We’re so excited to be with you in Winston-Salem, united by a commitment to shaping the future of our youngest learners. Early childhood education is more critical than ever, and this summit offers an opportunity for us to come together and grow.
This year’s theme, “Advancing Family Engagement and Leadership Within Our Community,” highlights the importance of building strong connections. With sessions focusing on everything from socialemotional learning to cultural inclusivity, the summit has been designed to share practical tools and strategies to help you make a meaningful impact in your classrooms and beyond.
We’re honored to learn alongside you and strengthen the vital partnerships that help build a brighter future where our youngest learners can thrive.
Warmly,
PBS North Carolina Education Team
Kenia Thompson, host of the PBS NC series Black Issues Forum, moderates a panel discussion with four distinguished education leaders.
Dr. Louis A. Finney Jr. is a U.S. Army veteran and president and CEO of Smart Start of Forsyth County. With over 25 years in early childhood education, he’s raised over $300M, doubled program access and serves 15,000+ children daily. A national leader and Harvard postdoctoral scholar, he champions equity, innovation and justice in education and community development.
“When families lead, communities rise. The Impact Summit is our call to action— to uplift, engage and transform together.”
David Sisk is the NC director for the National Center for Families Learning and leads the NC Statewide Family Engagement Center. He has a bachelor’s degree from App State and an M.Ed. from UNCG. After beginning his career as a dual-language teacher, David taught adult ESL, was an ESL teacher and served the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools as the multilingual learner program director.
“With the right resources, care and opportunities, we can eliminate barriers, create powerful learning experiences and grow stronger communities.”
Vivien Stearns is vice president of the Child Development Program at Family Services of Forsyth County. She has held several leadership roles in Head Start programs throughout South Jersey, Philadelphia and North Carolina. Vivien holds a master’s degree in early childhood education and is known for her collaborative leadership style, commitment to equity and deep understanding of child development.
“It’s a great thing that PBS North Carolina is highlighting early childhood leaders in Forsyth County.”
Debbie Wilson is the executive director of the Centers for Exceptional Children. She recently served as the Chief Impact Officer for United Way of Forsyth County. Wilson holds a master’s degree in organizational management from the University of Phoenix and a BA in economics/business from Hollins University. Wilson currently serves on the Steering Committee for the Forsyth County Pre-K Priority and the Advisory Board for the Partnership for Prosperity.
“The collective early childhood education support system for families and caregivers is essential to meeting the unique needs of every child.”
Dr. Louis A. Finney Jr.
David Sisk
Vivien Stearns
Debbie Wilson
ANDERSON CONFERENCE CENTER LOBBY
Social-Emotional Learning & Holding Hard Conversations with Caregivers
How do you identify a child’s social-emotional needs in the classroom? What are some strategies you can use to help? How can you highlight a child’s strengths while providing families and caregivers with a full picture of a child’s developmental needs? Join us to practice strategies for promoting socialemotional skills and hard conversations with caregivers through case studies and role-playing.
PRESENTER
Kylie Garber, UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute ROOM 235
Strengthening Community Through Family Engagement: A Church-Supported Summer Reading Program for Elementary Students
Explore how a church-supported summer reading program fosters literacy development and family engagement. You’ll learn how asset-based approaches empower students, how to design community-driven literacy initiatives and how faith-based organizations can bridge educational gaps. Participants will gain strategies for program implementation, volunteer coordination and measuring student growth to create meaningful learning experiences.
PRESENTER
Erin K. West, Appalachian State University
Strengthening Families with
the
Five Protective Factors: Connections Matter
Protective factors increase the health and well-being of children and families, and positive connections help develop healthy brains and thriving communities. In this session, we’ll discuss the five protective factors to demonstrate how participants can help strengthen families and explore how the positive connections we make impact the brain’s ability to grow, cope and thrive.
PRESENTERS
LouMecia J. Staton, Positive Childhood Alliance North Carolina
Beth Moore, Positive Childhood Alliance North Carolina
Family Engagement, Family Leadership & Family Literacy: The NC Statewide Family Engagement Center
This session will help participants gain a deeper understanding of the foundational elements, structure and focus of the North Carolina Statewide Family Engagement Center.
