Early Childhood Summit

One Voice, One Future: Nevada's Commitment to our Youngest Learners

September 3 & 4, 2025 | Stateline, Nevada

Event Overview

The 2025 Early Childhood Summit, One Voice, One Future: Nevada’s Commitment to our Youngest Learners, will be held September 3 & 4, 2025, at Caesar’s Republic (formerly Harvey’s Lake Tahoe) in Stateline, Nevada. The Early Childhood Summit will offer quality professional development on effective practices in the education of Nevada’s youngest students.

The Early Childhood Summit is an opportunity for teams of professionals who work together providing inclusive services to Nevada’s Preschool and Kindergarten children in communities and school districts to gather for two days of learning and collaboration. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from national speakers, discuss successes and barriers, and celebrate accomplishments.

Breakout session topics will include, but are not limited to: the Pyramid Model Framework, Early Childhood Literacy for Secondary Language Learners, From Inclusion to Belonging, Classroom Management, Part C to Part B Transition, Early Childhood Mental Health, Incorporating Paraprofessionals into the Behavior Plan, and more. Additionally, planning time will be included for districts to set goals, collaborate, and work together in their local teams.

Participants can earn up to 15 Continuing Education hours for attending the Early Childhood Summit. Mark your calendar for this incredible opportunity, made possible through the collaboration of the Nevada Department of Education, the Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities at the University of Nevada, Reno, and the Nevada’s Department of Human Services.

Registration

This summit is open to educators, administrators, paraprofessionals, and others from Nevada who support our youngest learners. Registration fees are $100/person. Use the link below to register.

Reserve a spot

Hotel

A limited number of sleeping rooms are available at Caesar’s Republic at the special conference rate of $119/night plus tax and $26.95 resort fee. Please make your reservation before August 14, 2025 by using the hotel link.

Participants may make reservations via telephone by calling 1-800-455-4770 and referencing the code S09UNR5. Please note all reservations made via telephone will be assessed a $15 fee per reservation.

Reserve a Room

Keynote Speakers

Dr. Jackie Joseph-Buzek is a Research Associate Professor at the University of Denver Positive Early Learning Experiences Center, where her work promotes inclusion and belonging across the early childhood care and education system. She specifically focuses on family partnerships and evidence-based practices for fostering each and every young child’s social, emotional, and behavioral development. Jackie’s experience working in child care administration offers her an applied understanding of implementing and scaling high-quality inclusion. Jackie has two young children herself, one of whom has a rare genetic syndrome. Her anti-ableist work is strongly influenced by her family’s experiences, and Jackie strives to co-create opportunities and spaces that ensure that all young children, disabled and non-disabled, and their families experience meaningful inclusion and belonging.

Dr. Julie Causton is a best-selling author, inspiring speaker, and inclusive education advocate. The founder and CEO of Inclusive Schooling. She is a former tenured Professor in the Inclusive and Special Education Program in the Department of Teaching and Leadership at Syracuse University, where she headed the inclusive elementary education program. Julie has spent the past 25 years studying best practices for inclusive education. A former elementary, middle, and high school special education teacher herself, she knows firsthand how inclusion leads to better outcomes for students. Julie is the author of a dozen books about inclusive education, and she has published articles in over thirty educational research and practitioner journals. She currently resides in Upstate New York.

Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak is a highly sought-after speaker, accomplished author, and educator’s educator. With nearly three decades of educational experience, Kristie cultivates real change within educational systems. She instills an impressive sense of joy, humor, and fun in creating inclusive educational practices and empowering teachers and leaders to spread wellness both in and beyond the classroom walls. Kristie spent 16 years as faculty at Kent State University, has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, and is the author of over 10 books and monographs. Since 2013, she has followed her true passion, which is supporting adult learners. As a result, she has accumulated over 50,000 hours of helping educators and leaders work from a place of compassion, hope, and love in locations from Cincinnati to Singapore. She currently resides in Northeastern Ohio.

Contact Information

For questions about the Early Childhood Summit, please contact Ida Packard at iroberts@unr.edu or 775-682-9055.