Summer Leadership Institute
Empowering Futures
Investing in Excellence, Nurturing Success
Building a Great Start for Minnesota's Children
Thursday, July 18, 2024
St. Anthony Village High School
3303 33rd Ave NE
St. Anthony, MN 55418
Dan Gartrell, Ph.D.
Keynote Speaker
Dan Gartrell is a former Head Start teacher for the Red Lake Band of Ojibwe in northern Minnesota. During the 1970s, Dan completed his Master’s degree at Bemidji State University in northern Minnesota where he was a CDA advisor for the Child Development Training Program. Dan received his Ed.D. degree from the University of North Dakota in 1977. For almost forty years, Dan was director of the Child Development Training Program and professor of Early Childhood Education at Bemidji State University. He is now a professor emeritus.
Dan has written over thirty articles that have appeared in Young Children, Teaching Young Children, The Sage Encyclopedia of Early Childhood Education, and Childhood Exchange. He authored the column “Guidance Matters,” featured in Young Children from 2004 to 2015. Dan is the author of seven books including six editions of his textbook, A Guidance Approach for the Encouraging Classroom. Redleaf Press published two of Dan’s more recent books on guidance, for pre-service and in-service early childhood professionals. His latest book, his third published by NAEYC, came out this past June. It is titled Education for a Civil Society: Teaching Young Children to Gain Five Democratic Life Skills. Like Dan’s other two NAEYC books, the latest one was selected as a premium benefit for NAEYC members.
“Dr. Dan” has presented over 300 presentations, keynotes, and trainings in 26 states, Washington DC, Germany, and Mexico. About 20 times Dan has presented at National Conferences and Institutes of NAEYC. Dan is a member of two families that include his wife, Dr. Julie Jochum, five adult children, and fifteen grandchildren.
Breakout Sessions
Early Learning Scholarship Updates and the Greater Twin Cities United Way 80x3 Workforce Supports
Come and learn more about Early Learning Scholarships and the newly added priority populations. Presenters will share more on how you can connect families with these opportunities. We will also discuss workforce supports available through the Greater Twin Cities United Way's 80x3 initiative and why they are important. We are thrilled to offer concrete learning opportunities to explore some of these resources. Looking forward to seeing you there!
DEI in ECE Workplaces
Join Candace Yates as she explores the ins and outs of DEI work in Early Childhood Education settings.
Transformative Community Healing Session with Creative Kuponya
Transformative Community Healing Sessions are rooted in clinical and cultural practices. Everyone's voice is welcome and included to keep the space whole and reciprocal. Transformative healing incorporates shared accountability between individuls and the larger community.
Successful Director's Panel
Join MnAEYC as we sit down with Early Childhood Program Directors from all over Minnesota as they share the resources that help them remain successful in their work.
Education for a Civil Society: Guiding Young Children to Gain Five Democratic Life Skills
This session comes directly from Dan’s 2023 book, Education for a Civil Society: Teaching Young Children to Gain Five Democratic Life Skills, published by NAEYC. The Five Democratic Life Skills are the goals of guidance. Building from the iconic writings of Maslow in the 1960s, brain research in the 21st Century, and Dan’s many years of observation, study, and writing.
Mental Health at Work
Join our friends from the Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health as they discuss how to manage Mental Health in the workpalce.