Why
Why do we host the VAHSA Annual Conference?
VAHSA’s annual conference is our largest attended conference, typically with about 300 people, serving in all roles in Head Start. This signature conference focuses on bringing our community a fun and engaging learning experience to support all Head Start service areas. From Head Start parents on Policy Council, to instructional staff, to family service workers, to mental health and health professionals, to finance and human resources roles, to directors and all leadership staff; our annual conference provides an interactive, hands-on learning approach, surely for all Head Start staff. Our time together is also rich with networking opportunities and discussion and is looked forward to every year.
What
A 2.5 day institute providing the following learning formats:
- Keynote presentations
- Professional development workshops
- Round-table discussion sessions
- Exhibitor fair
- Social networking
2024 Theme:
“Building Bridges: Head Start’s Two-Generation Approach to Family Empowerment”
This theme emphasizes Head Start’s holistic approach, which focuses on supporting both children and their families. The metaphor of “building bridges” suggests a connection and collaboration between different aspects of the program, including education, health, and social services, to empower families. “Two-Generation Approach to Family Empowerment” highlights the unique strategy of Head Start in addressing the needs of both children and parents simultaneously, ultimately aiming for the development and success of the entire family unit.
Where
In-person at the Hotel Madison in Harrisonburg, VA
Click on Image for Hotel information.
When
Tuesday, October 22- Thursday, October 24, 2024
Cost
Registration Fee is $450.00/person
REGISTRATION OPEN!
CLICK HERE for Form
HOTEL BOOKING LINK will be in registration confirmation email.
Keynote Speakers:
Day 1
Mills Rodgers:
Mills “Mr. Rodge” Rodgers is a speaker, author, and advocate on topics related to educational equity, personal development, and leadership. His main focus is helping educators meet the N.E.E.D.S. of students.
Mills has served his country and communities as an Army veteran and as a public school educator. In the Army, he served as a mental health specialist. His experiences as an educator include being a general education and special education teacher, instructional specialist, and case manager. He also was certified as an administrator.
He shares the insights he has gained through those diverse experiences in a fun, engaging manner with audiences. Mills has authored 4 editions of his books titled Success Is A Process, Not An Event, with versions targeted to students and educators. He hopes to help his audiences realize that their goals, dreams, and passions are within reach and that equity in education and society is of high importance to make this happen. Like the title of his latest book, he believes that you are more than capable, that You Can Win Being You!
Victor Jones:
Victor Jones serves as Senior Counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF), where he litigates ongoing school desegregation class action lawsuits on behalf of plaintiffs-schoolchildren in federal courts throughout the Deep South.
Prior to joining LDF, Victor served as General Counsel for the Louisiana Board of Regents, where he developed statewide legislation and administrative policies to ensure the continuation of postsecondary education in Louisiana at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He also was a Senior Supervising Attorney for the Southern Poverty Law Center, where he, through litigation, public policy, and public education, led the Louisiana Children Right’s Practice Group in fighting the school to prison pipeline, fighting for educational equity, and protecting children’s access to mental health services. Before SPLC, Victor was a litigation associate at multi-disciplinary law firms in New Orleans.
He is also a graduate and avid supporter of the national Head Start program. Prior to law school, Victor was a public school kindergarten teacher.
Day 2:
Stuart Perry
Stuart Perry, affectionately known as Mister Stu, is a licensed clinical social worker and a visionary in child therapy, with a designation as an Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist. His career is dedicated to debunking the myth of “bad kids” by creating nurturing environments that promote growth and understanding. Beyond his clinical practice, Mister Stu brings an innovative twist to his work through his involvement in professional wrestling with OVW and hosting the enlightening podcast “Bad Kids Don’t Exist,” making him a beacon for those seeking to understand childhood behavior and mental health better. His dynamic approach to therapy, combined with his advocacy for mental health, makes him a sought-after speaker and a respected figure in the field. For more information about Stu, check out www.BadKidsDontExist.com
Day 3:
Dr. Kimberly P. Johnson
Children’s author and educator, Dr. Kimberly P. Johnson grew up in Shelby, NC. She is married to Jeff Johnson who retired from the United States Air Force after 22 years of service. She is the author of 22 children’s books. Kimberly received her Doctorate in Curriculum, Teaching, and Leadership from Northeastern University in Boston, MA and also holds a Master’s Degree from Clemson University, in Youth Development and Leadership. Kimberly has an Early Childhood Education Degree and a Communications Degree from UNC – Chapel Hill.
