Ignite ECE PreConference 2: A Great Place to Work: Leading Your Staff

Welcome to the 2024 Nashville Early Childhood Education Conference! "Ignite! Purpose and Intention" occurs July 23 - 26, 2024. All sessions are free and open to all.

Join us in person at United Way of Greater Nashville (250 Venture Circle, Nashville, TN 37228) for the following great pre-conference session presented by Michelle Dedman of TN Childcare Resource and Referral (CCR&R).

This session will focus on increasing staff morale and creating workplaces where staff feels valued and encouraged.  We will talk about ways to lead well and to begin equipping future leaders in the early education world.  Come ready to share ideas of how you are already doing this with your program.

3-hours of TN DHS credit is available upon completion of a reflection form. All Ignite! conference sessions fall under the umbrella of the United Way of Greater Nashville for TN DHS credit. United Way of Greater Nashville is a Pre-Approved Institution with TrainTN. Documentation of attendance and participation should be entered by your TNPAL-verified director in their TrainTN Director Portal.

About the Presenters

Michelle Dedman has been passionate about quality education for most of her life.  As a child, she wanted to be a teacher and spent most of her days crafting lessons and experiences for her stuffed animals.  After earning her elementary education degree from Murray State University, she began a career as a teacher and enjoyed teaching children of all ages for almost twenty years.  As a next step, Michelle moved into the role of preschool director and spent those five years advocating for professionalism in the preschool world and increasing respect for our early education teachers.  She is passionate about helping others develop leadership skills and encouraging teachers to keep up the good work.

About TN Childcare Resource and Referral Network

TN Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) focuses on training and providing resources for families and child care professionals. Currently, there are eight Child Care Resource & Referral sites serving all 95 counties in Tennessee. All Tennessee Child Care Resource & Referral Quality Coaches are highly trained and educated to provide Tennessee Department of Human Services licensed child care professionals with the training and technical assistance they need to provide the best care possible for Tennessee’s children.

About the CORE Network

Core Network Nashville is Nashville’s community of connected resources for early childhood educators. We are the place to find educational and operational resources in the area, access coaching and mentorship opportunities, and get connected to the strong community of early childhood educators of all different backgrounds. At Core Network Nashville, we believe that no matter your role in education, you deserve to have the resources and community support you need to thrive in your work.

If you would like more information about CORE Network and/or would like to join the work, please contact Elandriel Lewis.

Host or Publisher United Way of Greater Nashville