FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PBS NORTH CAROLINA TO HOST ITS IMPACT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SUMMIT
ON SATURDAY, JUNE 1
This year’s theme is “Honoring and Supporting the Whole Child.”
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, 5/1/2024 — PBS North Carolina announces that its third annual Impact Early Childhood Education Summit will be held Saturday, June 1, at East Carolina University (ECU) in Greenville. This full-day conference welcomes educators, childcare providers, parents and caregivers from across the state for inspiring sessions in areas like literacy, STEM and social-emotional learning. Educators can earn professional credit hours for attending. Registration is open through May 10.
The Impact Summit is designed to support and celebrate those who nurture learners in their pivotal early years (birth to grade three). Attendees will experience a robust agenda of presentations and networking opportunities. They can choose from dozens of breakout sessions on a range of topics, including PBS LearningMedia, literacy, nature play, mental health, arts integration, family engagement and more.
“The Impact Summit brings together all those who honor and support young children and their caregivers,” states Kristi Maida, Ph.D., PBS North Carolina’s Director of Education Services. “PBS North Carolina Education is excited to offer them the opportunity to learn a new strategy, find resources and connect with peers and allies from across the state or within their own community. This is a challenging time for early childhood educators, childcare professionals and caregivers, and we’re here for them as a part of their network of support.”
Keynote speaker Kezia “Kate” Goodwin, founder of Truth Education Foundation and CEO of Kate’s Korner Learning Center in Durham, will kick off the summit. Kate’s Korner Empowerment Model has earned her national acclaim, recognizing her as an authority in early childhood education restoration. She has also contributed her insights on addressing disparities within early education to the Biden-Harris administration.
The Impact Summit will be held this year at ECU’s Main Campus Student Center in Greenville. PBS North Carolina has previously hosted the event at UNC Charlotte and Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College.
“I’m very excited about this event being at ECU this year,” says PBS North Carolina’s Kristi Maida. “Our Greenville neighbors are proud, and they should be, as they’re meeting the needs of their community through amazing child- and family-centered learning opportunities. We’re ready to hand the mic over to our presenters and speakers as they share information about the rich resources available in eastern NC.”
“ECU’s Department of Human Development and Family Science is thrilled that the Impact Summit is being held on our campus this year,” says Susannah Berry, Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Assessment, College of Health and Human Performance. “Our commitment to supporting early childhood education across the state is strengthened by this opportunity of high-quality professional development in eastern North Carolina.”
Representatives from PBS North Carolina, ECU, UNC Chapel Hill, UNC Charlotte, UNC Pembroke, the NC Zoo, the NC Department of Health and Human Services, Smart Start and NC Partnership for Children and other organizations will lead breakout sessions. Some session highlights include:
In recognition of the Impact Summit’s efforts to support teacher professional learning, PBS North Carolina received a Public Media Award from NETA (National Educational Telecommunications Association) in 2022.
“As an early childhood educator for 33 years, I cannot begin to describe the level of excitement I have for the Impact Summit,” shares Tawni S. Mosley, director of the Nancy W. Darden Child Development Center at ECU. “Being able to gather with other educators who share my passion is not only priceless but necessary in these ever-changing days. The Impact Summit to me is the start of something big. Let’s do this and change the world for the better, one little person at a time!”
View the full schedule, including descriptions and presenters for all breakout sessions, at pbsnc.org/ImpactSummit.
The Impact Early Childhood Education Summit is made possible with support from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Child Development and Early Education, The William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust, The F.M. Kirby Foundation, ECU Health Maynard Children’s Hospital and from Alice and Britt Preyer.
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