Get Training at the Annual Child Care Conference

Child Care Celebrates 20 Years of “Imagineering Possibilities!

More than 425 representatives from over two dozen federal agencies attended the 20th Annual GSA Child Care Training Conference held in Orlando, FL, July 21-23, 2009.  The Child Care Division conducts this training conference each year to share new and successful practices, build on past conference training, address relevant issues of importance to our participants as well as to recognize individual and center excellence during the previous year.  Five tracks were offered and geared to Providers/Directors, Teachers, Boards, and Facility Services and the NAEYC Academy provided a track to train participants on achieving and maintaining national accreditation.  In addition, GSA partnered and provided space for the FAA, SSA, and VA who presented training for their staffs prior to our conference.  GSA also collaborated with Portland State University to offer continuing education credit (CEU), university credit and graduate credit for participants attending this training.

Each year the Cornerstone Awards ceremony is one of the most anticipated events at the GSA Child Care Conference.  The Cornerstone Award is given in recognition of the contributions of GSA employees and others whose support significantly added to the quality of our child care program.  PBS Acting Commissioner Tony Costa presented the awards and applauded the exceptional work that GSA is doing in the area of quality child care. 

This year’s Cornerstone Award recipients are:

1. Rosemary Russo, Program Analyst, New England Region
   
2. Karen Palladino, Director, Program Operations Division, New England Region
   
3. Alvaro Vargas, Occupational Safety and Health Specialist, Northeast and Caribbean Region
   
4. Mid-Atlantic, Woodlawn Field Office Team, Leroy Anderson and Mark Welborn, Mid-Atlantic Region
   
5. George Lane, Senior Assistant Regional Counsel, Southeast Sunbelt Region
   
6. The Indianapolis Team, Todd Reeder, Myrine Callahan and Ryan Raska, Great Lakes Region
   
7. Dan Rankin, Property Manager, Heartland Region
   
8. Mike Sizemore, Project Manager, Heartland Region
   
9. Nancy Anthis, Mission Support Specialist, Greater Southwest Region
   
10. Shelley Pardini, Buildings Management Specialist, Pacific Rim Region
    
11. Western Service Center Field Office Team, Bradley Keifer, Shirley Aguilera and Amy Waldrip, Northwest Arctic Region
    
12. Maria Phillips, Program Analyst, National Capital Region
    
13. Max Stempora, Program Analyst, Central Office
    
14. Ivan Swain, Director, PBS Capital Allocation Division, Central Office

During the opening luncheon Acting Commissioner Tony Costa commended Eileen Stern on her unfailing commitment to the Child Care Program and Acting Assistant Commissioner Lawrence Melton, Facilities Management and Services Programs spoke of the achievements the GSA Child Care Program has made over the past 20 years focusing on the high quality our centers provide.  He also recognized the teachers, directors, and providers who have been in GSA centers for 20 years or more as well as those that have been with a center 10 or 15 years.  The audience was then wowed by Shari Ostrow Sher, Early Childhood Education Specialist, who spoke passionately about “Making your Mark as a Leader”

Another Highlight of the Conference is the Accreditation Awards Luncheon.  This year 25 GSA-managed child care centers were recognized for achieving accreditation or re-accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).  Alison Pepper, Senior Director, NAEYC Accreditation Support Program Department, addressed the audience on the importance of achieving NAEYC accreditation and reaching that higher standard.  Accreditation hinges on key factors such as curriculum, administration, professional development, staffing, and proper attention to health and safety.  Eighty-nine percent of eligible GSA child care centers are accredited.

Tony Costa, Acting Deputy Commissioner, PBS  moderated a Senior Leadership session with panelists Eileen Stern, Director, Child Care Division, Jim Weller, Acting Regional Commissioner, Southeast Sunbelt Region and Larry Melton, Acting Assistant Commissioner, Facilities Management and Services Program.  The panel covered topics that included 54 funding issues, the new child care design services IDIQ contract, standard SFOs for leased child care space, and the role of playground safety inspectors.

Other notable workshops included Green and Sustainable Child Care Projects, Fun Ways to Fitness: Fighting Childhood Obesity, Empowering Staff, and Practicing Safe Stress.  The Conference was filled with prominent child care experts, industry representatives and government advocates that were insightful and filled with practical and effective strategies that participants could take home and use immediately. The Conference was a huge success and participants left energized and committed to continuing to improve quality child care.

• Child Care Library   
• Center for Disease Control
• Sustainable Design