Greatness Grows Here 2026: A Conference for Early Childhood Professionals
Schedule
Sat Apr 11 2026 at 08:00 am to 04:30 pm
UTC-04:00Location
Bowie High School | Bowie, MD
About this Event
Child Resource Connect is thrilled to host the Greatness Grows Here conference for a fourth consecutive year.
Our attendees return each year to make the most of this chance to gather with fellow early childhood educators for a day of professional development and networking. Attendees will earn six MSDE approved Core of Knowledge training hours through the keynote session and two workshops of their choosing. A continental breakfast, snacks, and lunch are included.
MSDE Approval Number: CWO-164324
Ticket Includes:
- Continental breakfast, hot lunch, & snacks
- Networking with other child care professionals and experts in the field
- Conference Themed Swag
- Engagement with exhibitors
- MSDE approved certificate with 6 Core of Knowledge (COK) hours
- A chance to win exciting door prizes
PRICING & DEADLINES:
- Standard $85 Registration closes on Friday, March 20 at midnight.
- Late $95 Registration closes on Thursday, March 26 at midnight.
All registrations must be completed and paid by March 26, no exceptions.
Ticket substitutions of any kind will not be accommodated after March 26. This includes the day of the event. Pre-registration is required, and unfortunately, we cannot accommodate walk-up/day-of registrations or changes. Anyone who has not pre-registered before March 26 will not be able to join us for this year's event.
As a reminder, the MSDE Training Voucher and Reimbursement site can be viewed here: https://earlychildhood.marylandpublicschools.org/child-care-providers/office-child-care/credentialing-branch/training-vouchers-and-reimbursements
Dr. Orinthia Harris, Ph.D., brings over two decades of experience in both classroom and extracurricular settings to the stage. Affectionately known as Dr. OH, she earned her doctorate from Notre Dame of Maryland University in 2020, focusing on Educational Leadership for Changing Populations. As the founder and executive director of STEMearly LLC, she ignites a passion for teaching while equipping educators and students with essential tools for thriving. Dr. OH has served as a STEM and antiracist faculty member with CEI since 2014, collaborating with institutions like SUNY, NIEA, MEMSPA, SAMHSA, CAST, and YALE to accelerate evidence-based practices in holistic education.
A leading authority in early childhood education, Dr. OH has featured on podcasts as an expert and has authored articles such as "Getting Uncomfortable: Antiracism and Mindfulness" and "Six Models For Early Childhood STEAM." She has also co-authored two books published by Solution Tree: Little Learners, Big Hearts: A Teacher’s Guide to Nurturing Empathy and Equity in Early Childhood and the accompanying Leader’s Guide to Little Learners, Big Hearts: Advancing Empathy and Equity Education. In addition to 20+ impactful years in K-5 classrooms across public schools, private schools, and community-based settings, Dr. OH has also served as a board member for Hope Community Public Charter Schools in DC and as a researcher and facilitator for the Compassionate School Leadership Academy in partnership with Yale’s program for recovery and mental health. Her unrelenting dedication and ability to connect with diverse learners showcase her profound impact in the field.
You will be asked to select one workshop to attend in the morning and one workshop to attend in the afternoon. Morning sessions have an "AM" in the Schedule Code. Afternoon session have a "PM" in the Schedule Code. Take note of the Schedule Code listed next to the title of the workshops that you would like to attend. This will help with selecting the correct workshop in the registration form. Some workshops are offered in both the morning AND the afternoon. Others are only offered one time: in either the morning OR the afternoon.
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THE FOLLOWING SESSIONS ARE OFFERED ONCE IN THE MORNING AND ONCE IN THE AFTERNOON. THERE ARE 2 CHANCES TO ATTEND. PLEASE TAKE CARE TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARE NOT ENROLLED FOR THE SAME WORKSHOP IN BOTH THE MORNING AND IN THE AFTERNOON WHEN COMPLETING YOUR REGISTRATION SELECTIONS.
GAM1/GPM1 | I Had it First! | Dr. Deborah Wood
Stop the squabbling! Bring peace and harmony to your program! Young children can be taught to resolve their conflicts with each other through techniques that you demonstrate and guide them through.(Child Development COK)
GAM2/GPM2 | Bringing STEAM to Your Class through Simple Items and Nature|
Echo Uzzo
Teach STEM/STEAM in your class without fancy or expensive items. Start and build upon the foundation for further learning and exploration through fun and inquiry.(Child Development & Curriculum COK)
GAM3/GPM3 | What To Do When You Don't Understand What A Child Says: Tips from a speech therapist | Kelly Goldberg
This training provides information on speech sound development from 1-6 years old so you know what sounds to expect and when. You will also learn quick and easy strategies to support speech development and respond in ways that reduces frustration for you and the child. (Child Development & Special Needs COK)
GAM4/GPM4 | Trauma-Sensitive Classroom Practices | Kiran Philip
This training introduces the five core principles of trauma-informed care—safety, trustworthiness, peer support, collaboration, and empowerment. Participants will learn strategies for trauma-sensitive classrooms interventions to support students’ emotional well-being and academic success. (Child Development & Curriculum COK)
GAM5/GPM5 | AI-Powered Leadership: Recruiting, Retaining, and Reviving the Early Childhood Workforce | Dr. Latasha Bacote-Owens
This session equips directors and administrators to address staffing challenges using best business practices, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) standards, and AI innovation. Learn how to recruit and retain staff ethically, streamline hiring processes, and foster inclusive, emotionally healthy teams that last. (Professionalims COK)
BAM1/BPM1 | I Think I Can: I Know I Can! | Dr. Wendell Campbell
Using decodableJoin us for a workshop for educators and caregivers focused on fostering a love of reading and writing in young children. Through hands-on workshops and expert-led sessions, you'll explore key topics like phonemic awareness, early writing, and vocabulary building, with a focus on emotional connection in literacy to the Science of Reading. Attendees will leave inspired, equipped with new strategies, and connected with a supportive network. (Professionalism COK)
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THE FOLLOWING SESSIONS ARE ONLY OFFERED ONE TIME - IN THE MORNING.
