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Shine Symposium: Empowering Early Childhood Educators

Kristin Wise
Jul 31, 2025
Posted by: Kristin Wise

Shine Symposium: Empowering Early Childhood Educators

The SHINE Symposium took place at the Kalahari Resort’s Convention Center Friday, July 26 and Saturday, July 27, 2025, bringing together 571 early childcare program teachers and 178 child care program directors in central Texas. It was hosted by Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area and Workforce Solutions Capital Area and designed specifically for early child care educators. The two-day event delivered both inspiration and practical strategies to strengthen early learning environments and elevate the quality of care and instruction.

Keynote Inspiration: Jason Kotecki & DJ Batiste

Each day began with powerful keynote presentations. Jason Kotecki opened with a refreshing message on mindfulness, creative play, and keeping perspective—reminding educators that “adultitis” doesn’t have to take over. That joy should be part of every day. DJ Batiste followed with his dynamic musical storytelling and reflections on joy, purpose, and connection, showing early childhood professionals the lasting impact of their work with young children.

Together, their messages inspired personal reflection and a renewed commitment to the field. As PJ Jahidi, the Director from Hilltop Children’s Center in Liberty Hill, shared, “Early childhood education is very important—it is the foundation of growth for children to have a successful path through their educational career.”

Sessions with Impact

Across both days, attendees explored breakout sessions that focused on real-world applications and professional development. Sessions were tailored to meet the diverse needs of both directors and classroom teachers, creating space for personalized learning and skill-building.

A wide variety of topics were presented throughout the Symposium such as: Sparking Joy: Creating Treasure Baskets for Babies; High-Quality Care for Infants and Toddlers; Typical Behaviors for Infants; Toddlers and Twos; and Baby Talk & Tummy Time. Educators walked away with actionable tools to strengthen responsive caregiving, deepen their understanding of child development, and foster stronger communication in the classroom.

Debbie Tate, a teacher at Our Growing Child in Dripping Springs, said, “I learned a lot from the Pathways to Literacy session. There were so many hands-on ideas that I can take back to the classroom and use right away.”

Community & Networking

Beyond sessions, the SHINE Symposium created opportunities for meaningful connections. Networking breaks, group discussions, and shared meals allowed participants to build supportive relationships, swap ideas, and tackle shared challenges together.

Impact & Reflection

By the end of the weekend, attendees reported feeling re-energized and better equipped to support their teams, classrooms, and children. Teachers gained confidence in nurturing developmental milestones, while directors discovered new tools to improve staff engagement and program quality. Participants left with practical resources—from behavior guidance strategies and sensory play ideas to emergency planning templates and budget tools—all designed to be implemented immediately.

Final Thoughts

The SHINE Symposium delivered a powerful combination of motivation, skill-building, and collaboration. With inspiring keynote speakers, rich breakout sessions, and a spirit of community educators left with renewed sense of purpose, deeper insight, and practical tools needed to elevate the care and learning of young children across Central Texas.


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