As the COVID-19 Pandemic Continues, Children Need Us More than Ever
Thank you for attending the 2020 Virtual Kids First National Conference, providing educators, child-serving professionals, non-profit leaders, and families with innovative and transformative strategies to support and engage children during this traumatic time. Attend live or review sessions with on-demand access.
Get Additional Training, Post-conference, with our Digital Learning Platform
We’ve partnered with Olive Group, an international leader in digital training solutions, to provide you with digital training resources built on neuroscience and the latest brain-based learning techniques.
Why You Must Attend
Discover
Strong lineup of educational and child-serving experts showcasing innovative and transformative strategies in the COVID-19 environment
Connect
Interactive sessions and networking events addressing current opportunities and challenges serving children
Flexibility
Never miss out on the keynotes or parallel sessions with the ability to review sessions on-demand at your own pace
Learn
Get the professional development you need, with certificate of attendance for all attendees plus Category I Social Work CEUs
Our keynote and featured speakers are Innovating & Transforming education and leadership!
Keynote Speakers
Robert Jackson
Power of the Educator: Becoming Culturally Aware of Staff and Students
Dr. Joe Sanfelippo
Hacking Leadership: Ways Great Leaders Inspire Learning That Teachers, Students, and Parents Love
Featured Speakers
Frank Kros, MSW, JD
Award Winning Speaker
2019 Maryland Child Advocate of the Year
Transformational Translator
Dr. Jim Ewing
English and Math Strategies for English Language Learners
Shauna King, Ed.S
Author of “School Smart: It’s More Than Just Reading and Writing”
Dr. Steve Parese
Author of “Workin’ It Out” and expert in cognitive interventions for at-risk youth and juvenile offenders
General Session Speaker
Pre-conference Speakers
John Baker
President & CEO
D2L
Phil Cooke
CEO
Cooke Media Group
Mike Mathews
Vice President of Technology & Innovation
Oral Roberts University
Dr. Andrew Ross
President & CEO
The Children’s Guild Alliance
Dr. Trent Grundmeyer
President
Grundmeyer Leader Services
Nina Rees
President & CEO
National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
Gary Kellner, PhD
Chief Mission Advancement Officer
The Children’s Guild Alliance
Themes & Tracks
Leadership*
The Leadership Track is for the leader to leave the conference with a plan to bring about transformation in their organization, school, or school district. This will occur by using the appreciative inquiry process, helping leaders identify their organization’s strengths to determine what they can do more of to move closer to a possible, preferred future.
*Must select this option when you register
Education
Learn how educators can thrive during the COVID-19 pandemic. Collaborate with experts in general and special education on creative ways to engage students and help them succeed!
Families
Learn effective ways to manage the impact of COVID-19 on student achievement, adult and children’s mental health and wellness, and resilience during troubled times.
Juvenile Justice
Hear from leaders in juvenile justice who have fostered transformation to achieve equity, mitigate the impact of trauma experienced by youth and staff, and overcome staff resistance. Those participating in these workshops will be exposed to strategies to prevent the school-to-prison pipeline and to “future proof” your school to make sure it is relevant and engaging.
Mental Health
Mental health providers have had to adapt and innovate to provide services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Workshops will range from examining successful therapeutic interventions to considering broader implications of delivering mental health services today and in the future.
A Must Attend For
- Educators
- School Administrators, Superintendents, & School Board Members
- Child-Serving Professionals
- Non-profit Leaders
- Social Workers & Mental Health Professionals
- Occupational Therapists
- Speech Therapists
- Behavior Specialists
- Juvenile Justice Professionals
- Parents/Guardians, Grandparents, & Foster Parents
- Homeschool Community
Address the Needs of Children During COVID-19
Educators, child-serving professionals, and families have had to confront the challenges of shifting from traditional classrooms to online learning. School leaders grapple with tough issues about how to deliver education in a COVID-19 world. Mental health professionals deliver services online while many community services are limited or unavailable. Residential and juvenile justice facilities continue to focus on the health and well-being of the children, families, and youth they serve while implementing new state restrictions and guidelines around COVID-19.
We must rethink how we meet the needs of students. The current situation demands transformation and innovation.
The inaugural 2020 Virtual Kids First National Conference will provide attendees with innovative strategies that address the needs of the whole child.
Let’s Innovate & Transform
The Virtual Kids First National Conference will equip you to innovate and transform to ensure children thrive and tackle the challenges facing children and families during this unprecedented time. The conference will broaden your knowledge as you learn from a cadre of exciting speakers committed to putting “Kids First” as we explore transformation, innovation, technology, and mental health to address needs of the whole child as education and delivery models continue to adapt and embrace technology in the COVID-19 environment.