PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

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PACT Professional Development Days (PDD) for the 2024-2025 School Year

Fall 2024- Virtual- Completed

Spring Professional Developmental Day: Thursday, March 27 8:45am-12:45pm 

PACT is pleased to offer an in-person workshop this Spring 2025.  

" Creating Experiential Curriculum for Young Children: Play, Joy, Explore, Grow!" by Jacky Howell 

The workshop will be held at Providence Presbyterian Church located at 9019 Little River Turnpike
Fairfax, VA 22031. 

Schedule of Events: 

8:45 Registration and Hospitality Tables Open 

9:25 PACT Business Meeting 

9:30 Workshop begins 

11:00 Break 

11:15 Workshop resumes 

12:45 Workshop ends 

Workshop Description:  

This workshop is designed for early childhood educators, caregivers, and curriculum developers who seek to create rich, engaging, and joyful learning experiences for preschoolers through real experiences. The focus is on designing an experiential curriculum that emphasizes play, exploration, and hands-on learning as opposed to precut activities. By immersing children in real-world activities, educators will discover how to foster creativity, critical thinking, and emotional growth in young learners. Through this approach, children will grow in all areas of development and also experience the joy and excitement of learning through meaningful, interactive engagement with each other and the world. The workshop will emphasize how an experiential curriculum nurtures curiosity, promotes self-expression, and supports emotional well-being in young children. Educators will leave with many ideas to grow their classrooms into vibrant, joyful learning environments that inspire children to explore and learn with enthusiasm through meaningful experiences. 

COK hours: Child Development 1.5, Curriculum/1.5  

Presenters' Biography 

Jacky Howell , MA has over 50 years of experience as an early childhood teacher, consultant, coach, and administrator. In addition, she has over 30 years’ experience as a course instructor and presenter on topics related to early childhood development and curriculum. She is a published author with 2 books, Rituals and Traditions: Fostering a Sense of Community in Preschool and in April 2024, Reflection, Perspective-Taking, and Social Justice: Stories of Empathy and Kindness in the Early Childhood Classroom. She has published many articles in early education journals. She received her master's degree in human development from Pacific Oaks College. Currently she is a consultant, coach, mentor, and presenter with her own business, Azspire LLC and works with a variety of programs in the DC Metro Area as well as across the country. She has done webinars, workshops and presentations locally and nationally. Jacky believes strongly that all 

children deserve the highest quality early childhood experience and strives to work with others in creating places worthy of young children, families, and staff. Her website is https://www.azspire.com/. 

Credit Hours and Core of Knowledge Area 

Members who attend the full session 8:45am-12:45pm this Spring 2025 will receive 3 Core of Knowledge credit hours. COK hours: Child Development 1.5, Curriculum/1.5  

Registration 

Registration and payment can be completed HERE.  Please sign up individually to ensure your email is recorded. Registration should be submitted by Friday, March 21.  

Current Members (dues paid for the 2024-2025 school year): There is no additional fee to attend this spring’s professional development day. You are still required to complete the registration using the link above. 

New and Returning Members: There will be a $40 fee to attend this spring’s professional developmental day. You must complete the registration using the link above and pay the $40 fee. By completing the Spring PDD registration, you are also receiving a membership to PACT for the remainder of this school year.  

Assessments and Evaluations 

Members will be asked to complete a content assessment and presenter evaluation via a Google form. QR codes for the assessment and survey will be provided at the conclusion of the workshop. For those of you who prefer to do the assessment and evaluation at home, links will be emailed in the evening. **Requirements by MSDE also stipulate members from MD must pass the assessment with a score of 70% or higher. 

Certificates 

In accordance with MSDE regulations, participants MUST attend the full three-hour presentation and complete a content assessment along with a presenter evaluation before receiving their certificate. Personalized certificates will be emailed to participants within 7-10 business days. 

Interested in Being a Presenter?

Trainers who would like to present a workshop at a future PACT Professional Development Day, please contact Bernadine Occhiuzzo and Doreen Bunten