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2026 DFSS PreService
Welcome to the 2026 3-Day DFSS PreService

đź“ŤPalmer House Chicago
17 E Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603
 
Breakfast and Registration open at 8:00am
Conference programming from 9:00am -4:10pm
Venue: Salon 3 clear filter
Tuesday, August 4
 

9:20am CDT

The Magic of Monthly Books: How Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Inspires Young Readers
LIMITED
Tuesday August 4, 2026 9:20am - 10:20am CDT
Salon 3
Limited Capacity seats available
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library inspires a love of reading. It is a book gifting program that mails high-quality, age-appropriate books to children from birth through their fifth birthday at no cost to the family. Information will be shared about the groundbreaking international research based on the largest dataset in the world on shared book reading. Attendees will explore the rigorous book selection process and participate in interactive group discussions and activities using parent engagement resources.
Speakers
avatar for Andi Drileck

Andi Drileck

Illinois State Director, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
My name is Andi Drileck and I'm the Illinois State Director at Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone and sharing information about how we can get The Imagination Library in your area. As Dolly says, "You can never get enough books into the hands... Read More →
avatar for Bridget Rundquist

Bridget Rundquist

Director of Strategic Partnerships, Share Our Spare
My name is Bridget Rundquist. I am the Director of Strategic Partnerships at Share Our Spare and we are proud to be the local program partner for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Chicago! The Imagination Library is a free book gifting program, available in 23 Chicago West & South... Read More →
Tuesday August 4, 2026 9:20am - 10:20am CDT
Salon 3
  Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

11:10am CDT

Family Fun: Enhancing Play with Your Involvement
LIMITED
Tuesday August 4, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm CDT
Salon 3
Limited Capacity seats available
This session is for everyone to highlight the importance of being fully present to communicate children’s importance and
strengthen the parent-child bond. Engaging in play supports social, emotional, and cognitive development,
allowing children to express themselves while feeling connected and safe.
Moderators
AB

Alisha Bourque

Teachstone

BR

Bibi Rahim

Teachstone
Speakers
avatar for Melissa Wilhelm

Melissa Wilhelm

Teachstone
Tuesday August 4, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm CDT
Salon 3
  Teachstone

1:20pm CDT

The Magic of Monthly Books: How Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Inspires Young Readers
LIMITED
Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:20pm - 2:20pm CDT
Salon 3
Limited Capacity seats available
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library inspires a love of reading. It is a book gifting program that mails high-quality, age-appropriate books to children from birth through their fifth birthday at no cost to the family. Information will be shared about the groundbreaking international research based on the largest dataset in the world on shared book reading. Attendees will explore the rigorous book selection process and participate in interactive group discussions and activities using parent engagement resources.
Speakers
avatar for Andi Drileck

Andi Drileck

Illinois State Director, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
My name is Andi Drileck and I'm the Illinois State Director at Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone and sharing information about how we can get The Imagination Library in your area. As Dolly says, "You can never get enough books into the hands... Read More →
avatar for Bridget Rundquist

Bridget Rundquist

Director of Strategic Partnerships, Share Our Spare
My name is Bridget Rundquist. I am the Director of Strategic Partnerships at Share Our Spare and we are proud to be the local program partner for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Chicago! The Imagination Library is a free book gifting program, available in 23 Chicago West & South... Read More →
Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:20pm - 2:20pm CDT
Salon 3
  Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

3:10pm CDT

Family Fun: Following your Child's Lead During Play
LIMITED
Tuesday August 4, 2026 3:10pm - 4:10pm CDT
Salon 3
Limited Capacity seats available
This session highlights the importance of being fully present with your child, even if only for 10 minutes a day,
to communicate their value and deepen your connection. By eliminating distractions and giving undivided
attention, parents can make their children feel important and enhance the parent-child bond.
Moderators
AB

Alisha Bourque

Teachstone

BR

Bibi Rahim

Teachstone
Speakers
avatar for Liana Ondra

Liana Ondra

CLASS Specialist, Teachstone
Liana has over 10 years of experience working in Early Childhood. She earned a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education from Liberty University and has worked in classrooms in both private and public ECE programs. She has also worked as an Instructional Coach with Head Start and... Read More →
Tuesday August 4, 2026 3:10pm - 4:10pm CDT
Salon 3
  Teachstone
 
Wednesday, August 5
 

9:20am CDT

Budget Ready
LIMITED
Wednesday August 5, 2026 9:20am - 11:00am CDT
Salon 3
Limited Capacity seats available
Do you want to know how not to have you budget help up in the city process? Do you know all the right documentation to send in along with your budget? Come let's talk about the documentation and allow us to explain the reasoning why?
Speakers
AJ

