2026 DFSS PreService: Full Schedule

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.

9:20am CDT

Getting Started with CLASS (Sp)

Tuesday August 4, 2026 9:20am - 10:20am CDT

Salon 6

Designed for educators who are newer to CLASS concepts,
this session offers CLASS basics and describes how educators,
leaders, and coaches can use them to develop better, more
meaningful interactions with children.

Moderators

Alisha Bourque

Teachstone

Bibi Rahim

Teachstone

Speakers

Monica Barrera

Teachstone

Tuesday August 4, 2026 9:20am - 10:20am CDT
Salon 6

Teachstone

11:10am CDT

Making the Most of Transitions

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

Salon 6

This session builds on what educators already know to make transitions
as comfortable and as smooth as possible while also finding and
nurturing learning opportunities.

Moderators

Alisha Bourque

Teachstone

Bibi Rahim

Teachstone

Speakers

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 11:10am - 12:10pm CDT
Salon 6

Teachstone

1:20pm CDT

Differentiating Language for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers: Tiny tweaks to create meaningful interactions

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:20pm - 3:00pm CDT

Salon 6

We all know that language is important for children at all stages of life, but how do we know what’s most meaningful for the youngest children? It doesn’t have to be big, sweeping changes. Using the theories of language development and research-based tools, come discover how small changes in your interactions can maximize language opportunities for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.

Speakers

Kara Smith

Assessor and Training Specialist, McCormick Institute Center for Early Childhood Leadership

Sharmeen Reyes

Assessor and Training Specialist Center for Early Childhood Leadership., NLU

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:20pm - 3:00pm CDT
Salon 6

McCormick Institute for Early Childhood at National Louis University

3:10pm CDT

Safe Environment Facility Assessment and Water Sampling

Tuesday August 4, 2026 3:10pm - 4:10pm CDT

Salon 6

Early Head Start - Safe Environment Facility Assessment and Water Sampling

Speakers

Milosz Nowicki

Director of Technology Services, Globetrotters Engineering Corporation

Tuesday August 4, 2026 3:10pm - 4:10pm CDT
Salon 6

Globetrotters Engineering Corporation

9:20am CDT

Budget Ready

Wednesday August 5, 2026 9:20am - 11:00am CDT

Salon 6

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

Eleni Tianis

Supervisor of Children Services, DFSS CSD

Jacinta Passamentt

Assistant Director Program Admin/Fiscal, DFSS CSD

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.

Budget Ready Preservice Training 2026 2027 pdf

Wednesday August 5, 2026 9:20am - 11:00am CDT
Salon 6

DFSS

11:00am CDT

An Overview and Refresher of DFSS Recruitment Plan Template

Wednesday August 5, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT

Salon 6

This PDM training is designed to assist agencies in the development of marketing strategies for your program(s). As our work today involves more families with young children, there is an obvious need to reach out and network within Chicago’s communities to accommodate such needs. Providing services for a greater number of families who need Early Childhood Education programs and supportive services is an important goal. This includes meeting or exceeding enrollment targets for your program(s)

Speakers

Ken McGhee

Engagement Manager, Claridgigm Inc.

Wednesday August 5, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Salon 6

Claridigm

2:10pm CDT

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

Wednesday August 5, 2026 2:10pm - 3:45pm CDT

Salon 6

"This workshop is designed to strengthen teacher leaders and administrator capacity to effectively prepare staff, learning environments, and organizational systems for successful on-site observations. Participants will explore strategies for creating a culture of readiness, aligning practices with observation expectations, and utilizing standardized tools to ensure consistency and efficiency throughout the preparation process.

Through guided discussions, practical examples, and collaborative planning, administrators will learn how to support staff, and establish systems that promote confidence and success during on-site visits. By the end of the workshop, participants will leave with actionable tools and a clear framework for preparing their teams and environments for high-quality observations and continuous quality improvement."

Speakers

Santa Villarreal

Assessor & Training Specialist, McCormick Center at National Louis University

Katie Gaul

Assessor and Training Specialist, McCormick Institute for Early Childhood

Wednesday August 5, 2026 2:10pm - 3:45pm CDT
Salon 6

McCormick Institute for Early Childhood at National Louis University

9:20am CDT

Budget Ready

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:20am - 11:00am CDT

Salon 6

Speakers

Eleni Tianis

Supervisor of Children Services, DFSS CSD

Jacinta Passamentt

Assistant Director Program Admin/Fiscal, DFSS CSD

Angel Jones-Dotson

Simple Servant, DFSS

Budget Ready Preservice Training 2026 2027 pdf

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:20am - 11:00am CDT
Salon 6

DFSS

11:10am CDT

Redirecting and Reframing Misbehavior

Thursday August 6, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm CDT

Salon 6

We’ve all had students who push limits, struggle to manage their feelings,
or constantly demand attention. This session provides a variety of tools
and strategies for proactive responses, misbehavior prevention, and
modeling desired behaviors.

Moderators

Alisha Bourque

Teachstone

Bibi Rahim

Teachstone

Speakers

Melissa Wilhelm

Teachstone

Thursday August 6, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm CDT
Salon 6

Teachstone

1:20pm CDT

Lakeshore Learning Growing Ready Learners: Where Families, Educators, and Learning Environments Thrive Together

Thursday August 6, 2026 1:20pm - 2:20pm CDT

Salon 6

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

TiAndrea R Terry

Lakeshore

Thursday August 6, 2026 1:20pm - 2:20pm CDT
Salon 6

2:30pm CDT

Emergency Preparednes

Thursday August 6, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT

Salon 6

Speakers

Leslie Hampton

Thursday August 6, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
Salon 6

Claridigm

9:20am CDT

11:10am CDT

1:20pm CDT

3:10pm CDT

9:20am CDT

11:00am CDT

2:10pm CDT

9:20am CDT

11:10am CDT

1:20pm CDT

2:30pm CDT

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