2022 Summit
Champion of Children Award
Barbara Saunders-Sims earned the Champion for Children award for 2022. The Champion for Childhood Award recognizes individuals who have positively impacted the lives of children and families in our communities.
Barbara owns Storybook Village in Pentwater, MI. Storybook Village is more than a bookstore, it is an imagination destination where children are encouraged to play, explore and let their imaginations expand. She is extremely passionate about early childhood and showcases award-winning books, puppets, musical instruments, and interactive toys that engage children of all ages in imaginative play. Barbara understands the importance of early childhood education and she is always finding ways to make a difference.
The 2022 Early Childhood Summit took place on September 23-24 virtually through West Shore Community College. The 7th annual Summit included pre-recorded and live guest speakers virtually. Our summit honored local early childhood leaders, including Barbara Saunders-Sims who received the 2022 Champion for Childhood Award. Friday and Saturday were filled with interactive keynote addresses, breakout sessions, panel discussions, and networking opportunities with face-to-face interactions.
Keynote Speakers
Lisa Daly
Lisa Daly is passionate about transforming early learning to deepen meaningful experiences and connections, innovation, creativity, and reflection. Her professional work is centered around collaborating with educators to shift teaching approaches and transform learning environments to support children’s identities, inquiry, and engagement. Lisa is a professor of early childhood education at Folsom Lake College, child and family advocate, author, consultant, and presenter. She has co-authored Early Learning Theories Made Visible, Loose Parts: Inspiring Play in Young Children, Loose Parts 2: Inspiring Play in Infants and Toddlers, and Loose Parts 3: Creating Culturally Sustainable Environments with Redleaf Press.
See Lisa’s website: https://www.transformingearlylearning.org/
Break Out Session
MICHELLE BURKHARD
Michelle Burkhard is Owner of Grow By 1; a business built to serve and increase clients’ ability to lead themselves and others well. She received a B.S. degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Central Michigan University. She is a current student in the PhD program in Education through Walden University. Her area of focus is Assessment, Evaluation, & Accountability. She has been active in the area of early childhood for over 20 years, both in and out of the classroom, and has been a frequent speaker and trainer around the state of Michigan. Her clients span several fields of study within multiple different states and, just recently, the international arena. Her passion for seeing others reach their own personal and professional goals fuels her work as a coach. Her current PhD research involves the study of how coaching influences the program quality of early childhood environments. When not studying or serving others, she enjoys actively engaging at home with her husband Josh of 15 years, and her three children, Josiah, Hannah, and Elly.
Attendees
Participants included childcare providers, preschool teachers, early interventionists, home visitors, and parents. There was an average number of 190 participants for the event representing 11 Michigan counties. The cost of attendance for 190 participants was offered free virtually & face-to-face sessions.
Breakout Sessions - Pre-recorded
Thank you to the following sponsors!