PRESENTERS
David Sisk, National Center for Families Learning
Chrissie McGovern, National Center for Families Learning
Mel Pemberton, National Center for Families Learning
Garden Gourmet: Cooking with Kids
When little hands prepare food, they learn kitchen science and math, are more likely to try new things and make connections to culture and where our food comes from. Learn how valuable cooking with kids can be by exploring recipes, kitchen tools and activities.
PRESENTER
Empowering Families Through Literacy: Building Stronger Readers & Communities
Explore how family engagement in literacy can transform a child’s academic success and emotional well-being. Attendees will gain strategies to foster reading skills at home, build family literacy routines and create inclusive, culturally responsive literacy experiences. Participants will leave with practical tools to strengthen family-school partnerships and enhance literacy outcomes for early learners.
PRESENTER
Nicole Fenner, Sister Girl Publishing LLC
The Case for Culturally Affirming Learning Environments
Every child is born with brilliance, yet traditional education systems often fail to nurture Black students’ innate genius. This session explores the Black Genius Elements, a research-backed framework created by Black parents to foster trust, belonging and a love for learning. Participants will gain strategies to build culturally affirming spaces that honor identities and empower students. Join us to reimagine education where every child thrives as their most authentic self.
PRESENTERS
Sharlee Hainesworth, Action4Equity
Roxann Dixon, Village of Wisdom
The Power of Partnership: Families & Teachers Working Together to Address Inclusivity Needs
This session emphasizes the importance of families and teachers collaborating to create an inclusive environment for students with special needs. A parent and a classroom teacher will share their experiences of working together to foster inclusion. Participants will learn how effective collaboration and well-implemented Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) go beyond legal requirements to maximize a child’s educational experience, growth and quality of life.
PRESENTERS
Marilyn Beaver
Catherine Burke, Early Educator Support Office at UNC Charlotte
Matthew Greene
Robin Mangum, Marbles Kids Museum
Helping Families Who Have Children with Disabilities to Thrive
In this session, we’ll discuss the unique needs of families who have children with disabilities and the ways providers can support them. We’ll share how to connect them to resources that will strengthen their families and help their children reach their potential.
PRESENTER
Building Bridges: Partnering with Families for Early Inclusion Success
Strong family partnerships are key to successful early inclusion transitions. Explore strategies for collaborating with families to support children’s smooth transitions into inclusive preschool settings. Attendees will learn communication techniques, culturally responsive practices and practical tools to build trust and engagement. By the end of this session, participants will be equipped to create inclusive, familycentered transition plans that foster long-term success.
PRESENTERS
Chris LeBeau Gentry, The Centers for Exceptional Children
Sabrina Hinton, Winston-Salem State University
Dawn N. Hicks Tafari, Winston-Salem State University
ANDERSON CONFERENCE CENTER LOBBY
Little Mathematicians: Exploring Values in Daily Routines
Young children naturally compare values in their everyday experiences. Help your scholars develop mathematical vocabulary and understanding through play-based experiences. Recognize additional opportunities to expand this foundational knowledge in your day-to-day classroom routines and explore ways to document this growth to share children’s developmental trajectories with families and caregivers.
PRESENTER
Full Spectrum Engagement: Transform Family Partnerships through Cultural Responsiveness & Male Participation
Discover how to expand family engagement beyond traditional approaches with culturally responsive and inclusive strategies. Using insights from a family engagement assessment, an equity audit and a male engagement initiative, this session explores diverse ways to connect with families, with particular consideration for male caregivers. Attendees will gain tools to foster meaningful partnerships, reflect on biases and implement strategies that honor all family structures in educational settings
SoilB4Seed: An Educator-First Approach
Rooted in the belief that you cannot pour from an empty cup, this session explores how healing, empowerment and personal purpose must come before professional development. Through reflective dialogue and community-building activities, we’ll challenge harmful systemic narratives and cultivate a space where educators can reconnect with their “why,” plant seeds of new beliefs and envision a more just and nurturing early education ecosystem—starting with themselves.
PRESENTER
From Involvement to Impact: Transforming Family Engagement in Schools
Discover strategies to transform family involvement into meaningful engagement that fosters child and family success. This session explores best practices for creating inclusive school communities where families feel valued and connected. Attendees will gain practical tools to strengthen partnerships, improve communication and cultivate a sense of belonging, enhancing child growth and development as well as well-being.