She completed her post-doctorate work in the Advanced Educational Leadership Program at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education in July 2017 and has recently completed a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion at Cornell University. Kimberly is currently seeking her Board Certification in Behavior Analysis from Clemson University’s Center for Behavior Analysis.
Kimberly is a creative thinker and has a passion for teaching and helping others. She serves as a contracted course facilitator at Harvard University, has taught doctoral classes at Northeastern University, and currently teaches at Clemson University and Clinton College. She also designs and implements professional development trainings under her Every Day C.O.A.C.H.E.S.™ educational platform.
Kimberly has received numerous Community awards to include the Paul Harris Fellow Award given by Rotary International for her work in literacy, the York County Citizen of the year Award, the Walker Solomon Award from the South Carolina Educators Association, the Omega Psi Phi Perseverance Award, the Carl Carpenter Gold Heart Award for Community and Educational Contributions and the National Heritage Award.
She has been the guest reader for President and Mrs. George Bush at the White House for the Annual Easter Egg Roll. She has been on the Today Show in New York City, interviewed by the London Times and the Tokyo Shimbun newspapers and her most recent book, No Fear For Freedom: The Story of the Friendship 9 gained national and international recognition when she spearheaded the efforts to have the sentences overturned for a group of men, The Friendship 9, who conducted a sit-in in 1961 at a segregated lunch counter in Rock Hill, SC.
Kimberly is an Ambassador for The King Center in Atlanta and a program collaborator for Dr. Bernice A. King, the last living daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. She is a Curriculum Design Specialist for the King Center in Atlanta and is a team member with their nonviolence camps and trainings.
When she is not teaching, Kimberly loves committing time to her beloved sorority Delta Sigma Theta in their community initiatives and she also serves as a committee co-chair on the educational initiatives. Above all of her accomplishments, she says that the greatest joy is knowing that her grandparents taught her what good character looks like and raised her to believe in God and in self!
Our Presenters!
Bios
Cynthia Bohrer (she/her) has over 30 years of experience working in education and youth-serving organizations. Cindy’s areas of specialization include early childhood education, risk and resilience, teacher and program development, and community engagement. She has served a diversity of families and children in Boston, Houston, and the DC metro area as a teacher and program administrator. Cindy’s commitment to equity and accessibility was ignited early on while working in partnership with South End Head Start in Boston. In addition to her work with Welcoming Schools, Cindy currently serves as Head of Lower School at Green Acres School in Bethesda, MD. As a consultant and national facilitator with the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Welcoming Schools program, Cindy has trained with educators and schools across the country in support of safe and inclusive schools. Cindy holds a BA in Early Childhood Education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, an EdM in Human Development and Psychology, Risk and Resilience from Harvard University and a MA in Leadership in Social Transformation from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities.
Heidi Condrey:
Conscious Discipline, Certified Instructor/Partner Relations Manager
As a Conscious Discipline Certified Instructor, Heidi Condrey is passionate about sharing the Conscious Discipline message with others. Heidi has worked in the field of early childhood education for over twenty-five years. A state licensed teacher, Heidi holds a Master’s Degree in Education with a specialization in Teacher Leadership. Her career has centered around early childhood education and the empowerment of both children and their families.
Dr. Myra Crouch:
EarlyEd Consulting & Strategy Group, LLC, CEO/Education Consultant
Dr. Myra Crouch brings a wealth of 25 years’ experience as an early childhood administrator and researcher in capacities ranging from Senior Director, Chief Program Officer and Head Start Administrator. In her positions, she provided leadership as a strategic planner and professional development expert in advancing the professional development of the early childhood workforce. As the Director of Education and Technical Assistance, she was a member of the Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network at the federal level aimed at assisting local programs with improving the quality of early childhood. As Chief Program Officer at the Council for Professional Recognition, she was integral in administering the CDA, the national credential for the early childhood workforce. She is a former Head Start Administrator for the Head Start and Early Head Start programs at the Office for Children in Fairfax County, VA. She is certified in Practice-based Coaching, Time To Teach©, and a certified CLASS Observer in Infant, Toddler and PreK CLASS. Dr. Crouch, as an independent consultant supports Ready Regions with the VQB5 initiative. Her interests are early literacy instruction, ECE teacher professional development, and school readiness practices from pre-k through third grade with an emphasis on early reading.
