FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

PBS NORTH CAROLINA TO HOST IMPACT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SUMMIT AT WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY ON JUNE 7

This year’s summit focuses on family engagement and community leadership.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, 4/15/2025 — PBS North Carolina announces that its fourth annual Impact Early Childhood Education Summit will be held Saturday, June 7, at Winston-Salem State University’s Albert H. Anderson Conference Center. This full-day conference aims to empower educators, childcare providers, parents and caregivers to lay a strong foundation for young learners. Educators can earn professional credit hours for attending. Registration is open now through May 23. 

A key highlight of the Impact Summit is a robust roster of more than 40 breakout sessions that provide engaging content aligned with the theme “Advancing Family Engagement and Leadership Within Our Community.” Sessions explore approaches in areas like building family and community partnerships, literacy foundations, social-emotional learning and protective factors for children, among others. Attendees will leave with deeper knowledge and actionable strategies they can implement in early childhood settings. 

“Family engagement is crucial to academic success, and PBS North Carolina is honored to join education leaders in Winston-Salem and partners from across the state to offer tools and strategies necessary to ensure every child can thrive,” said Kristi Maida, Ph.D., PBS North Carolina’s Director of Education Services. “The knowledge shared at the Impact Summit will not only shape classrooms but also foster a stronger, more engaged community of support for our youngest learners.” 

The Impact Summit is made possible with support from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Child Development and Early Education and from Alice and Britt Preyer. 

“The Impact Summit offers actionable professional development for teachers of young children, strategies for teachers and parents to help children succeed and thrive, and a fun place for fellowship within the community that supports the healthy development of young children,” said Candace Witherspoon, director of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Child Development and Early Education. “North Carolina’s early childhood education teachers—lifelong learners themselves—need this recognition and support now more than ever.” 

In addition to breakout sessions, the Impact Summit will offer networking opportunities and an opening panel discussion with four NC education leaders: Dr. Louis A. Finney Jr., president and CEO of Smart Start of Forsyth County; David Sisk, North Carolina director for National Center for Families Learning; Vivien Stearns, MA, director of Family Services of Forsyth County’s Child Development Division; and Debbie Wilson, executive director of the Centers for Exceptional Children. The conversation will be moderated by Kenia Thompson, host of the PBS NC series Black Issues Forum. 

This year, PBS North Carolina has also partnered with UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG), which will host sessions focused on North Carolina pre-K. 

“UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute is thrilled to partner with PBS North Carolina’s Impact Summit, bringing preschool and NC pre-K educators together for a dynamic day of learning, collaboration and inspiration,” said Sandra L. Soliday Hong, Ph.D., senior research scientist at FPG. “Together, we’ll explore fun and meaningful ways to engage children and families in early literacy, math, social-emotional development and science.” 

Representatives from PBS North Carolina, Winston-Salem State University, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, the Autism Society of North Carolina, Appalachian State University, East Carolina University, Marbles Kid Museum, UNC Charlotte, the North Carolina Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Smart Start, North Carolina Partnership for Children and other organizations will also lead breakout sessions. 

View the Impact Summit’s full schedule, including descriptions and presenters for all breakout sessions, at pbsnc.org/ImpactSummit. 

About PBS North Carolina 

As North Carolina’s statewide PBS network serving the country’s third largest public media market, PBS North Carolina educates, informs, entertains and inspires its audience on air, online and in person. Through its unique partnership of public investment and private support, the network includes in-person engagement, digital-first social and online content delivery and four over-the-air channels: PBS NC, the North Carolina Channel, Rootle 24/7 PBS KIDS channel and the Explorer Channel. Its transformational events and content spark curiosity and wonder for all North Carolinians. Additionally, PBS North Carolina serves as the backbone for North Carolina’s state emergency services. To learn more about PBS North Carolina, visit pbsnc.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

-PBS NC-

Media Contact 
Allyson Meade, Marketing & Communications 
PBS North Carolina 
press@pbsnc.org