PRESENTERS
Tammy Sneed, The Goddard School of Durham
Pallavi Lineberry, The Goddard School of Durham
Sandy Hong, UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute
PRESENTERS
Lesa King Bullins, Smart Start of Forsyth County
Juwon Crowell, Smart Start of Forsyth County
Kezia “Kate” Goodwin, Kate’s Korner Educational Services LLC
Literacy Foundations with Pre-K Families: Activities & Resources
Participants will discuss young children’s language and literacy development and receive family-friendly information and resources, including a family-facing slide deck to share within their communities. Strategy and resources are aligned to the three literacy foundations defined by the National Early Literacy Panel: oral language, phonological awareness and print knowledge.
PRESENTER
Tailoring Success: Crafting Resilient Learners through Personalized Innovation
Explore how innovative practices, personalized instruction, a trauma-informed approach and social-emotional development empower students to rise with resilience and unlock their full potential. Presenters will share how Anderson Academy is working to transform traditional education by creating dynamic, flexible spaces that inspire curiosity, encourage collaborative problem-solving and empower students to become architects of their own educational journey.
PRESENTERS
Rashawn Meekins, Anderson Academy and Crossnore Communities for Children
Brett Loftis, Crossnore Communities for Children
The Literacy Link: Strengthening Pre-K to 3rd-Grade Literacy Through Family & Community Partnerships
This interactive session explores the vital role families and community partnerships play in building early literacy skills from pre-K through third grade. Participants will engage in hands-on activities and discussions that model best practices for fostering literacy development beyond the classroom. The session will highlight strategies for educators, families and community stakeholders to create literacy-rich environments that support early learning and long-term academic success.
PRESENTERS
Tanneshia M. Dukes, Dukes & Associates Consulting Firm
Margo L. Ford Crosby, TLC Consulting Early Childhood Education
ROOM 259B
From Parents to Partners: The Heart of a Child’s Learning Journey
Explore the vital role of transforming parental involvement into true partnership in the educational journey of children. By shifting from a traditional parent role to an engaged, collaborative partnership with educators, families can become powerful allies in a child’s academic, social and emotional development. Attendees will leave with actionable tools to foster lasting connections between parents, teachers and schools to support the success of all students.
PRESENTERS
Ciana Morton, The Christine Avery Learning Center
Alexa Kincaid, The Christine Avery Learning Center
Jessica Fitzgerald, Department of Public Instruction Office of Early Learning
ROOM
ROOM C008
Partnering with Families to Address Challenging Behaviors: We Are All in This Together
When a child uses challenging behaviors at school, parents and teachers need to work together to address the issue. However, when discussing behavior problems, parents often feel blamed by teachers, and teachers often feel unsupported by parents. This session focuses on developing strategies to make these conversations more productive for everyone, especially the child. Participants will learn how to set the stage for and successfully conduct these difficult conversations with parents.
PRESENTER
ROOM C002
Strengthening Early Relationships to Strengthen Communities: Circle of Security Parenting
This interactive presentation will take you on a journey through Circle of Security Parenting (COSP) learning groups with families and early childhood professionals. The COSP program is based on decades of research on attachment and emotional regulation, helping caregivers and educators support young children’s socialemotional development. Discover how you can benefit from these learning groups and integrate COSP principles into your daily interactions with children.
PRESENTERS
Alexis Modebelu, Early Years
Asata Virgo, Learning Together
Melissa Cleary, The Enola Group
ANDERSON CONFERENCE CENTER LOBBY
Engaging All Young Children in Early Science Learning
Explore inclusive science learning for young children through engaging, identityaffirming activities. Learn strategies to foster inclusive opportunities, use free resources for planning and develop an action plan to empower children and families in early science education.
PRESENTER
Jessica Amsbury, UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute
Policy & the Playground: How Family Engagement Drives Positive Change for North Carolina Children
This panel discussion explores how connecting public policy with opportunities for family engagement improves outcomes for children. Learn about the developmental benefits around parent engagement in early education; dive into policies that can create stable and connected learning environments; and discuss how parents, community leaders and organizations can work together to effect state-level change that ensures every child has the opportunity to reach their potential.
PANELISTS
Cindi Williams-Hills, Center of Excellence
David Jackson, Boone Area Chamber of Commerce
MODERATOR
Leanna Martin, NC Child
Building Community Through Play Days: There’s No Better Therapy Than Open-Ended Play, Especially Outside
Experience the Play Mobile, a trailer loaded with traditional play items and a variety of parts that can provide the tools for a Play Day experience. See how other communities and centers have used the Play Mobile or their own play pods to offer Play Days for their students and communities. Gain access to the tools to carry out your own Play Day. Learn the benefits of play, along with community and family engagement. Connect with state resources to support your efforts.
