2026 DFSS PreService

2026 DFSS PreService

Welcome to the 2026 3-Day DFSS PreService

📍Palmer House Chicago
17 E Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603

Breakfast and Registration open at 8:00am
Conference programming from 9:00am -4:10pm

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

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9:20am CDT

Lets Talk about the 1st 45 Days and Health Services Salon 6Beatrice Nichols

How Does it Flow... Why Chicago became a water powerhouse. Salon 8Joel Vieyra

New Head Start Disabilities Coordinators Training Salon 4Gina Pacella

Planning with Purpose: The Importance of Effective Lesson Planning and Timely Documentation Salon 2Natasha Belt

GOLD, 0-3, Part 2 Salon 1Angela S Johnson

GOLD, 3-5, Part 2 Salon 5Wilbert Owens

Interactions that Support Students with Learning Differences Salon 10Alisha Bourque • Bibi Rahim • Melissa Wilhelm

Making the Most of Transitions Salon 7Alisha Bourque • Bibi Rahim • Liana Ondra

Budget Ready Salon 3Angel Jones-Dotson • Jacinta Passamentt

10:30am CDT

EXHIBIT HALL Exhibit Hall

11:00am CDT

Juvenile Diabetes Salon 12stephanie Waites

Individualization through an Observation Lens Salon 4Vincent Rodriguez

An Overview and Refresher of DFSS Recruitment Plan Template Salon 6Ken McGhee

SharePoint 101: Building a Collaborative Workspace Salon 8Phil Maclin

Quality Support Service Coordinator Salon 2Natasha Belt

Gateways Credentials Overview Salon 3Stephanie Hellmer - INCCRRA

No Everyday Healing: Trauma-Informed Practices in Early Childhood Education Salon 9Melissa Moore

Begining of Year, 0-3,Part 2 Salon 1Angela S Johnson

Begining of Year, 0-3,Part 2 Salon 5Wilbert Owens

Focusing on the Purpose During Center Time Salon 10Alisha Bourque • Bibi Rahim • Melissa Wilhelm

Using Data to Inform Professional Development Salon 7Alisha Bourque • Bibi Rahim • Monica Barrera

12:10pm CDT

Keynote Speaker Ballroom

1:00pm CDT

2:10pm CDT

Classroom Management: Create a learning environment that supports student behavior and social-emotional development. Salon 8Vincent Rodriguez

New Head Start Disabilities Coordinators Training Salon 4Gina Pacella

Federal Review, Part 1 Salon 3Angela S Johnson

ReadyRosie, Part 1 Salon 7Wilbert Owens

Redirecting and Reframing Misbehavior Salon 12Alisha Bourque • Bibi Rahim • Melissa Wilhelm

Why Interactions Matter (Eng) Salon 2Alisha Bourque • Bibi Rahim • Liana Ondra

DFSS CSD FY 26-27 Data Training Salon 1JOCELYN Buchanan

Estrategias para apoyar el desarrollo socioemocional en niños de 0 a 3 años (Strategies to Support Social Emotional Development 0-3 years) Salon 9Paulina Razo • Pamela Stutzman

Differentiating Language for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers: Tiny tweaks to create meaningful interactions Salon 10Sharmeen Reyes

Observation-Ready: Preparing Programs for High-Quality On-Site Assessments Aligning Staff, Practices and Environments for Success Salon 6Katie Gaul

Educator Power: Empowering ECE staff to Lead and Advocate for Change Salon 5Shruthi Kannan

3:20pm CDT

Facilities and Safe Environments Salon 8Artiya Nash

Non-Federal Match- What Counts Salon 12Ken McGhee

Federal Review, Part 2 Salon 3Angela S Johnson

ReadyRosie, Part 2 Salon 7Wilbert Owens

Strategies to Support Dual Language Learners (Eng) Salon 2Alisha Bourque • Bibi Rahim • Liana Ondra

Strategies to Support Dual Language Learners (Sp) Salon 4Alisha Bourque • Bibi Rahim • Monica Barrera