36th Annual National Conference Schedule Overview

DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE VIRTUAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

PRICING

PRE-CONFERENCE TRAINING EVENT: 

Member w 3-Day Registration: $99          Non Member w 3-Day Registration: $149          Pre-Conference Event Only: $199 

 3-DAY CONFERENCE REGISTRATION              

Member 3-Day Registration: $465            Non Member 3-Day Registration: $565

Registration|Annual Membership Bundle: $595 (Member 3-Day Registration with One Year AELL Membership)

CEUs

CEUs are offered for every session at no additional cost. The Association for Early Learning Leaders has partnered with Stalwart-Genesis to provide Continuing Education Units for conference attendees.

GROUP RATES

FOR 3-DAY CONFERENCE: Register four or more directors, owners, or administrators and receive 10% discount for ALL 3-day registrations.

FOR SATURDAY STAFF TRAINING: Register ten or more staff and receive 10% discount for all registrants.

Call us at 512-551-0857 for promo code.

What is the cancellation policy?

CANCELLATION OF REGISTRATION FOR NEWARK CONFERENCE REGISTRATION PURCHASED PRIOR TO JULY 6, 2020: Please contact Aryam Andom, [email protected], for cancellation options.

CANCELLATION FOR VIRTUAL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION PURCHASED ON OR AFTER JULY 6, 2020:                              All cancellations must be made in writing and sent to [email protected].  Cancellations received before September 1, 2020* are refundable minus a $125 processing fee. No-shows and cancellations received after September 1, 2020 will not be eligible for a refund.

REGISTRATION TRANSFERS: Registration is transferable without penalty or funds can be applied to another posted AELL training event or to another person.

Can I update my registration information?

Yes!  You can update your registration information at any time.  Just email [email protected] for assistance. 

DR. PETER GRAY, Author of Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life

Peter Gray is a research professor of psychology at Boston College who has conducted and published research in neuroendocrinology, developmental psychology, anthropology, and education.  He is author of an internationally acclaimed introductory psychology textbook (Psychology, Worth Publishers, now in its 8^th edition), which views all of psychology from an evolutionary perspective.  His recent research focuses on the role of play in human evolution and how children educate themselves, through play and exploration, when they are free to do so. He has expanded on these ideas in his book, Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life (Basic Books). He also authors a regular blog called Freedom to Learn, for Psychology Today magazine.  He earned his undergraduate degree at Columbia College and Ph.D. in biological sciences, many years ago, at the Rockefeller University.  His own current play includes kayaking, long distance bicycling, backwoods skiing, and vegetable gardening.

DR. JEANETTE BETANCOURT, Senior Vice President for U.S. Social Impact at Sesame Workshop

Dr. Betancourt is the Senior Vice President for U.S. Social Impact at Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street.  She directs the development and implementation of community and family engagement initiatives making a difference in the lives of vulnerable children and their families. These research-based initiatives are designed to impact children’s early learning, health and well-being, and provide strategies and resources to counteract the effects of trauma while fostering the critical connections that adults have on children’s lives. Prior to joining Sesame Workshop, Dr. Betancourt created programs in adult learning and early childhood education at Teachers College, Columbia University.  She is a licensed bilingual speech and language pathologist and educational therapist. She participates on several national and local boards and has contributed to the start of charter schools. Dr. Betancourt has a BA and MA in Speech and Language Pathology; an MS in Bilingual Reading/Special Education, and an Ed.D. in Special Education.

Click HERE to learn more about Sesame Workshop.

36th Annual National Conference, How Successful Directors Lead!

The Association for Early Learning Leaders pursues experts in the early care and education community to present sessions from a national perspective to early care and education directors, administrators and owners at our Annual Conference, How Successful Directors Lead! The Association prides itself on the high-level of quality and professionalism that is upheld throughout the conference.

Sessions incorporate the following areas of expertise: leadership, legal, business administration, budgeting, insurance-liability, health & safety, curriculum, assessment, instructional leadership, parent education and program quality-accreditation. In order to lead a quality early learning program, directors are required to have knowledge, skills and abilities from diverse areas. Nationally known experts from across the country are secured to share a wealth of knowledge and experience with our participants.

The Association for Early Learning Leaders is a professional organization committed to strengthening the skill level of leaders in the field of early care and education. We believe that effective management is the critical link to superior programs.

DOWNLOADABLE CONFERENCE SCHEDULE OVERVIEW 

CALL FOR 2020 CONFERENCE PRESENTERS HAS CLOSED.