PRESENTERS
Kathy Osborne, North Carolina Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Linda Kinney, North Carolina Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Halee Hartle, First Morning Out Preschool
Callee Boulware, Reach Out and Read
Beyond the Village: Going Wherever It Takes to Provide Support for Our Youngest Members of Society
This session will focus on strategies to communicate with families, community groups and civic and government agencies to advocate for young children. Presentation techniques, examples of resources and an introduction to providing a Family Resource Center will be shared. Learn ways to locate and communicate with stakeholders at all levels. Discover how to shift from playing in the dirt with children to speaking to politicians.
PRESENTER
Linda P. Frederickson, Franklin Granville Vance Smart Start, Inc., and Rootle Ambassador for Granville County
Starting Strong: Tools for Effective Family Engagement & Leadership
Authentic family engagement means working “with” rather than “for” families in a way that honors family members as the experts they are. When families are seen as partners, organizations achieve more effective and sustainable outcomes for children. This training provides leaders with the tools to build strong relationships with families and create authentic family engagement and leadership opportunities.
PRESENTERS
Christina Peterson, North Carolina Partnership for Children
Daphne Alsiyao, North Carolina Partnership for Children
Unlocking Literacy: Practical Ways to Empower Families to Support Developing Readers
This interactive session introduces the K–2 Literacy Development Family Kit, a resource that makes reading support accessible and fun. Using PBS KIDS resources and ClassDojo, we’ll demonstrate how to integrate digital tools, interactive activities and multimedia storytelling to enhance early literacy experiences. Leave with readyto-use tools, actionable strategies and renewed confidence in using PBS KIDS to empower families and foster a lifelong love of reading in their children.
PRESENTERS
Celia Santos, PBS North Carolina
Khalilah Gilmore, PBS North Carolina
Teaching Emotional Regulation & Social Skills Through Tabletop Gaming
Tabletop games are interactive storytelling sessions that use role-playing to help youth develop emotional regulation, social skills and critical thinking skills. Through pretend play, participants navigate challenges, collaborate and make decisions in a supportive setting. Learn how this fosters resilience, problem-solving and empathy while providing a safe space to practice social flourishing strategies.
PRESENTER
Christopher T. Moore, Person County Public Library
ROOM 247
Laying the Foundation: Experiences & Relationships That Promote Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health
Explore components that build infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH) using the “Competency Guidelines for Culturally Responsive, RelationshipFocused Practice Promoting Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health” and “Diversity-Informed Tenets for Work with Infants, Children and Families.” Learn how the North Carolina Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Association is working to create a prepared and supported IECMH workforce.
PRESENTER
Ro Lewis, North Carolina Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Association
Partnering with Families to Build Home Literacy Environments through an Early Literacy System of Care
Book Harvest believes literacy starts at birth, in the home, powered by parents and nourished with books. This session provides an overview of Book Harvest’s Early Literacy System of Care, a unique continuum of programs designed to support the building of literacy-rich home environments and elevate parents as their children’s first teachers. Strategies for family partnership and engagement both at home and in the community will be highlighted and explored.
PRESENTERS
Cheri Coleman, Book Harvest
Jeff Quinn, Book Harvest
ROOM 245
The Power of Family-Friendly Spaces: Driving Engagement & Leadership on Campus
This session will discuss how the Childcare On-campus: Maximizing Parents’ Academic Support and Success (COMPASS) grant-funded program has enhanced family-friendly spaces at East Carolina University, increasing student-parent engagement and leadership. Attendees will gain understanding of the importance of family-friendly spaces on campuses and strategies for how to foster family engagement and leadership among student-parents.
PRESENTER
Brianna Webb, East Carolina University
The Pre-K Priority: A Local Coalition to Improve Pre-K Options for Forsyth County’s 4-Year-Olds
Learn how a local community initiative is working to transform Forsyth County’s pre-K system to make high-quality pre-K available to all families. Explore the collective impact approach used by The Pre-K Priority to sustain a 10-year movement that includes a wide array of stakeholders working in partnership to implement solutions to challenges. Understand how parent/family voices have gained influence in this work and are centered in the coalition.
