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Nebraska Association for the

Education of Young Children, Inc.

Nebraska AEYC Early Childhood Retreat

Mahoney State Park, June 2, 2015

“Strengthening and supporting Nebraska’s early childhood community since 1976.”

www.NebraskaAEYC.org

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Nebraska AEYC 2014 Year in Review • Quality Enhancement Projects

NCFF Rooted in Relationships ~ Pyramid Implementation Project (AR

Subcommittee)

Leadership Academy (formerly NDE QEP Add On)

• 9 center directors, 3 cohorts ~ Lincoln, Grand Island, Columbus

Early Childhood Services QEP

• 10 participants, family child care providers

Infant/Toddler Initiative (partnership with Community Action Partnership of

Lancaster & Saunders Co.)

• 10 classrooms (1 family child care, 9 center classrooms), Lincoln &

Wahoo

• Numerous trainings provided in participating programs and throughout

community

Infant/Toddler Initiative ~ NDE Add On

• 6 center directors focus on program quality improvement, licensing

required trainings, utilized PAS, additional funds for materials and books

for I/T Initiative participating centers

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Nebraska AEYC 2014 Year in Review

• T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® NEBRASKA

Currently – 104 total students

o 72 AA

o 19 BA

o 13 BA Gap

We have seen a significant decrease in the number of students

participating on T.E.A.C.H. recently. This trend is across all funders,

geographic areas, colleges, and scholarship models. Please help us

spread the word that we have scholarships available for early childhood

teachers, teacher assistants, directors, and family child care providers!

• NAEYC National Dialogue & State Staff Leadership Team

Participated in all National Dialogue discussions

Active in State Staff Leadership team, meeting twice a year

Focus now on structure

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Nebraska AEYC 2014 Year in Review

• Tracy & Brandee continued to work on completion of Master’s Degree ~

Completed May 2015!

• ERS ~ Supported NDE State Funded Pre-K programs with ECERS observations,

ERS Nebraska Approval training, and other early childhood training

• Participated in Homeless Connect in Lincoln

• Participated in Give to Lincoln Day

• Participating organization in the Community Services Fund

• Participated in the Combined Federal Campaign

Review of 2014 Goals

Membership

• Membership outreach – utilized Facebook and Constant

Contact to inform/educate and provide information to our

membership

• Quarterly newsletter

• Week of the Young Child outreach

• Involved chapters/affiliates in asking members for input

on important issues at the local, state, and national level

• Awarded the first Linda Zinke Emerging Leader Award

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Review of 2014 Goals

Membership Cont’d

• Utilized First Five Nebraska’s advocacy information to

help inform membership and local and national

lawmakers

• Doane, UNL & SCC have very active faculty that support

student involvement and membership

• Provided advocacy related information to membership

via Facebook and Constant Contact

• Participate on regular NAEYC Membership calls

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Review of 2014 Goals

Advocacy

• Utilized Facebook and Constant Contact to provide

advocacy information to membership

• Creation and implementation of Nebraska Celebrates the

Young Child Advocacy Education Day

• Supported specific legislative bills/attended legislative

hearings

• Collaborated with others on Raising of America launch

event

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Nebraska Celebrates the Young Child

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Nebraska Celebrates the Young Child

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Review of 2014 Goals

Advocacy Cont’d

• Supported Week of the Young Child activities across the

state through distribution of a mini grant to

chapters/affiliates. Posted Week of the Young Child

events on the Nebraska AEYC & NAEYC websites

• Attended Governor’s Proclamation event for WOYC

• Supported and promoted Step Up to Quality

• Created children’s artwork display at State Capitol for

Week of the Young Child/Nebraska Celebrates the

Young Child event

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WOYC Proclamation

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Week of the Young Child Display at the state capitol

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Week of the Young Child

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Week of the Young Child

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Week of the Young Child

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https://animoto.com/play/atzweYrZmdukgY9tEU1B9

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https://animoto.com/play/Xj3DvXuQk06rtc1c1lPdBw

Lincoln AEYC & SCC Student Group WOYC Events

Review of 2014 Goals

Professional Development

• Attended multiple conferences, both locally and

nationally

• Tracy, Cindy & Gina became reliable to the authors in

the FCCERS

• Provided numerous trainings/professional development

opportunities for broader early childhood community

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Retreat sponsored in part by the Nebraska Head Start Association

“Planning is bringing the future to the present so that you can do something about it now!”

~Unknown

Nebraska AEYC Student Recognition

Congratulations to the following students who were

nominated by their college faculty

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Leonore McGuire ~ SCC

Linda Zinke Emerging Leader

Award

Congratulations to Rebecca Dingwell!

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2015 Distinguished Service

to Children Award Congratulations to Linda Zinke!

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Café Conversations

• There are 4 tables, each with a separate conversation

• You are asked to attend all four of the conversations

• Each conversation will last 30 minutes, with a five minute warning to switch

tables

Café Conversation topics:

• Outreach/Communication in E.C. system

• Gaps in E.C. system

• Professional Development

• Defining High Quality

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