Come and Play!
Early Childhood is taking over the ESC!
Educators will ENGAGE in Learning that Supports our Youngest Students at our revitalized summer conference.
Calling all early childhood leaders, educators, and practitioners to come together to connect, collaborate and learn together for two days of exciting sessions. We putting together a wide array of local, state, and national presenters to make this experience meet all of your professional development needs.
Why Come to Region 13?
It’s an opportunity to connect with other early childhood educators in your region while hearing from multiple keynote speakers and featured presenters. With a focus on inclusion and developmentally appropriate practice, sessions will vary to meet the needs of ALL early childhood educators.
2023 Keynote Speakers
Jim Gill
Jim Gill is a musician and author with singular credentials among children’s artists. Jim spent twenty years directing programs in music play for families with children with special needs in the Chicago area. His particular writing style—combining wordplay and movement opportunities into songs—was developed through this work. Jim completed his graduate studies in child development at the Erikson Institute of Chicago with a special emphasis on the study of play. His work experience and studies have led Jim to create each of his recordings and books as an opportunity for playful interactions between a child and a caring adult.
Jim has released ten award-winning recordings of music play for young children. The songs are now available on all streaming platforms so that EVERYONE can have access to his ACTIVE musical games! Jim is also the author of two children’s books. Over the years, he has received five awards from the American Library Association for his releases.
Jim’s most recent project involves the creation of a series of VIDEO books based on his book May There Always Be Sunshine, with words and illustrations contributed by children from across the country. Thousands of children have shared their heartfelt wishes and inspiring illustrations in these projects created for schools, libraries, and other community organizations. | | |
Dr. Amanda Kloo
Dr. Amanda Kloo, PhD is an educator, a mom, a wife, and a life-long student. She is a veteran teacher, interventionist, and developmental specialist with experience teaching children of all ages, stages, and abilities. She is the Director of Inclusive Recreation at the National Inclusion Project, a non-profit providing community organizations, recreational programs, and schools the training, tools, and support needed to meaningfully include children with disabilities. Dr. Kloo is a frequent presenter at conferences, a widely published author, and holds multiple consulting positions with research institutions, educational organizations, and universities committed to advancing inclusive experiences for individuals with disabilities. Amanda is also an adaptive fitness coach and athlete with cerebral palsy who provides inclusive play and exercise experiences to children and adults with exceptional needs. She is passionate about all things inclusion and the power of play. | | |
Phuong Lien Palafox
Phuong Lien Palafox, MS, CCC-SLP, is a Vietnamese-Chinese bilingual speech-language scientist, author and advocate. Currently, her time is spent empowering clients and their families, speech-language pathologists and educators across the United States. Her work has been featured in various publications including the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and content for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. With a foundation of evidence-based and human-centered practices, she is continually invested in Cultural Responsiveness, Advocacy, Narrative-Based Interventions and the Mental Health of Educators. She is the author of The Heartbeat of Speech-Language Pathology. Attendees leave her presentations and storytelling feeling validated, refueled and re-engaged in their meaningful work. You can find more information at www.phuonglienpalafox.com. | | |