PRESENTERS
Leslie Mullinix, The Pre-K Priority
Shatoria Whiteside, The Learning Advantage
ROOM 259A
Demystifying the Science of Reading: Understanding the Reading Brain & the Structured Literacy Approach
Explore the scientific frameworks that help shape the “science of reading.” Participants will discover how structured literacy applies the science of reading in the classroom. The instructional principles and elements of structured literacy will be outlined, explained and connected to the Orton-Gillingham approach to reading instruction.
PRESENTER
Garrett Ivey, EPS Learning
ANDERSON CONFERENCE CENTER LOBBY
Reading Ready: Engaging Families in Phonological Growth
Move beyond basic rhyming to support your students in developing phonological awareness skills that transition to early reading skills. Examine the trajectory of skill development, identifying challenging areas for students, ways to adapt instruction to support student individual needs and how to share that information with families and caregivers.
PRESENTER
Heather Aiken, UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute ROOM 238
PBS LearningMedia 101
In this hands-on session, educators will explore PBS LearningMedia through an early learner lens. The resources offer children the opportunity to experience learning in an engaging and interactive way. Participants will leave empowered with new ideas and resources they can use in their classrooms.
PRESENTER
Jason Lineberger, PBS North Carolina
Creating
Your Movement & Dance-Integrated
Science Lesson
STEAM doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Are you looking for an arts-integrated approach to engage your students in learning STEAM? In this interactive session, you’ll gain the strategies and tools to create your own arts-integrated lesson that includes movement and dance. These strategies can help improve academic success. It’s simpler than you think.
PRESENTER
Sesha Jackson-Woodard, Dropping Seeds in Motion
ROOM 235
Transition to Kindergarten: Unpacking the “Let’s Get Ready!” Guide
When caregivers are empowered with developmental knowledge and strategies to support young children, they can help them transition to kindergarten. The “Let’s Get Ready!” Guide provides family-friendly resources on ageappropriate developmental skills, support tips and at-home activities. “Let’s Get Ready!” is based on the older preschooler developmental indicators from the NC Foundations for Early Learning and Development and addresses all five developmental domains.
PRESENTERS
Donna Albaugh, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
April Patterson, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
Nurturing Positive Childhoods: Ways to Engage Families, Build Protective Factors & Increase Resilience
Explore the role of Family Resource Centers and learn how to effectively connect families with vital community resources. We’ll dive into the five protective factors that support families in navigating stress, adversity and trauma and discover practical strategies to foster resilience. Attendees will leave with concrete tools to engage families in meaningful, supportive ways.
PRESENTER
Andrea Clark, Positive Childhood Alliance North Carolina
ROOM C002
Aprendiendo de tu mano (Learning from Your Hands)
This workshop aims to recognize and celebrate the strengths and experiences that families bring to early literacy. Through playful interactions, parents and children will engage in activities that foster early literacy skills in an enjoyable and meaningful way.
PRESENTER
Sussy Borrego, Charlotte Bilingual Preschool
Routine, Rhythm, & Relaxation: Music Rituals in the Home & Classroom to Ease Transitions & Boost Connection
Do your children struggle with everyday tasks, like school drop-off, cleaning up and naptime? Join us to learn how to effectively implement music-based rituals to help ease transitions, promote calm, set clear expectations and enhance connection. We’ll explore how the brain triggers “shutdown” mode, why music can shift that response more effectively than other strategies and how to lead music-based routines that reduce stress and enhance social-emotional development.
PRESENTER
Deanna Bucci, Kindermusik International
235
Beyond the Pages: Using Books to Foster Identity, Cultural Pride & Health in Children
Discover how diverse books can empower children by reflecting their identities and cultures. Attendees will explore research on representation’s impact, learn strategies to advance family engagement with book interactions and identify community partnership opportunities. An interactive book review will provide practical recommendations for participants. Leave with actionable insights to ensure every child sees themselves in the stories they read.
PRESENTERS
Stephanie Martinez-Ramirez, Reach Out and Read Anna Brothers, Reach Out and Read
Family Engagement: How to Stay a Safe Space
Family engagement involves fostering engaging and sustainable relationships. Attendees will learn about barriers that can prevent effective engagement and best practices for supporting diverse families of young children.
PRESENTERS
Nicole Harris, Autism Society of North Carolina
Felicia Williams Brown, Autism Society of North Carolina
Let’s Get Messy! How to Facilitate Process-Based Art in Early Childhood Education Classrooms
Discover what process-based art is and how to facilitate it in your classroom. Learn about relevant research, writing development and the benefits of process-based art, plus engage in your own experience of process-based art.
