2022 National Academy Call for Trainers

Greetings!

We are inviting interested trainers to submit brief descriptions of training sessions to be held at the 2022 National Academy on Early Care and Education. The National Academy is the premier event for professionals in early care and education serving Tribal children, families, and communities. The event brings together hundreds of professionals to learn and share ways in which we can elevate child care and to build networks to support each other. This year, our theme, Dare to Dream: Transforming Early Care and Education Across Tribal Nations, highlights the unique, potential-filled time that we find ourselves in -- still reeling from a global pandemic and with resources to truly envision a new, more innovative way forward to strengthen our child care systems. The National Academy will be March 1-3, 2021, at the Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant, Oklahoma. All conference details can be found on the website. We are inviting trainers and presenters to submit proposals in any of several options:

Full-day training (6-hours, in-person or virtual),
Two-hour training (virtual option only), and
Keynote speaking.

The full-day trainings will be held on March 1 and 2, repeated both days. The trainings should be 6 hours to accommodate lunch and breaks throughout the day. We request that presenters be available to repeat the training on both days, but it is not a requirement of getting accepted, nor will it affect your selection. We will be selecting between 5 and 10 trainings, depending on the quantity and topics received. Topics should focus on areas of critical need for child care and early education, especially for Native people. These might include, but are not limited to, health and wellness, active engagement and play, managing challenging behaviors, addressing burnout and stress management, among many other possible areas.

Keynote speaking will be held on March 3 between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm CT. Keynotes should be between 60 and 90 minutes. We welcome all keynotes that will highlight the opportunities we have in front of us to transform Tribal early care and education and encourage -- no, dare professionals in our field to dream what we can create.

Submissions are due by December 31, 2021, at 11:59 pm CT, however, decisions will be made on a rolling basis. We will select proposals that we feel align with our theme and/or the critical needs early care and education have in implementing their programs and services.

If selected, a copy of your PDF handouts/presentation material is due by February 7, 2021. Materials will be submitted online and a link will be provided if selected.

If you have any questions about your submission, please contact Jennifer Rackliff at jrackliff@nicca.us.

Please note: If you have already submitted a proposal, you do not need to resubmit.