MEET THE SPEAKERS

DJ Batiste

We Are In This Together: Building A School Family Where Everyone Belongs

DJ Batiste inspires thousands of people around the country with his message of hope, transformation and the power of connection. D.J. is a former gang leader who spent his life in and out of trouble before meeting high school teacher Donna Porter, who used Conscious Discipline® in her classroom. Just one year in her class altered DJ’s life forever. Don’t miss this dynamic keynote, We are in this TOGETHER: Building a School Family Where Everyone Belongs, presented by DJ and Conscious Discipline® Master Instructor Jill Molli.

After hearing this presentation, you will feel energized and motivated to welcome the diversity of individuals that walk through your classroom door! DJ and Jill will discuss how to replace control with “connectedness” and domination with “structure” in your classroom. They will share the key ingredient for successful problem-solving in classrooms, including the adult and child responsibilities needed to make it work.

Dr. Brian Mowry

Informal Play Incorporates Complex Mathematical Thinking

Young children’s informal play often incorporates complex mathematical thinking, which will develop into deeper understanding of formal math concepts through intentional guidance and planning of teachers. This session presents strategies to enhance children’s engineering activity through explicit math instruction. The presenter will focus on the mathematical content and specific skills that young children encounter during developmentally appropriate, meaningful, and playful STEAM projects and explorations.  These mathematical knowledge and skills include number and operations, algebra (patterning), geometry and spatial reasoning, and measurement, which are identified by the National Council of Mathematics (NCTM) and NAEYC as focal areas in preschool mathematics.

Brian’s Bio:

Dr. Mowry is an author of various publications, including Frog Street Pre-K and the AIM Observational Assessment. He has presented at several national and local conferences focusing on topics in Mathematics, STEAM, Dual Language Learners, play, and Developmentally Appropriate Practices. Before joining the Frog Street Team, Dr. Mowry worked in the Austin Independent School District as a bilingual pre-school and kindergarten teacher and as a K-5 math and early childhood Instructional specialist and administrator.

Bari Koral

Yogapalooza with Bari Koral: The best tools for yoga and mindfulness now

Ever wish you could just wave a magic wand and create instant calm? It’s all possible. Get ready for Yogapalooza! Let these wonderful activities take care of you and your children. Even if you can’t touch your toes, or don’t have a yoga mat, these activities are for everybody. In this interactive and engaging presentation, Bari will share the best techniques you can use to calm anxiety in minutes. Learn bite size mindfulness moments like Rainbow Relaxation, Rocket Ship Breath and more. Enjoy engaging, musical kids yoga breaks that burn off energy and really help kids (and adults!) focus. You will gain actionable wisdom that you can implement immediately to help you and your kids manage stress and feel good.

Bari’s Bio:

Bari Koral is a beloved children’s recording artist and an internationally recognized kids yogi. Bari’s hit kids yoga and mindfulness YouTube channel regularly brings yoga and mindfulness to millions around the world. Bari Koral has been called a “kids yoga pioneer” (Kaplan) and the “it girl of kids/family music” (New York Magazine). She has become a major resource during Covid 19, helping to support many educators and the children they serve. She has been on the forefront of bringing kids yoga to the top of children’s curriculums and as a vital self-care resource for teachers.

Brandie Long

Supporting Children's Writing in ECE

Children REALLY want to write. Providing the tools and support in the classroom can present a barrier. Bring your creativity as we explore writing in the early childhood classroom. We will learn about the stages of writing, how to support writers at each level, and we will also create some writing of our own! Participants will:

• Gain an understanding of the stages of writing
• Explore the significant features of written language
• Use hands-on methods to learn ways to provide meaningful and purposeful writing experiences in the early childhood classroom

Brandie’s Bio:

Brandie Long was born and raised in Chattanooga, TN. After attending Tennessee State University and graduating with a degree in Early Childhood Education she decided to make Nashville her home. She has worked as a classroom educator teaching children from infants to Pre-K, and beyond. Brandie has also been an education specialist for Tennessee, as well as an instructional coach. For the past 5 years, she has worked for Frog Street where she travels nationally training teachers and continuing classroom instructional coaching. She earned two Masters of Education in 2014.

Christi Gonzales

Celebrate You & Professional Learning Communities Too!

As teachers, we strive to be the best version of our teacher self. We set goals to keep us in check and lead us to self -improvement. There are many aspects to being a teacher, and oftentimes we get overwhelmed and stressed with learning new material and curriculum. Setting goals and being involved in a PLC can help alleviate some of those negative feelings and help lead you to a pathway of positivity and success.

Let’s do you, and PLC too!

Christi’s Bio:

Christi is an accomplished Early Interventionist and Title -1 Pre-K / SPED & High School Sped Teacher with 27 years of experience and a Louisiana Pathways Approved Trainer. In 2016-2017, I received the Louisiana Council for Exceptional Children’s Special Education Teacher of the Year award. I served as Louisiana’s Early Childhood Association State Board District 4 representative for the past 15 years & during that time authored various articles for the LAECA Collaborations Journal. I’m active in Delta Kappa Gamma Teacher’s Society as the 1st Vice President & sponsor the Class of 2023.