PRESENTER
Laekan Holzworth, Smart Start of Yadkin County
ROOTLE AMBASSADORS
Alamance County Michelle Howe
Alexander County Donny Elder Alleghany County ............................ Jenn Marlow
Anson County Elizabeth Rizzo
Ashe County Sara Kesterson
Avery County .............................. Meredith Hayes
Beaufort County Jennifer Walker
Bertie County April Swain
Bladen County ............................. Carra Osborne
Brunswick County ................ Jonathan Hartman
Cabarrus County Emory Rice
Caldwell County Julie Overby
Camden County .............................. Melba Smith
Carteret County Juliet Rogers
Caswell County Dr. Hilary Moore
Catawba County .......................... La’Gentry Ross
Chatham County Sheen Klaus
Chowan County MeShawn Hall
Clay County .................................. Bridget Wilson
Cleveland County ........................... April McClain
Columbus County Jennifer Stringfield
Craven County Sandra Plata-Potter
Cumberland County .................. Yolanda Barnes
Currituck County Ashleigh Arsenault
Dare County Carla Heppert
Davidson County ...................... Andrea Coffman
Davie County Allison Gupton
Duplin County Amanda Sanderson
Durham County ......................... Steven Harrison
Durham County Sesha Woodard
Edgecombe County Jackie Kearney
Franklin County ...................... Dr. Amanda Lewis
Gaston County ................................. René Crump
Gates County Mary Ann Bunch
Granville County Dr. Linda Frederickson
Greene County Yuvonka Davis
Guilford County ................................. Alexis Scott
Halifax County LaTarsha Debro
Harnett County Brandy Powers
Henderson County .................... Whitney Crouse
Hertford County Elisabeth Grimes
Hoke County Annette Fernandez
Hyde County ............................... Sarah Crawford
Iredell County ................................ Sydney Taylor
Jackson County Jody Miller
Johnston County Dr. Faith Jackson
Jones County ............................... Tracy Campbell
Lee County Jessica Horton
Lenoir County Jennelle Lewis*
Lincoln County .................................. Brandi Kent
Macon County Melchor Gamez Correa
Madison County Penny Spencer Briggs
Martin County .......................................... Jill Toler
McDowell County ....................... Chastity Gouge
Mecklenburg County Erica Reid
Montgomery County Monette Ayers
Moore County ........................................ Julie Pitts
Nash County Lena Jackson
New Hanover County Yolanda House
Northampton County .... Dr. Stacey Henderson
Onslow County Bethany Esau
Orange County Amanda Snow Bulgarelli
Pamlico County ........................ Michelle Shields
Pasquotank County Faith Mosley
Pender County Porchia Wilson
Perquimans County .................... Jenna Caldwell
Person County ...................... Christopher Moore
Pitt County Deirdre Ingram
Polk County Sonya Twitty
Randolph County ......................... Lisa Hayworth
Richmond County Katrina Chance
Robeson County Dr. Connie Locklear
Rockingham County ................... Latasha Dalton
Rowan County Ermalyn Jaeck
Rutherford County Denise Strickland
Sampson County ........................ Cory Kinnaman
Scotland County Jenna Maley
Stanly County Taler Miranda
Stokes County .................................... Shanda Cox
Surry County ...........................Caroline Freeman
Transylvania County Chelsea Stewart
Tyrrell County Brenda Drake Union County ......................... Megan Humphrey
Vance County Arial Williams
Wake County Portia Bright Pittman
Warren County ................... Linda Reid Pitchford
Washington County Sherri Blount-Gilliam Watauga County Jenna Kissel Wayne County ................................ Tameka Allen Wilkes County
Juleigh Shore
Wilson County Krista Keith Yadkin County .............. Robin Lockhart-Jackson Yancey County ................. Amber Westall Briggs
* PBS Early Learning Champion
SPECIALISTS
Education Specialists
James Sebastian Byers
Khalilah Gilmore*
Kimberly Jones
Jason Lineberger*
LaToya McCrimmon
Celia Santos*
Angela Wilson
* Presenting a Breakout Session
Engagement Specialists
Alana Andreyko
Andrea Ausby
Stacy Henderson
Krista Keith
Jennelle Lewis
