What a beautiful day: Brevard Early Learning Coalition hosts 'Sesame Street' actress
Brevard Early Learning Coalition's annual conference is shaping up to be a beautiful day, with a former "Sesame Street" actress, children's authors, educators and more set to speak to teachers and child care providers from around the Space Coast.
"This is our best year yet," said Laura Gambino, CEO of Brevard Early Learning Coalition, adding that it's only their second year back since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The schedule is packed with exciting learning opportunities for educators, from speeches by "Sesame Street" actress and author Sonia Manzano and children's author Kimberly Johnson to presentations that incorporate music and play into teaching.
And there's an extra last-minute surprise, Gambino said: Florida's chancellor of early learning, Cari Miller, will be joining them.
What's the conference about?
Every year, Brevard's Early Learning Coalition holds a conference for teachers and child care providers around the county. This year's conference, with a colorful '90s theme, will focus on rejuvenating teachers, cultural inclusion and the significance of play.
"It really is our annual day of celebration for our providers, all of our child care providers," Gambino said. "It's (about) learning, it's sharing new ideas (and) some professional development."
The conference, which will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 28 at the Hilton Rialto in Melbourne, is an opportunity for educators to spend time together in ways they might not normally get to, Gambino said. That's her favorite part of the event.
"They don't get to get together a lot, because they're always just in the classroom," she said. "I like it when they all come together, because they don't get to see each other often. So the energy that gets generated when they're all together is kind of cool."
Conference attendees will also be provided with lunch, and community partners and vendors will be there throughout the day. Tickets were already sold out by Wednesday, with 200 people set to attend.
Speakers to include Sonia Manzano and more
Manzano, known best for her role as Maria on "Sesame Street," is one of a handful of speakers from a variety of backgrounds. Brevard ELC is excited to host her because of their longtime partnership with "Sesame Street" and her cultural background as a first-generation American of Latino descent.
Aubree Williams, communications specialist at Brevard ELC, brought up Manzano's 2022 children's book "Coming Up Cuban: Rising Past Castro's Shadow" and how it can teach kids about the intersections of race and class during the Cuban revolution.
"She is an activist, she is an advocate for the Latin community," Williams said. "It is so important to get our teachers in front of individuals that are advocates, that are representing what the children are seeing in their homes."
Another key speaker will be Johnson, a children's author, educator and advocate for diversity and inclusion. She and Manzano were chosen by a department of Brevard's ELC that focuses on strengthening providers, their services and their community.
"We have got a whole breadth of individuals that are in ... the early learning world, and both of these (people) have both been committed to not just the early education piece, but also diversification, diversity, inclusion in the early learning environment ..." Gambino said.
"Our teachers are supporting cultural differences and supporting inclusionary practices, social, emotional, behavioral stuff."
The conference will include a whole host of other speakers and presenters, including principal and student counselor for Florida Virtual School Sumia Elhuni; counselor at Department of Children and Families Services Tifanni Brown; fitness program creator Rebekah Coates; violinist Charlotte Goodman and more.
Finch Walker is the education reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Walker at [email protected]. X: @_finchwalker.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Brevard conference on early learning will host 'Sesame Street' actress