Regional Community Engagement
Resources to Support the Early Childhood Education Workforce
ECE professionals and local leaders can find additional resources to support their careers, businesses, and ultimately have a positive impact on the New River Valley.
NRV Regional Childcare Summit Series
The NRV Child Care Summit Series is led by Virginia Tech in partnership with the Community Foundation of the NRV. This series is an opportunity to share information about the state of child care in the NRV, highlight creative ways that employers have supported the child care industry, and share ideas for short and long-term investments of time and talent to stabilize and grow the sector.
NRV Child Care Summit Series is led by Virginia Tech in partnerships with the Community Foundation of the NRV. The last meeting of the 2022-2023 year was held at the Inn at Virginia Tech on April 19, 2023. Though this meeting more than 35 local leaders demonstrated their commitment to providing the best possible care and education for our youngest learners and their families throughout the New River Valley.
More than 90 early childhood educators from around the New River Valley gathered at Virginia Tech on April 21, 2023, for a full-day, interactive, hands-on, professional development experience, where they explored project-based learning and how it supports them in providing quality early childhood education to the children in their classrooms.
Igniting Connections Annual Early Childhood Symposium
On Friday, September 22, 2023, the Office of Strategic Initiatives at Virginia Tech convened a symposium on early childhood education (ECE) at The Inn at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg for a full day of learning and networking. More than 100 ECE professionals from the New River Valley (NRV) area joined keynote presenter Mary Anderson, from My Music Starts Here, and a team of local speakers from nine institutions across the NRV. The day’s sessions engaged ECE educators on facilitated discussions, hands-on activities, experience sharing, and exercises around the theme of self-care.
This year, the first part of the symposium's program was organized with The Community Foundation of the New River Valley and dedicated to recognizing extraordinary educators from the NRV area. ECE educators were joined by 26 representatives from a number of local business and organizations leaders to celebrate the 2023 Early Childhood Champion Awards, led by First Step for the third consecutive year.
Teachers engaging with area community resources at resource tables- NRV CARES
Teachers participating in a group discussion with Blue Mountain School Adminstration about ways to support student, staff and families through social and emotional education.
Teachers in small group session with Andi Golusky of NRV Care discussing trauma informed care
Teachers participating in keynote presentation with Mary Anderson of My Music Starts Here.
Table display to inspire developmentally approprate practice by New River Community College.
Facilitator training at TTAC with lead symposium facilitators Deb Curtis & Eliana Elias.
Igniting Connections Annual Early Childhood Symposium 2022
Facilitator training: Small group discussions to share and gain perspectives.
Igniting Connections 2022 Early Childhood Symposium Facilitators with Deb & Eliana
VTCDCLR Pre-Symposium Tour: Toddler classroom.
VTCDCLR Pre-Symposium Tour: Toddler classroom.
VT CDCLR teachers and lead facilitators, Deb and Eliana reflecting and planning for the sharing of authentic classroom experiences.
Educator experiencing intentional and emergent learning and play and how it occurs during individual and small group opportunities.
Facilitator tablescape: Highlighting curriculum possibilities.
Natural, found and recycled materials that foster creativity and endless curriculum possibilities.
Tablescape: NRV Creative Reuse Center
VTCDCLR visiting Sophia Frimpong's display featuring items from the NRV Creative Reuse Center
Educators from around the New River Valley network, dialogue and share collective experiences
Creating connections and discovering the child's perspective
Participants reflecting on the possibilities for materials to invite the children to explore.
Advocacy lunch hour sign writing.
Advocacy lunch hour sign writing with inspirational signs in the background.
A sign of the times: Hokie Bird advocates for early childhood educators.
Hokie Bird & ECE professionals sharing their advocacy message.
Promoting awareness and advocacy for high quality early care and learning and for the ECE profession.
Hokie Bird and teachers advocate for the value of play-based curriculum and learning in early childhood education.