ECWC Program

DATE: Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025
TIME: Doors open at 7 a.m.
Conference Kick-Off 8 a.m.
LOCATION: Kingdom Builder’s Center
6011 West Orem, Houston, TX

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Conference Overview

About the Conference
How can early childhood educators integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their classrooms meaningfully and efficiently? That’s the focus of the 39th Annual R.T. Garcia Early Childhood Winter Conference (ECWC) on Jan. 25. While relatively new and consistently evolving, AI can support differentiated instruction, develop emergent reading, writing and language skills and help with classroom schedules and grading workflow. Approximately 500 early childhood educators will gather at the Kingdom Builder’s Center to gain these skills and more.

Additionally, attendees will hear from some of the most thoughtful and skilled education leaders in the field, from
"BIG" author and illustrator Vashti Harrison and founding director of the Charlotte Sharp Children’s Center, Dr. Vicki Gibson, to pediatrician and health communicator Dr. Laura Jana. Back by popular demand are also speakers Mary Jo Huff and Dr. Gilberto Soto, whose sessions will incorporate music, movement, and story-play strategies for young children. LJ Henderson’s session will offer hands-on fun while participants discover how to conduct student-focused experiments using common household objects and author Emily Kate Moon will demonstrate how to break down big scientific concepts – like the water cycle and photosynthesis – into little bits that children can understand.

Hosted by HCDE’s Center for Educator Success (CES), the ECWC offers an educational and enjoyable learning experience. The event will include numerous breakout sessions discussing growth and development, dual-language learners, strategies to enhance early literacy skills, family and adult engagement, mental health and more. 

Don’t forget our social media hashtag: #ECWC2025. We want to hear from you!

Canceled or Full Sessions:
- Last-minute cancelations will be posted outside the session rooms.
- Use this program to decide on a second choice, since some sessions will be full.
- Remember that sitting on the floor in full sessions violates fire codes.
Lunch:
- Lunch will be served continuously from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Gymnatorium
- Lunches are not allowed in session rooms.
Help Desk / Lost and Found:
- Visit the help desk if you have a question, need help or have lost an item.
- Items found during the conference and not claimed will be taken to:
  
  Harris County Department of Education
  6300 Irvington Blvd.
  Houston, TX 77022
  
  Found items will be kept for one week.
Facility Map

Conference Schedule

TIME	EVENT
7 a.m.	The Great Room Registration
8 a.m.	Gymnatorium Opening Session Conference Welcome and Logistics from Andrea Seagraves, Senior Director of CES Assistant Superintendent Message from Dr. CJ Rodgers Message from Ray Garcia AI Demonstration from Mike Powell with School AI Announcing of ECWC Special Awards
8:45 – 9:45 a.m.	Gymnatorium Morning Keynote Speaker: Vashti Harrison Words to Wonder: How Picture Books Ignite Imagination and Learning Exploring the transformative role of children's books and the power of illustrations, Vashti Harrison will discuss her work as a creator of children's books. She will highlight how her illustrations and visual design choices can work together with words to illuminate young minds, spark imagination, and uplift young readers.
10 – 10:50 a.m.	Various Rooms Breakout Session I Find a breakout session using the search tool below
11 – 11:50 a.m.	Various Rooms Breakout Session II Find a breakout session using the search tool below
12 p.m.	Gymnatorium Lunch Vendor Fair (in the hallways)
12:30 – 1:15 p.m.	Gymnatorium Lunch Keynote Speaker: Dr. Laura Jana Early Childhood, AI and You: Setting Young Children Up for Success in an AI World In the context of a globally complex and rapidly changing world largely fueled by technology and AI, this talk draws on Dr. Jana’s broad professional insights as a pediatrician, early educator, health and EdTech advisor and social entrepreneur to offer clear definitions, descriptions and highly relevant examples all helping to answer the simple yet critically important question: What’s AI got to do with early childhood?
1:30 – 2:20 p.m.	Various Rooms Breakout Session III Find a breakout session using the search tool below
2:20 – 2:45 p.m.	Hallways Take a break and visit the vendor fair!
2:45 – 3:30 p.m.	Gymnatorium Afternoon Keynote Speaker: Dr. Vicki Gibson Integrating AI in Classrooms to Develop Early Literacy Foundational Skills This session demonstrates developmentally appropriate methods for using artificial intelligence to enhance classroom teaching and practice and develop children’s early literacy skills for listening comprehension, increasing word knowledge and expressive language, and helping children identify details in print concepts to connect background experiences with new information. Come learn ways to develop emergent reading and writing skills using fun and engaging activities that are age-appropriate and aligned with state standards.
3:30 p.m.	Gymnatorium Closing Session Andrea Seagraves & CJ Rodgers