2026 Childhood Education Workshop - South

Date/Time:

July 20, 2026 - July 21, 2026

Calendar:

Location: FBC Covington
Address: 16333 LA-1085 Covington, LA 70433

Training for all things Preschool? This is the spot. This conference also meets all requirements for Pathway’s Certification. Weekday centers can obtain 6 hours of certified training for each day attended.

Schedule (same schedule both days)
Registration 7:15 – 8:00

Keynote Session 8:00 – 9:00

Breakout 1 9:10-10:10

Breakout 2 10:20-11:20

Lunch (provided) 11:20-12:10

Breakout 3 12:10-1:10

Breakout 4 1:20-2:20

Breakout 5 2:30-3:30

Keynotes:

Led by Donna Peavey

Iron Sharpens Iron: Strengthened Together for the Sake of Our Children
Early childhood education in faith-based settings is sacred, demanding work – work no one is meant to do alone. Come and be reminded that growth, resilience, and faithfulness happen best in relationships. You will be encouraged to seek mutual sharpening – for your own well-being and the sake of the children you serve.

Planted, Rooted, and Growing: Cultivating the Soil of Children’s Hearts
Rediscover the sacred calling behind your work, the spiritual formation in ordinary moments, and the community that upholds and energizes your mission.

Breakouts:

SESSIONS 1 - 2

Sherrie Albritton
Let It Go

Helping new parents through the transition of beginning their infants’ education. Some parents struggle to let go after the sweet time at home with their infants. How do we help these parents be the best for their children?

Kelly McElveen
A Sensory Savvy Classroom

From how the brain interprets sensory information to practical strategies you can use, let’s explore helpful practices to meet the needs of all learners.

Marlene Fleming
Changing Culture, Changing Children

Our culture is changing at a rapid pace. Finding ways to help our children is imperative.

Adrienne Hetherwick
Setting the Stage for Learning: Preschool Centers That Work

This session focuses on how to effectively set up learning centers in a preschool classroom to support engagement, independence, and meaningful play.

Donna Peavey
Nurturing Hearts and Minds: Social-Emotional Learning in the Early Years

This session will explore how to incorporate faith, Scripture, and prayer into daily activities while responding to children’s emotional needs with Christ-centered care, helping them grow in empathy, self-regulation, and their relationships with others and God.

DeShannan Paddock
Building a Unified Team

The early childhood education world is crazy, and it is important we support each other. In this session we will discover ways we can encourage our coworkers and build a unified team.

Deleece Nichols
Relating and Communicating with Today’s Families

Families today may look very different and have a variety of special circumstances. We will discuss the importance of building positive relationships in order to promote effective communication.

DeShannan Paddock
Building a Unified Team

The early childhood education world is crazy, and it is important we support each other. In this session we will discover ways we can encourage our coworkers and build a unified team.
SESSION 3

Sherrie Albritton
See It, Touch It, Learn It

Learning to read by doing. Early learners don’t just learn from memorizing their A, B, C’s. They learn by doing and that includes reading. This class will discover hands-on literacy for preschoolers.

Kelly McElveen
Responsive Caregiving and Infant Development

The Critical Role of the Caregiver During Infancy.

Dr. Faye Scott
The Bible Through the Eyes of a Preschooler

Opening up new areas of learning and building foundations is critical for a young child’s development. As a faith-based center (or classroom), let’s explore hands-on, interactive, Bible-centered activities to help preschoolers build strong spiritual foundations.

Adrienne Hetherwick
Director’s Conference

Join this time of encouragement that will be part idea-sharing and part support group. How can we as directors face the issues of today while building a strong center for children, parents, and staff?

DeShannan Paddock
Crisis Management Beyond Emergency Planning

The LDOE requires an emergency plan for disasters such as tornado, fire, hurricane, etc. But how do we handle other crisis that your emergency plan does not cover? In this session we will define crisis and will help you plan for when one occurs.

Dana Anika
From Sounds to Symbols: Building Early Literacy Skills

Build a strong foundation for reading success by equipping young learners with essential early literacy skills. This session focuses on phonological awareness and letter-sounds. Participants will learn how to support phonological awareness and letter-sound connections through engaging, developmentally appropriate activities that build strong readers from the earliest years.
SESSIONS 4 - 5

Sherrie Albritton
Little Explorers

Equip teachers to help preschoolers learn. Preschoolers learn through play, exploration, and hands-on experiences.

Marlene Fleming
Look Who’s Talking!!

Childcare professionals play a key role in literacy development. Let’s make sure we are providing what is needed.

Dr. Faye Scott
Don’t Let Rainy Days and Mondays Get You Down!

Rainy days when you can’t take the children outside to get their wiggles released can lead to frustration. In this class, we will discover activities to help make indoor days a win for active preschoolers and for their teachers.

Adrienne Hetherwick
Guiding Behavior

This class will equip early childhood educators with practical, developmentally appropriate strategies for guiding behavior in a preschool setting.

Donna Peavey
Sacred Play: Using Play-Based Learning to Support Faith and Development

Play is holy work – a God-given way children explore, create, and learn. Come and learn to design play experiences that align with learning standards and faith formation. By the end of the session, you will understand the theological and developmental foundations of play and be able to identify how play supports cognitive, social, and spiritual growth.

Dana Anika
Creative Classrooms: Integrating Music, Movement, and Visual Arts in Early Learning

This workshop explores how music, movement, and visual arts can be intentionally integrated into early childhood classrooms to support whole-child development. Participants will gain practical strategies to enhance creativity, engagement, and learning across developmental domains through hands-on, arts-based experiences.

Deleece Nichols
Scooping, Pouring, Dipping, and Digging Into Preschool Fun

Come explore the importance of hands-on sensory activities fostering early math and science concepts. We will discuss the educational benefits, activities, materials, and tips for success.

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2026 Childhood Education Workshop – South

2026 Childhood Education Workshop – South

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