Mark your calendar. The annual conference of the Massachusetts Head State Association is later this month.

The details for this year’s conference – “A Vision for Early Education: Advocacy, Leadership, and Reflection” – are:

Tuesday, October 22, 2019
9 am – 4 pm
Devens Common Center
31 Andrews Parkway
Devens, Massachusetts

“The conference focuses on tangible tools that the early education workforce can use to help move our field forward,” Michelle Haimowitz the executive director of the association says.

“The conference will offer high-quality workshops on effective advocacy skills, leadership through change for individuals at any level of management or direct service, and reflective practice.

“Anyone can register at www.massheadstart.org/upcoming-events.”

The conference’s keynote speech will be delivered by Samantha Aigner-Treworgy, the new commissioner of the Department of Early Education and Care.

The workshop on advocacy will feature Nancy Scannell and Courtney Chelo, both from the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, as well as Khushbu Webber, from the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley.

Kristen Hayes, a management consultant for Head Start administrators, will be featured in the workshop on leadership.

And Jayne Singer, a psychologist at Boston Children’s Hospital, will lead a session on reflection.

This year’s conference promises to be a dynamic opportunity for professional collaboration, which is a key part of the association’s work of bringing Head Start educators and families together so that they can “advocate for excellence; form partnerships with the community at large; share information; and support one another thus providing leadership and opportunities to impact services to families.”

To learn more, check out the association’s 2018 Annual Report.

And be sure to register for the conference. Collaborative advocacy is essential for improving the future of early education and the future of children.