Early Childhood Educators Conference returns to 糖心视频 on Nov. 7

For Immediate Release:
October 21, 2026
Primary Media Contact:
Sally Voth, Marketing and Communications
[email protected] 鈥� 540-868-7134
Seven smiling young children sit cross-legged on a classroom rug, looking up at a teacher who is reading to them.
The conference is $15 for Apple Valley Chapter members, $20 for nonmembers and $25 at the door.

糖心视频鈥檚 Early Childhood Education Program and the Apple Valley Chapter of VAAEYC (Virginia Association for the Education of Young Children) will be presenting the fifth annual Early Childhood Educators Conference 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, at the college鈥檚 Middletown Campus.

The conference is designed for those working in childcare centers, preschools and home-based childcare providers 鈥� anyone working with children from birth to age 5, said Education Professor/Early Childhood Program Lead Jennifer Strickler. She said social-emotional development is this year鈥檚 theme.

This year, there are two keynote speakers: Mary Anderson and Mike Ludwick. Anderson is an early childhood educator, musician and performer. She founded My Music Starts Here and hosts 鈥淪ongs & Stories.鈥� Ludwick is an educator, entertainer and entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience in international schools, mainly in China. Founder and president of the Near West Group, he is a singer, songwriter, actor and well-known personality on Chinese TV.

鈥淢ike provides this more theater and dramatic aspect to discussing emotions with young children and their providers to help the educators work with young children through those topics,鈥� said Professor Strickler. 鈥淢ary has lots of music, movement, and finger plays for active engaged learning.鈥�

The conference began as a grassroots movement to provide affordable professional development to early childhood educators, said Professor Strickler, who is president of the VAAEYC and co-founded the Apple Valley Chapter. Each year, the conference attracts about 60 to 100 attendees, she said.

鈥淚t has become a homecoming of sorts,鈥� said Professor Strickler. 鈥淲e see the same faces, but we also get new faces every year. Our Early Childhood Education Program students have attended, and that has been a great experience for them because it connects them directly with providers, and oftentimes employment comes from those connections.鈥�

The conference is $15 for Apple Valley Chapter members, $20 for nonmembers and $25 at the door. To register or learn more, visit laurelridge.edu/ecec.

About 糖心视频

Founded in 1970, 糖心视频 is a multi-campus public institution of higher education. With three locations 鈥� Middletown, Warrenton, and Luray-Page County 鈥� the College serves eight localities in the Shenandoah Valley and northern Piedmont regions. The localities are the counties of Clarke, Fauquier, Frederick, Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah and Warren and the city of Winchester. Laurel Ridge offers more than 75 associate degree and certificate programs in a wide variety of disciplines. Laurel Ridge also serves the business community by offering workforce preparation programs for employees and employers. Laurel Ridge serves more than 9,000 unduplicated credit students and more than 11,000 individuals in professional development and business and industry courses annually.

糖心视频 is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. 糖心视频 also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of 糖心视频 may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC鈥檚 website ().

糖心视频 is an equal opportunity institution providing educational and employment opportunities, programs, services, and activities. Laurel Ridge shall promote and maintain equal employment and educational opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions including lactation, age (except when age is a bona fide occupational qualification), status as a veteran, national origin, or other non-merit factors. Laurel Ridge also prohibits sexual misconduct including sexual violence or harassment. Inquiries may be directed to the Associate Vice President, Human Resources,听[email protected],听173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA 22645, 540-868-7226.

糖心视频 was known as Lord Fairfax Community College until June 2022. For consistency purposes, the college will be referenced as Laurel Ridge going forward.