Jennifer Fernandez:
School Specialty, Early Childhood Subject Matter Expert
Jennifer Fernandez has over 30 years of experience in the field of education. She holds a BA in Elementary Education and Spanish and a MA in Bilingual Education. Presenter’s teaching experience spans from Pre-K 4 to sixth grade in general education, bilingual & dual language settings and as a World Language Specialist. She has taught in Texas, Minnesota, and Mexico City. Jennifer also spent seven years as a Professional Learning Specialist for a large early childhood program, coaching and providing professional development opportunities for early childhood educators in the area. She is currently employed as the national Early Childhood Subject Matter Expert for a large school supply company. In that role, Jennifer supports sales, marketing and merchandising in the early childhood category and continues to provide professional development throughout the U.S. She has presented at various early childhood conferences throughout the country as well as at both the National Head Start Conference and the Annual NAEYC Conference.
Lucia Gibson:
Virginia’s Infant and Toddler Network/ United Way of Roanoke Valley, Infant and Toddler Specialist
Lucia Gibson is an Infant and Toddler Specialist with the Early Learning Strategies team at United Way of Roanoke Valley. Her educational background is in Early Childhood/Psychology. Lucia has worked with infants and toddlers in both a center base and home setting, preschool age children in private schools, service coordination in Early Intervention, ID/MH services as well Foster Care Case Management and Recruitment. She has always enjoyed working in Early Childhood positions and serving our communities in need.
Diana Heath:
People Incorporated of Virginia Child and Family Development SW, Home Based Coordinator
Wendy Rogers ERSEA Coordinator and Diana Heath Home Base Coordinator will be presenting together each has over over 20 years of experience with Head Start in various positions, serving region III.
Dr. Jocelyn Henry-Whitehead:
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Adjunct Faculty
Dr. Jocelyn Henry-Whitehead is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. She and her husband are so thankful to have two sons, two daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren. She was educated in the public school system in Baltimore. She received a Bachelor of Science degree and a Post-Master’s Certificate in Education from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. Her Master’s degree, her Educational Specialist degree, and her doctorate in Higher Education are all from The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg. She is also a certified parent training specialist and is endorsed in NK-4, administration and supervision, and ESL. Over the years, Dr. Henry-Whitehead has been a Baltimore City police officer, a museum educator, an early childhood/elementary educator, an assistant principal, a Head Start director, and an adjunct professor. She has participated in local, national, and international missions’ experiences in Flint, Standing Rock, Rwanda, Kenya, Spain, and South Korea. As a volunteer, she has also served as a harpist in religious, medical, behavioral health, convalescing, palliative care, and hospice settings. Currently, Dr. Henry-Whitehead continues to walk in her calling as a musician, telling her story, and serving others.
Rashanda Jenkins:
Office of Head Start (OHS)/ICF/Region III T/TTA Network, Region III Training & Technical Assistance-Health Specialist
Rashanda has served the HS/EHS community for 14 over years. Ms. Jenkins joined the Region III TTA Network in 2019 as a Health Specialist. As the Health Specialist, she supports recipients with individualized TTA in areas such as safe and healthy learning environments; new health leadership and orientation; emergency preparedness; ongoing monitoring and quality improvement systems; and data monitoring and tracking. In her previous roles, while working at a recipient program, she analyzed and used multiple program datasets to make informed decisions for program operations, ongoing monitoring, and quality improvement. Ms. Jenkins provided resources and information on health-related topics and supported states in developing and strengthening state health manager networks. This wide-ranging experience with building organizational capacity and management systems enables her to provide TTA in specialty areas of data analysis, health and safety, and group facilitation and presentation. Ms. Jenkins currently lives in Arlington, VA.
Mandy Lloyd:
Conscious Discipline, Certified Instructor
Mandy has 20 years of experience in the field of Early Childhood Education. After graduating from Virginia Tech with a degree in Human Development, she began working at a child care center. After teaching in the 4-year-old classroom for several years, she then worked as the director for about 7 years before transitioning to working from home. She has been a Conscious Discipline Certified Instructor since 2007, and enjoys sharing presentations with teachers and parents throughout the Northern Virginia area and beyond. Currently she is the Operations Manager for Certified Instructors with Conscious Discipline. She has been married to her husband Steve for 20 years, and they are raising two children, ages 13 and 16.
