We’re passionate about early childhood education and development at Conscious Discipline and the commitment the National Head Start Association has to families and children in need. If you’ve been with us long enough- we know you are, too. 2025 is packed full of events, workshops, conferences and professional development opportunities designed to inform, encourage and equip educators, parents and administrators in Head Start and Early Head Start Programs across the nation.
Whether you’re a Education Manager, Family Engagement Manager, Mental Health/Disabilities Manager, Head Start Director or Executive Director looking for solutions for teacher retention, climate and culture, child behavior and achievement, strategies for family engagement or simply to gain fresh inspiration and build a supportive network of like-minded peers, there is an event waiting just for you.
1: Head Start with Heart: Becoming a More Conscious Leader in Head Start: March 25-26, 2025 | Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Early childhood education leaders in Head Start Programs help teachers and staff lay the foundational groundwork for a student’s lifetime. For as much as they pour out at the organizational level for the lives of the staff and children in their care, they deserve to receive equal amounts of support and resources that promote lasting change and overall wellbeing.
Over the course of this two day workshop, discover strategies that encourage emotional intelligence and clear communication, improve teacher retention, and cultivate an united early childhood education team. Through the life-changing knowledge of the Brain States you will have the opportunity to practice direct applications for MTSS strategies, explore how to take the School Family to the next level and develop implementation plans to use immediately upon return. Leave with the tools to foster an environment built on trust that leads to a healthy, sustainable school culture.
Highlights Include:
- Establishing a School Family with adults first, creating a connected team built on safety, belonging and trust.
- Identifying the Brain States and apply that knowledge to strategies that support MTSS.
- Developing a framework for using the 7 Powers and Skills as a leader at the organizational level.
- Implementing a system-wide plan unique to Head Start for starting, sharing, and spreading Conscious Discipline.
- Improving climate and culture through a focus on emotional intelligence, effective communication and the development of a positive community.
- Reducing burnout and increase retention through tools used to promote emotional self-regulation in all circumstances.
Head Start works tirelessly to provide opportunities for success in the lives of our nation’s systemically underserved children and families. They believe it is vital to gather every year to refresh the commitment to Head Start’s mission, and discuss the latest developments, innovations, and obstacles in early childhood.
Highlights Include:
- The Scholarships and Awards: Celebrate talented and innovative Head Start and Early Head Start staff, parents, and programs
- The Exhibit Hall Grand Opening Reception
- Vendors and service providers for Head Start
- AfterGlow Lounge: Step out and dance with friends and colleagues
- Alumni After Happy Hour – Ticketed Event
Did you attend Head Start as a child? Join fellow Head Start alumni for a meet-up.
Early education programs all across the country need innovative and dedicated leadership; Head Start is no exception. The Leadership Education and Development Summit (LEADS) enhances early education’s innovative best practices and skills.
A virtual conference offering, LEADS features a format to enhance the benefits of remote learning. In addition to a daily opening and closing keynote, every breakout time slot will feature three concurrent breakout sessions. Recordings will be available for up to 30 days after the conference.
The Early Childhood Innovation Summit (ECIS) marries innovation and application; connecting researchers, policymakers, and practitioners and equipping educators to tackle current and future challenges.
Every year, the ECIS boasts an agenda rich in content and rooted in practice, featuring sessions with thought leaders addressing current issues. Examine the intersections of early childhood education with AI and brain development, dive into pediatric health and practices, and discover trauma-informed tools to enhance social and emotional health for children and families facing challenges.
Early learning programs—including Head Start, Early Head Start, child care, and universal preschool—find themselves front and center of the national conversation. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear from national political figures, thought leaders, and early childhood experts on what all this change means for Head Start. It is possible that decisions made this fall will have a profound impact on Head Start’s work and reach. It is crucial to highlight how vital Head Start is to the communities they serve.
Highlights Include:
- Meetings with members of Congress
- Advocacy trainings
- Engaging discussions on Head Start programs in their communities
- Professional development opportunities include media training, leadership development, and family advocacy efforts!
- Rally for Head Start on Capitol Hill
Now more than ever it’s critical to remain informed, build connections and continue the work we began almost 30 years ago. Attendance at these live or virtual events ensures a united front to continue to bring the transformational power of self-regulation to serve the nation’s most vulnerable families and children. Supplemental grants can be applied to Conscious Discipline implementation through the Office of Head Start. We’re all in this together.
Conscious Discipline is an adult-first, trauma responsive approach with a 25+ year history in the field of early education. It integrates emotional intelligence, self-regulation, executive functioning skills, healthy school culture and brain-based discipline practices that foster the critical skills necessary for early childhood development.
The implementation of Conscious Discipline practices in Head Start and Early Head Start Programs strengthens family engagement, increases classroom quality and teacher retention, positively impacts the physical environment and provides professional development opportunities and support for a trauma-responsive workforce.
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If you’re new to Conscious Discipline and would like to know more about how the implementation of its practices could positively impact your own life and work, here are a few great resources to start:
- The Four Components of Conscious Discipline
- How Does Conscious Discipline Compare with Other Programs?
- Ten Reasons to Shift to Conscious Discipline
- How to Transform Your School with Conscious Discipline
There’s nothing like surrounding yourself with your Conscious Discipline Family in person, whether it’s for the first time or you’ve been attending events for years. Check out our events page often for the latest inspirational workshops, institutes, and conferences near you!
Have a question? You can now connect with live support, available on weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm. ET. Click on the blue and white thought bubble icon on the bottom right-hand side of the page to connect to a team that is waiting to help.
Sometimes questions can’t wait for working hours. From 5 pm to 9 am. ET, you can access a custom Conscious Discipline chatbot designed to assist you with our most common support requests. If your question requires more personal support, select the “Contact” button to send your inquiry to the appropriate team and someone will get back to you.
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Upcoming Events
- Conscious Discipline Institute in Cincinnati, OH: Summer Educator Event
- Conscious Discipline Institute in Philadelphia, PA: Summer Educator Event
- Head Start with Heart: Becoming a More Conscious Leader in Head Start: Education Event in Myrtle Beach
- Anger and Rage: Planning Our Response: Education Event in Myrtle Beach
- Building Your Base: Planning Your CD Journey: Education Event in New Orleans, LA
- Conscious Discipline Institute in New Albany, IN: Summer Educator Event
Jenny Shannon
Jenny Shannon has a B.A. in English, an M.A. in Educational Leadership, and an abiding commitment to believing that what you focus on, you get more of. With a strong background in education and communications and the love of a good story, she is thrilled to work on Conscious Discipline’s Marketing Team as copywriter. She lives in a 200-year-old home in northern New Jersey where she moonlights as chauffeur for her two daughters, can be caught singing showtunes in the kitchen and has strong opinions on the best place to grab a cup of coffee.
