This year marks the twelfth annual Spring Conference in Early Childhood Education held by the School of Education at Sonoma State University. The conference attracts 650 participants each year and offers more than 60 as well as a keynote address by a prominent person in the education of young children. In addition to preschool and infant care professionals, the conference is open to primary grade teachers and administrators, and offers a strand of workshops particularly for teachers of children age five to nine.
The conference is on Saturday, April 24 beginning with an opening session at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 4:30 p.m. Exhibits will be open all day at the Stevenson Hall Quad. Speakers include conference chair Dr. Patricia Nourot, Dean of the School of Education Dr. Phyllis Fernlund and keynote speaker, teacher and author Janet Gonzalez Mesa. The cost of the conference is $25, including lunch and morning coffee.
Originally funded through community donations and volunteers, the conference is now self-sustaining, staffed by volunteer students and faculty and offering scholarship opportunities for at least 10 participants each year. The conference draws more than 20 exhibitors who each contribute a sample of their wares for an auction. This auction is conducted by the Parent Advisory Board of the SSU Children's School during the lemonade social at the end of the day, and proceeds go to the Children's School.
A parking fee of $1.50 (six quarters) is required in all lots , Monday-Thursday, until 10 p.m., Friday until 5 p.m. Reserved parking by permit only. For more information, contact Patricia Nourot at (707) 664-2628.