Don Monopoli

All Aboard For Early Learning

This fascinating, uplifting musical presentation engages participants in a magical, super-charged sensory explosion that will open up your eyes.Revive and rejuvenate as you explore the tremendous value and benefits of interactive music and movement. You’ll sing, dance, laugh and become more motivated than ever! Get up and move!

Don’s Bio:

Don Monopoli is the leading presenter, song writer, performer and YouTube personality for The Learning Station. Their content is founded upon, “Healthy Music for a Child’s Heart, Body and Mind.” New action, dance & learning videos for kids are uploaded weekly to YouTube. He has written over 500 children’s songs since 1985 and has toured mostly in the U.S. with nearly 5000 presentations since 1986.

Greg Smedley-Warren

Centers Made Simple – DIY

Are you looking for inspiration to create your own DIY center or workstation activities? Look no further! You will learn how to elevate your center activities with every day items. Engage your students during center time with these budged friendly ideas!Learning Objectives: Elevate your center activities with everyday items. Engage your students during center time with these budged friendly ideas!Presentation Goals: 1) Engage teachers with easy to implement center ideas2) Engage teachers with budget friendly center ideas.

Greg’s Bio:

Mr. Greg has been teaching for 16 years. He spent a year teaching fifth grade, two years in second grade and is currently in his 13th year in Kindergarten, which is his calling. He plans to never leave the classroom, as the students are what drive him. He received his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and received his ELL certification from David Lipscomb University. When not in the classroom he enjoys spending time with his family, blogging, creating curriculum and sharing his classroom best practices with teachers via presentations and conferences online and in-person.

Jody Martin

Enhancing STEAM Learning Experiences Through Nature-Based Activities

STEAM learning can happen naturally as children explore, play, and try new things. They learn to recognize problems and find ways to solve them creatively. STEAM activities allow children to use engineering to connect science, technology, the arts, and mathematics while working with classmates on a common goal. This training will provide ideas for creating nature-based experiences to help you inspire young children’s sense of wonder about the natural world around them.

Jody’s Bio:

Jody Martin has over 35 years of extensive and diverse experience in the early childhood field. She is presently the Professional Learning Content Manager and contributing author for the new Frog Street Pre-K curriculum. Jody has authored several teacher resource books that cover health and safety, nature-based activities, and early childhood classroom environments.

LJ Henderson

STEMtastic! Fun Fantastic ways to ignite your program with S.T.E.M

Digging, Dissection and Discovery using Chemical reaction experiments in the classroom to develop language and critical thinking. Make your learning stations come alive with easy to do science experiments. Discover ways to conduct experiments with common household objects to expand students’ imagination, inspire curiosity, and develop thinking skills. Implementing STEM in your ECE program will enhance the development of future Scientists, Technologists, Engineers, and Mathematicians. Join me on a journey to teach kids to Learn, Love, and Lead in STEM.

LJ’s Bio:

DJ Batiste and Jill Molli dynamic presentation will make you feel energized and motivated to welcome the diversity of individuals that walk through your classroom door! DJ and Jill will discuss how to replace control with “connectedness” and domination with “structure” in your classroom. They will share the key ingredient for successful problem-solving classrooms including the adult and child responsibilities needed to make it work.

Mary Jo Huff

Story Play

Storytelling, story-making, story writing, props, music, and puppets create a logical connection for children. Add storyboards as visual literacy and invite children to be part of the world of words. Learn how to present on a storyboard with easy to make and use characters. Add a puppet on your hand, in your pocket, or create a puppet house, and you will challenge the imagination of all children. Mary Jo’s favorite new picture books are ready to be shared, along with activities to complement the adventure.

Mary Jo’s Bio:

Mary Jo is a storyteller, author, song writer and Early Childhood educator. Her work has received a NAPPA gold, iParenting, Parent’s Choice, Dove, Teacher’s Choice, Kid’s First awards, Mom’s Choice and “Storytelling for Kids!” was awarded CD of the year by Creative Child Magazine. Mary Jo travels nationally doing workshops with teachers and librarians. Her school visits for children Pre-K to 5th grades are always filled with language, puppets and music. She has been published by Frog Street, Gryphon House, Monday Morning along with many magazine articles for national publications.

Monica Cordoba

Celebrating Center Time

CENTER TIME!!! Whether you call them Practice Centers, Learning Centers, Free Choice Centers or Play Time…It all comes down to students being in a safe place created for learning through investigation and play. In this session participants will dig deep into what makes an effective Practice Center. We will talk about using Frog Street and other strategies from planning to implementation. We will talk about the steps we must take to create a center where students are able to learn through play while managing themselves and gaining independence. Participants will also discuss the role of teacher’s during center time. We will also touch on other daily components like Small Groups and Meaningful Transitions that happen in conjunction with Practice Centers.

Monica’s Bio:

Monica is as Professional Learning Bilingual Specialist for Frog Street. Her degree of Interdisciplinary Studies is from Texas A&M University and post-grad in Educational Administration. Her early childhood education career includes teaching, coaching, mentoring and becoming a certified Toddler/PreK CLASS observer, all while implementing Frog Street Curriculum. These attributes have allowed her to attribute to the development & facilitation of workshops in all areas of Early Childhood providing educators with effective resources and solutions to provide joyful, successful classrooms.