VIRTUAL 2025 CCAL Fall Education Conference

VIRTUAL REGISTRATION

 CCAL Fall Education Conference  

Friday, September 26, 2025

Saturday, September 27, 2025  

8:55 AM  Welcoming Remarks – Tara Emery, President 

9:00 AM  Keynote Speaker Dr. Teri DeLucca

11:00 AM till 12 PM  LDOE Regulatory Panel

• Moderator - Karen Powell, Deputy Assistant Superintendent, Early Childhood Care and Education
• Barry Carter, Assistant Superintendent, Early Childhood Care and Education
• Shelia Campbell – Executive Director, Early Childhood Education Operations
• Edlink Update - Robert Klein
• Licensing Updates – Andrea Burl
• Child Care Criminal Background Checks – Kayla Batiste 

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM   BREAK FOR LUNCH 

1:30 – 3:00 PM BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Session A - The Mirror Doesn’t Lie: Radical Personal Leadership - Dr. Teri DeLucca

Before you can manage a classroom or lead a team well, you have to lead yourself with honesty and intention. In this raw and empowering session, you are invited to look in the mirror—not with judgment, but with curiosity and courage. This workshop is about radical self-leadership, the kind that gets real about your habits, your mindset, your blind spots, and how those internal patterns are shaping your external results. Because your personal leadership & how you hold yourself accountable sets the tone, the temperature, and the ceiling for your work and personal life. And the mirror? It doesn’t lie.

You’ll explore:

·         Why self-leadership is the root of classroom experiences, child behaviors, team culture, trust, and performance

·         How burnout, stress, and mental autopilot hijack your influence

·         The subtle (and not-so-subtle) stories we tell ourselves that block growth

·         How to take bold ownership of your impact and start leading yourself well- from the inside out

This isn’t about perfection, it’s about personal power. When you lead yourself well, everything around you shifts. Participants will leave with: 2–3 personal areas identified for greater ownership and growth, a clearer understanding of how their thoughts and mindset influence their outcomes, a renewed commitment to show up stronger—for themselves and for their team. 

3:00  -  4:30 PM BREAKOUT SESSIONS

TO BE DETERMINED

Saturday September 27, 2025

Breakout Sessions   9:00 - 10:30 AM

Say What You Need to Say: How to Have Hard Conversations with Skill - Dr. Teri  DeLucca

Some conversations are uncomfortable. Others are unavoidable. And the ones we avoid? They tend to get louder—in stress, conflict, and disconnection. In this engaging workshop, you will learn the mindset and skillset needed to navigate tough conversations with clarity, confidence, and emotional intelligence. Whether it’s navigating conflict with a coworker, a boundary crossed with a loved one, or how to handle finding yourself in an unexpected disagreement- giving direct feedback without damaging the relationship is critical. This session is your roadmap to courageous communication. You’ll learn how to: stay grounded and clear-headed in emotionally charged moments. This isn’t just about having hard conversations. It’s about becoming the kind of person who can—and does. This skill will change how you interact in all relationships going forward.  You will learn how to:

• Say hard things with empathy, honesty, and purpose
• Avoid common traps like over-explaining, shutting down, or sugarcoating
• Use a simple framework to structure difficult conversations and reduce anxiety
• Transform discomfort into connection—and accountability into growth

TO BE DETERMINED 

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM  BREAKOUT SESSION

Feedback without Fear: Coaching Teachers Through Challenging Behaviors and Personal Growth - Dr. Teri DeLucca

Giving feedback shouldn’t feel like walking on eggshells—and receiving it shouldn’t feel like a personal attack. In this dynamic and practical workshop, Owners/Directors/Coaches will be equipped with the tools and strategies to coach teachers through the tough stuff—without fear, guilt, or avoidance. Whether you're addressing classroom behavior challenges or helping a teacher grow through personal and professional blind spots, this session will show you how to deliver feedback with clarity, compassion, and confidence. You'll discover how to:

·        Create a culture where feedback is normal, welcomed, and growth-focused

·        Use specific coaching language that empowers rather than deflates

·        Navigate sensitive issues—like behavior missteps, drama with co-workers, burnout, or disengagement—with emotional intelligence

·        Support both the strategy and the story behind a teacher’s struggle

Because feedback done right doesn’t just improve teaching—it builds trust, strengthens teams, and fuels long-term impact. This workshop is ideal for directors, instructional coaches, and teacher leaders who want to level up their coaching conversations and lead with boldness and heart.

Group Discounts of 7 or more  

$50 per person per day

1) To register 7 or more, email a list of registrants and their breakout sessions to

 David.Roberson@checkmate-strategies.com

He will register your staff and send the invoice to the owner/director requesting the group rate  OR 

2) register everyone and do not pay until after you email David at the email address above and notify that that you registered your staff and would him to apply the Group Discount

For non-members, call or text Cindy Bishop at 225 933 5435 for special promotion rates.

Please Include your name, center or affiliation and email address please

For registration assistance, call Cindy Bishop at 225 933 5435 or

 email cindy.bishop@checkmate-strategies.com and David.roberson@checkmate-strategies.com

For registration assistance, call Cindy Bishop at 225 933 5435 or email cindy.bishop@checkmate-strategies.com and David.roberson@checkmate-strategies.com