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Over 100 early childhood educators attended UnConference: Kindergarten Transition on February 16 to learn how to best prepare early learners for kindergarten. Throughout the day, attendees learned from experts on early intervention practices, how to engage parents, play-based learning, ways to connect with community resources, emotional regulation, and more. The UnConference was hosted by Hi5! partners Trying Together, Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU), and United Way of Southwestern PA (UWSPA).

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The UnConference was opened by Cara Ciminillo, executive director for Trying Together. She began by thanking the gathered educators for their commitment and dedication to learning more about kindergarten transition. Ciminillo also expressed her gratitude to PNC Grow Up Great for their continued support. 

Ana Kay Yaghoubian then spoke about the work of UWSPA, before introducing the keynote speaker, Swati Adarkar. Adarkar is the former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Early Learning in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education for the Department of Education under the Biden administration.

Keynote

Adarkar began her keynote by emphasizing the critical importance of kindergarten. “Kindergarten is a key inflection point for early learning, early school success, and equity,” she said.

She described kindergarten as a “golden time to continue building partnerships” between early learning programs, kindergarten teachers, and families. This is the ideal time to “build the relationships, routines, and habits that are essential to early school success and everyday school attendance.”

Chronic absenteeism is a major hurdle, but continued relationship building beyond the initial kindergarten transition can help mitigate this issue. 

One participant shared in a post-event survey that they “loved the insights she [Adarkar] shared and the importance of creating a partnership with the k-12 districts your students will attend.”

Early Intervention Panel

Following the keynote, a panel of early intervention professionals and advocates answered questions from Val Williams, Kindergarten Transition Program Director for Trying  Together. The panel included: 

• Brandi Binakonsky, Ed.D, PATTAN
• Kelly Garfold-Seng, Parent Advocate
• Loreleigh R. Elders, Ed.D., AIU
• Lauren Stuparitz, Parent Advocate
• Sarah Shue, Ed.D., Chartiers-Houston School District

The panel was asked questions about transitions and procedures, their own personal experiences with early intervention, and how early learning programs can partner with families and kindergarten teachers during the transition. 

Stuparitz, a parent advocate, shared that kindergarten transition can be tricky because there is often a wall dividing early childhood education and kindergarten. She said that she had to do a lot of research herself, but found it helpful to reach out to experts and other parents who had already been through the process. 

Workshops

Participants attended two workshops and learned from experts in the field representing Allegheny Intermediate Unit 3, Sunflower Education Group,  Fred Rogers Productions, Parent Organization Network, and Supporting Kids in Play.

These workshops covered the following topics:

• How Community Partnerships Strengthen Kindergarten Readiness Efforts
• A K.I.N.D. Framework for Engaging Parents
• Preparing for Kindergarten with Fred Rogers Productions
• Strengthening My Early Learner: A Parent’s Journey
• The Power of Play

One workshop attendee noted that they “took away so many play ideas.” Another attendee “learned a lot more information about kindergarten readiness for [their] kiddos.”

Closing

Dr. Wendy Smith, the Director of Early Childhood, Family & Community Services for the AIU, energized the group with her closing remarks. Her biggest takeaway from the day is that communication is essential. She encouraged the attendees to take what they learned and apply it to their work. “Think of one or two things you learned, and just do it.”

“You’ve got to cheer, you’ve got to shout, you’ve got to make it happen,” she continued. “I want the whole community to hear that early childhood and K-12 educators are here talking about smooth transitions in kindergarten and beyond.”