Angel Jones-Dotson

Simple Servant, DFSS
Dr. Jones-Dotson has worked in the field of H/R, Grants Management, & Auditing for over 30+ years.  She is found of learning new things and helping others bridge the gap to what they thought numbers were to what the possibilities of what they could be.
JP

Jacinta Passamentt

AD Program Admin/Fiscal, CSD
Wednesday August 5, 2026 9:20am - 11:00am CDT
Salon 3
  DFSS

11:00am CDT

Gateways Credentials Overview
LIMITED
Wednesday August 5, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Salon 3
Limited Capacity seats available
This presentation will provide a general overview of Gateways Credentials and the application process. We'll go over the three Credential components, the Gateways career lattice, how to apply, and what happens after an application is received. A brief walk through the website and the Registry Professional Development Record will be shared. General questions can be addressed but please, no applicant specific questions during the presentation.
Speakers
SH

Stephanie Hellmer - INCCRRA

Program Manager, INCCRRA
Wednesday August 5, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Salon 3
  INCCRRA

2:10pm CDT

Federal Review, Part 1
LIMITED
Wednesday August 5, 2026 2:10pm - 3:10pm CDT
Salon 3
Limited Capacity seats available
Speakers
AS

Angela S Johnson

Trainer, Teaching Strategies
Wednesday August 5, 2026 2:10pm - 3:10pm CDT
Salon 3
  Teaching Stategies

3:20pm CDT

Federal Review, Part 2
LIMITED
Wednesday August 5, 2026 3:20pm - 4:20pm CDT
Salon 3
Limited Capacity seats available
Speakers
AS

Angela S Johnson

Trainer, Teaching Strategies
Wednesday August 5, 2026 3:20pm - 4:20pm CDT
Salon 3
  Teaching Stategies
 
Thursday, August 6
 

9:20am CDT

Advancing in ECE - Chicago Early Learning Workforce Scholarship (CELWS)
LIMITED
Thursday August 6, 2026 9:20am - 10:20am CDT
Salon 3
Limited Capacity seats available
Learn about the Chicago Early Learning Workforce Scholarship, a citywide initiative supporting aspiring and current early childhood education professionals. This program covers full tuition and book costs at partner institutions, helping Chicagoans grow their careers and strengthen the early learning workforce.
Speakers
avatar for Darrell Brown

Darrell Brown

Manager - Chicago Early Learning Workforce Scholarship, CELWS

avatar for Moe Azaan

Moe Azaan

Manager, Chicago Early Learning Workforce Scholarship
Thursday August 6, 2026 9:20am - 10:20am CDT
Salon 3
  CELWS

11:10am CDT

Managing Stress
FULL
Thursday August 6, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm CDT
Salon 3
Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.
This PDM training is designed to help participants understand the stress response system, reduce vulnerability to stressors, and gain skills to effectively cope with stress.
Speakers
RM
Thursday August 6, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm CDT
Salon 3
  Claridigm

1:20pm CDT

Lakeshore Learning Growing Ready Learners: Where Families, Educators, and Learning Environments Thrive Together
Thursday August 6, 2026 1:20pm - 1:35pm CDT
Salon 3
Shared responsibility for kindergarten readiness
Family engagement resources and strategies that increase learning at home
Classroom design that supports play-based learning and school readiness
Transition practices  and resources that reduce anxiety for children and families
Speakers
TR
Thursday August 6, 2026 1:20pm - 1:35pm CDT
Salon 3

3:10pm CDT

Peer to Peer Networking Session: Health, Mental Health, Hearing & Vision and Disabilities
LIMITED
Thursday August 6, 2026 3:10pm - 4:10pm CDT
Salon 3
Limited Capacity seats available
Thursday August 6, 2026 3:10pm - 4:10pm CDT
Salon 3
  DFSS
 

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Tuesday, August 4
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  • Bright Scholars Academy
  • CELWS
  • CFL
  • Christopher House
  • City of Chicago
  • Claridigm
  • CLS Comprehensive Services
  • CPS-DFSS Disabilities Liaison
  • Department of Water Management
  • DFSS
  • Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
  • Erikson Institute
  • Globetrotters Engineering Corporation
  • INCCRRA
  • LLC
  • McCormick Institute for Early Childhood at National Louis University
  • Nutrition Consultant
  • SEIU
  • SEIU Healthcare Illinois (SEIU HCII)
  • SGA Youth and Family Services
  • Start Early
  • Teaching Stategies
  • Teaching Strategies
  • Teachstone
  • Popular