Jane Plum:
Conscious Discipline, Certified Instructor
Jane Plum shares her passion for creating a Conscious Discipline School Family™ where all children and adults feel safe and connected. She has been a Conscious Discipline Certified Instructor since 2015. In her career in education, she has taught high school, adults and preschool. When teaching Early Childhood Careers in a high school, she partnered with a Head Start class. Jane recently retired from her position of 15 years as Director of a NAEYC accredited preschool. She holds a B.S. and M.S. from Virginia Tech. She and her husband love to travel and spend time with their 4 children and 6 grandchildren, some of whom provide anecdotes for her workshops.
Lesley Sanchez:
Center for Early Success/Virginia Infant & Toddler Specialist Network, Infant & Toddler Behavior Consultant
Lesley Sanchez has devoted over 20 years to the early childhood field in child development centers and social-emotional learning and development through various roles as a lead teacher, an administrator, and instructional coach. She worked with Early Head Start/Head Start for about 10 years where she gained most of her experience. Lesley now works for The Center for Early Success in collaboration with the Virginia Infant and Toddler Specialist Network as a Behavior Consultant for the Southside Region. She is CLASS certified, and trained in ASQ-3, ASQSE-2, TPITOS, and has a bachelor’s degree in early childhood development from Bluefield University.
Karla Sprouse:
ICF, Grantee Specialist
Karla has served the HS/EHS community for over 20 years, with 8 years on the Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) team. She has worked as a teacher, a home visitor, an Education and Disabilities Manager, a Director, and as an Infant-Toddler Specialist. As a Grantee Specialist, Ms. Sprouse provides training and technical assistance to programs to support them in strengthening systems and developing plans to foster continuous quality improvement. Previously Karla served as an EC Specialist, with the Region III Training and Technical Assistance Team, providing support to program staff and working in collaboration with them to promote family engagement, culturally and linguistically responsive care, and healthy development of children. She is certified in a variety of areas including Pre-K CLASS, The Pyramid Observation Tool, Quality Care for Infants and Toddlers (QCIT), Teaching Pyramid Observation System for Infant-Toddler (TPITOS), supporting children with disabilities, and more.
Dr. Pamela Waddell:
ICF – Head Start Region 3 TTA, Family Engagement Specialist
Dr. Pamela Waddell has served the HS/EHS community for over 24 years, 12 of which have been in TTA providing training and technical assistance to programs serving children birth to five. Currently she is the Family Engagement Specialist for the Region III TTA network. Previously, she served in the TTA roles of Grantee Specialist and Grantee Specialist Manager. She has also been a Head Start director, education manager, and teacher. In her current role, she offers support in all things family engagement and serves as a liaison to the National Center on Parent Family and Community Engagement (PFCE). She has developed and presented training at local, state, and regional events and conferences on a variety of program topics that include leadership and management systems, data, curriculum, assessment, child growth and development, child outcomes, ERSEA, PFCE, health and safety, and mental health.
Mortricia White:
Learning Genie, Consultant
Mortricia White MA, E.D. (ABD), owner of White’s Consultants a veteran, minority, woman owned business has 15 years of experience conducting Head Start/Early Head Start Reviews, onsite compliance monitoring, and Infant, Toddler, and Pre-K CLASS. She has a background in Early Childhood Development and Elementary Education. Ms. White has expert knowledge of the Head Start Program Performance Standard, the monitoring protocol, and the Early Learning Outcomes Framework.
Miranda Whitham:
Learning Genie, Consultant
Miranda Whitham has a Masters in Early Childhood Education. After 3 years in classrooms, she was the Assistant Director and Director for child care programs for 7 years. Miranda then took on support roles for Pennsylvania’s STARS Quality Rating System, including STARS Manager, TA Consultant, and Trainer. Miranda has also taught Early Childhood Education courses at several Community Colleges. Currently, she is working as a Head Start Consultant/Training Specialist for Learning Genie.
Please use this sample Letter to request permission and funds to attend the VAHSA Annual Conference 2024! All the details are in the letter and provides you with fillable fields to include rates for per diem and travel. Download PDF below.
2024 Funding Request Letter
Upcoming Events
Oct 22, 2024
Oct 22, 2024
Nov 21, 2024
