MEDIA RELEASE

“Creating a Community of Learners” is the theme for the Fifth Annual Hawaii Island Early Childhood Conference, set for Friday, April 27, and Saturday, April 28, at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa on the Kohala Coast.

The conference is open to anyone who works in or has an interest in the field of early childhood education.

Organized by Baby STEPS to Stronger Big Island Families, the conference includes an evening (Friday, April 27) with Dr. Kristie Kauerz, EdD, who will give a presentation on “P-3: Thinking and Working Across Early Childhood Education and the Early Grades.”

Kauerz will provide an overview of how P-3 works in districts and communities around the nation. The P-3 effort is currently being applied in two areas of the Island of Hawaii – North Hawaii and Puna/Keaau.

On Saturday, April 28, conference participants will be offered a choice of working sessions starting at 8 a.m. and ending at 4:30 p.m. Terry Lock, the governor’s early childhood coordinator, will speak at lunch on the statewide work that is happening around early childhood education.

Costs to attend the conference days are:

* $40 for the Friday, April 27, 6 to 9 p.m., with Dr. Kauerz (includes light buffet)
* $55 for Saturday, April 28, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (includes continental breakfast and buffet luncheon)

For more information on workshop topics, registration fees, room rates at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott and to
register for the conference, visit www.babystepshawaii.org

Baby STEPS to Stronger Big Island Families, a program of Friends of the Future, is an initiative created by individuals and organizations committed to helping all keiki on Hawaii Island to be healthy, happy and to thrive by supporting families, strengthening practitioners and engaging communities.

For information on Baby STEPS to Stronger Big Island Families, call Angela Thomas at 887-1228.