Yolo County Office of Education

Early Childhood & TK Conference

Date: April 11, 8:00 am-3:00 pm
Location: Yolo County Office of Education Conference Center, 1280 Santa Anita Ct., Suite 120, Woodland, CA
Cost: Free Admission - Space is Limited!
Register here

The Yolo County Early Childhood and Transitional Kindergarten Conference 2026 is a dynamic and comprehensive professional learning experience designed to strengthen, support, and elevate the early childhood education workforce across Yolo County.

Grounded in evidence-based practices and collaborative engagement, this conference provides a shared space for educators, leaders, and community partners to deepen their knowledge, refine instructional practices, and build meaningful connections that enhance outcomes for young children and families.

Participants will engage in intentional learning experiences that highlight:

Developmentally appropriate practice across early learning settings
Social-emotional development and inclusive classroom environments
Strengthening the mixed-delivery system (FCC, Preschool, TK)
Workforce sustainability, leadership, and professional growth

Click here to register

Welcome session panel

Jackie Thu-Huong Wong
Executive Director of First 5 California

Stephen Propheter
Director of Early Education Division
California Department of Education

Shannon McClarin
Director of Early Childhood at Yolo County Office of Education

Justine Jimenez
Home Run Manager for the City of West Sacramento

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Julie Nicholson is an early childhood expert, former preschool and kindergarten teacher, and longtime professor of practice in early childhood education at Mills College in Oakland. Her work focuses on bridging early childhood and public education, implementing trauma-responsive and healing-centered practices, and advancing equity for young children, families, and the workforce that serves them. She partners with educators, early childhood programs, public schools, districts, and county offices to strengthen high-quality learning environments, including the integration of play-based learning across curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

She is the co-author of 14 books and the lead author of three California Department of Education, Early Education Division publications: The Powerful Role of Play in Education: Birth–8 (2021), Creating Equitable Early Learning Environments for Young Boys of Color: Disrupting Disproportionate Outcomes (2023), and Responsive Early Education for Young Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness (2020).

Her most treasured role is being the parent of three daughters. A passionate runner and podcast enthusiast, she also finds joy in adopting senior rescue dogs.