BAM2 | **Center Directors - Enhancing Skills for Challenges in Today's Child Care Programs (Part 1 of 2)| Dr. GeriLynn Ballard
This is a two-part session designed specifically for owners and directors, aiming to enhance their ability to prioritize and encourage growth in their roles. The session will cover fostering a positive team culture, embracing reflective practices, ensuring compliance with regulations, program quality and curriculum, and family and community engagement. Part 2 of this topic is offered in the afternoon under schedule code BPM2. This session must be attended in order to attend part 2 in the afternoon. (Professionalism COK)
BAM3 | Understanding and Supporting the Development of Executive Functioning in Young Children | Saba Ahmed
This training aims to provide educators with a comprehensive understanding of executive functioning, its significance in child development, and strategies to foster these skills in young children. Through understanding the science with practical examples & evidence-based strategies, participants will gain the knowledge and tools necessary to support children's executive functioning development. (Child Development & Special Needs COK)
BAM4 | Strengthening Fiscal Management for Child Care Programs: Marketing Your Program for Center-Based Child Care Providers| Joi Woods
How you market your program can make a difference in how families and the community see and connect with you. Explore marketing fundamentals and time-saving tools to enhance program visibility & maximize your resources. This workshop is part of a series developed by the National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance. (Professionalism COK)
BAM5 | You Can Do This! Accommodating All Children in Your Program | Paul Armstrong
A workshop that helps us recognize biases and encourages us to give children w/ disabilities a chance in our child care programs. Includes some references to ADA Law. Interactive and gets to the the heart of our biases and ADA concepts. Ends on an inspirational note: "You can Do It!" (Special Needs COK)
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THE FOLLOWING SESSIONS ARE ONLY OFFERED ONE TIME - IN THE AFTERNOON.
BPM2 | **Center Directors - Enhancing Skills for the Challenges in Today's Child Care Programs (Part 2 of 2) | Dr. GeriLynn Ballard
Participants must have taken Part 1 in the morning in order to attend this Part 2 session. This is a two-part session designed specifically for owners and directors, aiming to enhance their ability to prioritize and encourage growth in their roles. The session will cover fostering a positive team culture, embracing reflective practices, ensuring compliance with regulations, program quality and curriculum, and family and community engagement. (Professionalism COK)
BPM3 | Let’s Talk About It: Mastering Challenging Conversations in Early Childhood Settings | Saba Ahmed
Whether you’re a teacher, administrator, or support staff, we all encounter moments where communication gets… tricky. This professional development workshop is designed to empower educators and ECE leaders with the tools and confidence to navigate those challenging conversations with clarity and care. (Professionalism COK)
BPM4 | Tiny Humans, Big Emotions | Teresa DeLisi
A practical training for early childhood educators working with children ages 0–5. Participants will learn the root causes of challenging behaviors and explore effective, age-appropriate strategies for guiding children through big feelings. Through hands-on activities and real-world scenarios, educators will gain tools to respond with empathy while supporting social-emotional growth. (Child Development COK)
BPM5 | I have a logo, isn’t that enough? Marketing to Build your Childcare Business | Lauren Bond
Marketing doesn’t have to be intimidating! This workshop helps childcare leaders create and implement effective marketing strategies to attract and retain families. Learn to highlight your program’s strengths, connect with your community, and use internal and external marketing tools to build enrollment and position your center as a top choice. (Professionalism COK)
Agenda
🕑: 07:30 AM - 08:30 AM
DOORS OPEN: Check-In & Continental Breakfast
🕑: 08:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Opening Session & Keynote
Host: Dr. Orinthia Harris
Info: “Turning Obstacles into Opportunities – Breaking Barriers Through a Growth Mindset”
🕑: 10:45 AM - 01:15 PM
Morning Workshops
Info:
🕑: 12:45 PM - 02:15 PM
Lunch, Networking, & Exhibitor Browsing
Info:
🕑: 01:45 PM - 04:15 PM
Afternoon Workshops
Where is it happening?
Bowie High School, 15200 Annapolis Road, Bowie, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 85.00 to USD 95.00
