Ulster BOCES is proud to be a co-sponsor of the Mid-Hudson Valley Leadership Day (MHVLD) conference. This event is dedicated to both educating and inspiring early childhood professionals, including directors, owners, and administrators of daycare centers. The event will be held at the Venue Uptown (Best Western Plus) in Kingston on May 12 from 8 AM - 3:30 PM. The event is also sponsored by Child Care Connections of Family of Woodstock and Community Playthings.

Carol Garboden Murray, the author of Illuminating Care: The Pedagogy and Practice of Care, will deliver the keynote speech. The event will also feature Rosemarie Lawton, Director of Professional Development at the Child Care Council of Orange County, Inc. They will be joined by other highly acclaimed early childhood education experts, who will share their industry knowledge and expertise. Topics covered will include the principles of childhood development, the development of child day care programs, business maintenance and management, safety and security procedures, nutrition and health needs, adverse childhood experiences (with a focus on understanding trauma), and nurturing resiliency.

“After three years of postponing the Mid-Hudson Valley Leadership Day conference, we are excited to bring our early childhood educators back together to celebrate all we do for our youngest children and the families of our communities,” says Kerry L. Wolfeil, team leader of Child Care Services at Family of Woodstock, Inc. “While in the midst of a child care crisis, it is so important for our educators to be appreciated for the amazing work being done and to bring excitement back to their staff and programs. Our presenters will be offering some amazing topics to remind us of the reasons why they are in the field and to renew their passion.”

Young professionals from the Ulster BOCES Early Childhood/Educational Studies and Pre-University/New Visions Education program will provide hands-on support at the event. Working collaboratively with their teachers and other event co-sponsors will not only provide them with valuable, real-world experience that they can then apply to their future careers, but also expose them to the content being presented by the experts, deepening their knowledge of their field. Participation also supports one of our core educational commitments at the Career & Technical Center – fostering ways to contribute to the community. We believe that community means helping others through communication, engagement, connections, learning, caring, a safe environment, trust, and celebration of our diversity, all of which is supported by participation in MHVLD. 

Ulster BOCES Career & Technical Center frequently implements cross-curricular projects to expose young professionals to a variety of career disciplines and to demonstrate how vital a skill collaboration is for the world of work. Young professionals from Criminal Justice will be on hand to assist with parking and directions for the visitors.

In addition to gaining inspiration, and having access to a variety of networking and professional development opportunities, attendees can participate in a raffle that will help supply local families with diapers. All proceeds from the conference will go towards expenses for the 2024 Mid-Hudson Valley Leadership Day conference and to support Family of Woodstock’s Child Care Connections program.

The price of admission is $95; however, tickets purchased before April 3rd are only $80. Student tickets are $60 with legible student IDs. Download a registration form for the Mid-Hudson Valley Leadership Day at https://bit.ly/3K3BED5. For more information, contact Kerry Wolfeil by emailing kwolfeil@familyofwoodstockinc.org, or by calling 845-331-7080 ext. 134.

BACKGROUND

About the keynote: Carol Garboden Murray is an early childhood teacher, director, mentor, and writer. She is the author of Illuminating Care: The Pedagogy and Practice of Care in Early Childhood Communities, which was published with Exchange Press in 2021. The founder of the Early Childhood Institute of the Hudson River Valley, she was formerly the educational director of the Abigail Lundquist Botstein Nursery School at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. She is currently the executive dIrector of the WImpfheimer Laboratory Nursery School at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie. 

Illuminating Care: The Pedagogy and Practice of Care in Early Childhood Communities is a powerful exploration of caregiving as a vital component of education and child development and a crucial building block of human community and society. Murray’s presentation will invite educators and caregivers to experience the strength and value of their care for young children, the artistry and integrity of it, in the routines of daily life.

Murray holds a master’s degree in special education and early childhood development. She has worked with young children and families for many years as a teacher and program director, and resides in the New Paltz/Kingston area.