As children, parents and educators throughout the Kansas City region get ready for the upcoming school year, early childhood teachers and staff at the Mid-America Regional Council’s Head Start program — along with their service providers — are also busy preparing.
On Aug. 11, 170 new and returning teachers, family advocates, home-based staff, principals, coordinators, coaches and content managers gathered at the Adams Point Conference Center in Blue Springs, Missouri, for Head Start Preservice. The annual training is a day of learning and inspiration as staff prepare for the upcoming year of teaching and caring for the youngest children in our community. Attendees also learned how to lead following the Head Start Program Performance Standards.
“This was our highest attended preservice since the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Tamara Graves, MARC mental health/disability manager. “We had a lot of new teachers this year. Some were not new to Head Start, but were new to their program. It sets the tone for the year; a chance for new staff to feel included and for the majority of the providers to be together.”
The theme for this year’s preconference was to continue celebrating 60 years of Head Start.
“David Warm, MARC executive director, gave a great opening, pointing out the importance of Head Start and early childhood teachers,” Graves said. “The opening keynote by Dr. Barbara Sorrels was a compelling message about the impacts of technology and children.”
The day-long training included sessions on developmental expectations, working with minimally verbal children, child abuse and neglect awareness, learning through play, active supervision of children, sensory support in early childhood environments, infusing joy and purpose as an early childhood professional, and bridging the divide into communities and families’ lives.
The day ended with the closing keynote from DeWayne “DJ” Batiste. He is a motivational speaker and relationship advocate. Batiste is known for his story of being kicked out of Head Start at age 4. He was also a former gang member in high school, but ultimately became a high school graduate thanks to the connection with one teacher who helped him change the course of his life. Batiste discussed his life and the impact conscious discipline has had on him. His keynote, “It ALL Starts with Composure! Composure Changed My Life!” received a standing ovation at the closing of the MARC Head Start Preservice.