CALL FOR 2021 CONFERENCE PRESENTERS WILL OPEN ON JULY 15, 2020

The Association for Early Learning Leaders pursues experts in the early care and education community to present sessions from a national perspective to early care and education directors, administrators and owners at our Annual Conference, How Successful Directors Lead! The Association prides itself on the high-level of quality and professionalism that is upheld throughout the conference.

Sessions incorporate the following areas of expertise: leadership, legal, business administration, budgeting, insurance-liability, health & safety, curriculum, assessment, instructional leadership, parent education and program quality-accreditation. In order to lead a quality early learning program, directors are required to have knowledge, skills and abilities from diverse areas. Nationally known experts from across the country are secured to share a wealth of knowledge and experience with our participants.

The Association for Early Learning Leaders is a professional organization committed to strengthening the skill level of leaders in the field of early care and education. We believe that effective management is the critical link to superior programs.

The Association accepts requests for conference presenters from May 15 through September 1 annually.* The requests are thoroughly reviewed and presenters are notified of acceptance by October 31. Presentations are to be either 1 hour 45 minutes or 3 hours in length with a 15-minute break. Presenters will be required to submit a completed and approved CEU application.

Travel and Hotel Arrangements for Presenters

Each presenter is responsible for making individual travel and hotel arrangements. The availability of hotel accommodations is limited at the conference site so register early. Conference group rate information is available here.  

Conference Registration

All presenters will receive one complimentary conference registration that includes many conference extended events including lunch on Thursday and Friday.   After we receive your signed agreement, we will provide you with information regarding registration. Conference presenters will have reserved seating. Additional tickets may be purchased at $50 each.

The Association does not offer honorariums for session presenters but is pleased to provide a letter of participation for you to include in your professional speaking portfolio.

 *The COVID-19 emergency has delayed the opening of the 2021 Call for Presenters.

Important Information for Preparing Your Proposal

ROOM SET UP:

The training room will be set up for approximately 40-80 people with a presenter’s table in front.

AUDIO/VISUAL:

Each presenter will have access to a projector and screen. These items will be provided by the Association at no extra cost. We respectfully request that each presenter provide a laptop if one is needed during the presentation. Should additional audio/visual equipment be required, arrangements will be made at your expenses with the contracted audio visual company for the Conference.  Internet access is not always freely available.  Please consider this when building your training content.

HANDOUTS:

The Association requests that each presenter provide a handout corresponding with the topic of discussion and sufficient copies for all attendees. Handouts should be no more than four (4) pages in length and contain a minimum of three website resources and two additional resources or references related to the topic.

ACCREDITATION STANDARDS:

The Association for Early Learning Leaders sponsors the National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs. If accreditation standards are referenced during the presentation, please include accreditation standards in the reference. To obtain a list of standards, click here. For questions on particular standards, contact [email protected]

PROMOTING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES:

The Association for Early Learning Leaders recognizes that the National Conference is often used as a vehicle for presenters to expand their own markets.  The Association encourages the dissemination of knowledge promoting personal and professional development and to enhance the quality of early care and education programs.  To respectively maintain a balance of dissemination of information and marketing, presenters are encouraged to purchase an exhibit booth in the Exhibit Hall.  Interested presenters may contact Lori Buxton, Managing Director, at [email protected] for reservations in the Exhibit Hall.

Please help us maintain the professional integrity of the conference by abstaining from the appearance of using your session as a marketing venue.  Presenters will not be allowed to sell, display, or promote their events, publications, materials, and/or services during their training presentation.  You will be permitted to distribute promotional materials to participants at the conclusion of your session and our conference Ambassadors are happy to facilitate distribution of your materials.

Failure to abide by presenter guidelines may result in your not being invited to present at future AELL training events.

Accomodations

Our 36th Annual National Conference scheduled to be held at the Hilton Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J., has been transitioned to a virtual event.  If you had reservations at the venue, they should have been cancelled automatically with the cancellation of the event room block.  If that did not occur, please contact the hotel directly to cancel.

Our 36th Annual National Conference scheduled to be held at the Hilton Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J., has been transitioned to a virtual event.

FOR REGISTRANTS TRANSFERRING FUNDS TO 2021 NATIONAL CONFERENCE:

The 37th Annual National Conference will be held April 7-10, 2021 at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista.  The nearest airport is the Orlando International Airport (MCO).

INFORMATION FOR THE 37TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE WILL BE RELEASED SEPTEMBER 22, 2020.

NEWARK LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Shuttle information will be available soon.  Please check back.

NEW YORK-LAGUARDIA AIRPORT

Shuttle information will be available soon. Please check back.

The Hilton Meadowlands is pleased to offer our group a 50% discount off of posted self-parking rates if you are driving in.

Please let Conference Services know that you are self-parked to get your parking discount pass.