It’s hard to believe that it’s been less than a month since the 2023 Early Childhood Symposium took place at Percy Julian Middle School, but time moves fast, especially as we race into the lighter days of spring. We’ve had a chance to take a breath and create a few highlights from this year’s Symposium to share. Take a peek! Remember, you can always reference workshop handouts and supplemental materials from the Symposium anytime. To see the full album of 2023 Symposium photos taken by Paul Goyette, visit our Flickr account.
Quick Facts about the 2023 Early Childhood Symposium
68% of attendees live or work in Oak Park
There were 264 overall attendees, including registrants, volunteers, and presenters
153 attendees received Gateways contact hours on their Professional Development Registry Account
“Presenter was extremely knowledgeable on the topic and made us think about equity in nature being available to all. So important!” – Participant Feedback
Who the Symposium Attendees Were
“This was a very good experience about self regulation in order to regulate others.” – Participant Feedback
“The presenter made the topic of neuroscience absolutely fascinating! So relevant to children in today’s post-covid world.” – Participant Feedback
Thank you to everyone who attended, presented, and staffed resource tables, and play stations. Thank you to New Rose catering for the sustenance, and to the staff at Percy Julian who helped manage tech concerns and keep the spaces clean. And thank you to our committed Professional Development Committee and volunteers who helped make the even happen. We are so grateful to everyone who came together to allow our community’s educators to focus on their practice, and to open their hearts and minds to new ways to enhance the lives and learnings of our little ones.