Orange County Association for the Education of Young Children

08/26/2026

🌿 Reflect. Reconnect. Rejuvenate. 🌿
Join Start Well for their 3rd Annual Gathering—a morning dedicated to connection, reflection, and renewal within our early childhood community.

📅 Saturday, August 29, 2026
⏰ 8:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
📍 Quail Hill Community Center
39 Shady Canyon Drive, Irvine, CA 92603

Registration is required and space is limited, so be sure to reserve your spot!

🔗 Register here: https://forms.gle/8vbtsAgCXCtxZVAK6

We hope to see members of our Orange County early childhood community there!

Thank you for your interest in the Start Well 2026 Gathering! We are excited to invite you to a morning dedicated to reflection, reconnection, and rejuvenation—because caring for young children begins with caring for ourselves and one another. Join fellow early childhood professionals for an inspi...

08/18/2026

Calling all Family Child Care providers!
Join us THIS Thursday, August 20th for our FCC Committee Meeting — a space to connect, share ideas, and support one another. See you on Zoom, 6:30-7:30 PM!

: ¡Un llamado a todos los proveedores de Cuidado Infantil Familiar!
Únanse este jueves 20 de agosto a nuestra Reunión del Comité de FCC — un espacio para conectar, compartir ideas y apoyarnos mutuamente. ¡Nos vemos por Zoom, de 6:30 a 7:30 PM!

08/10/2026

Meet the 2026–2027 OCAEYC Board & Director!

Please join us in welcoming the dedicated leaders who will serve OCAEYC this year! We are excited to bring together both returning and new board members, united by a shared passion for advancing early childhood education and supporting the educators, children, and families in our community.

🧡 President: Monique Rico
🧡 Past President: Dr. Cheryl Sosa
🧡 Vice President of Membership: Poly Pantelidou, Ed.D.
🧡 Secretary: Allyson Ventura
🧡 Treasurer: Lauralee Cabibi
🧡 Fund Development Chair: Nikita Ganatra
🧡 Board Development Chair: Dr. Gayle Bentley
🧡 DEI Chair: Keisa Jones
🧡 Member Services Chair: Wilhelmina (Willie) Burghard
🧡 Professional Development Chair: Noelle Cook
🧡 Social Media Chair: Devan Upchurch
🧡Family Child Care Committee Chair: Nelly Galeana
🧡 Director: Dr. Kristina Atler

As we celebrate 70 years of OCAEYC, we look forward to a year of collaboration, innovation, and advocacy. Together, we are committed to strengthening our early childhood community through meaningful professional development, member engagement, leadership, and partnerships that help every child, educator, and family thrive.

Please join us in welcoming and congratulating this outstanding leadership team. We are honored to serve alongside one another and excited for all that lies ahead!

🧡 Here's to a year of connection, growth, and impact!

07/27/2026

Our OCAEYC Board Retreat was an inspiring day of collaboration, reflection, and visioning at the beautiful Environmental Nature Preschool in Newport Beach. 🌿

Surrounded by nature, our Board of Directors came together to strengthen our strategic plan, deepen our intentionality, and align our collective efforts to best serve the early childhood education community in the year ahead. Through meaningful dialogue, thoughtful planning, and a shared commitment to our mission, we are building a stronger foundation for advocacy, professional development, and quality early learning opportunities across Orange County.

Thank you to our dedicated board members for your passion, leadership, and unwavering commitment to ensuring that every child, educator, and family has the opportunity to thrive. The future is bright, and we are excited for all that lies ahead!

07/14/2026

Registration Link: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=lQAEqG1xSU63g7X3Ru6os9yHChSY0WhPjtiQrrMutWtUNzA1TEdFTEw3TjlZSUJRQzZVRUlIM0gxNi4u&route=shorturl

07/13/2026

07/08/2026

Teacher Tip Wednesday

One of the most powerful teaching tools isn't found on a lesson plan, it's the relationship you build with each child.

When children feel safe, seen, and valued, they're more willing to explore, take risks, solve problems, and engage in learning. Positive relationships create the foundation for healthy development and lifelong learning.

This week, challenge yourself to make one intentional connection with each child:
- Greet them by name.
- Listen with curiosity.
- Celebrate their efforts.
- Be fully present in the moment.
Small moments of connection can have a lifelong impact.

Connection comes before correction. Every child. Every day.
How do you intentionally build relationships in your classroom? We'd love to hear your favorite strategies in the comments!

06/25/2026

Teacher Tip Wednesday

Summer is filled with opportunities for meaningful learning!

Young children learn best through play, exploration, and everyday experiences. Whether they're reading with a caregiver, exploring nature, creating art, asking questions, or simply enjoying time outdoors, these moments build language, curiosity, creativity, and confidence.

As educators, we can encourage families to embrace the learning that's already happening all around them. Sometimes the simplest experiences create the most lasting memories.

☀️ This summer, encourage children to:
- Read together every day
-Explore the outdoors
-Create with open-ended materials
-Engage in meaningful conversations
-Move, play, and discover

The best summer learning looks like play because play is learning!

How are you encouraging playful learning this summer? Share your favorite ideas in the comments!

06/21/2026

OCAEYC was proud to partner with First 5 Orange County and an outstanding group of community organizations to host a professional development and resource event focused on strengthening the early childhood education workforce. The event brought together ECE professionals, center directors, and business owners to explore key topics including business acumen, workforce development, staffing solutions, leadership, and long-term sustainability.

Through collaborative presentations, networking opportunities, and resource sharing, participants gained valuable tools and strategies to support high-quality programs while building sustainable businesses that serve children and families. Events like these reflect OCAEYC’s commitment to advancing the early childhood profession, fostering strong community partnerships, and ensuring that educators and program leaders have the support they need to thrive.

Together, we are investing in the success of the early learning workforce and building a stronger future for young children and families throughout Orange County.

06/19/2026

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO APPLY!

🌟 Calling All Vietnamese-Speaking Family Child Care Providers! 🌟

Do you have 5+ years of experience as a Family Child Care Provider and a passion for helping others succeed?

OCAEYC is looking for dedicated Vietnamese-speaking leaders to join our Peer Guide Team and help support, mentor, and empower Family Child Care Providers throughout Orange County!

As a Peer Guide, you will:
✨ Mentor and encourage fellow providers
✨ Share your expertise and real-world experience
✨ Strengthen leadership and coaching skills
✨ Expand your professional network
✨ Make a meaningful impact in the Early Childhood Education community

💰 Peer Guides receive a stipend for their contributions.

Qualifications:
✔ Current Family Child Care Provider
✔ Minimum 5 years of experience
✔ Fluent in Vietnamese and English
✔ Passion for supporting and mentoring others
✔ Commitment to leadership and professional growth

Applications Close TODAY – June 19, 2026!

Don’t miss this opportunity to grow as a leader while helping strengthen Orange County’s Family Child Care community.

Please share with your colleagues, friends, and networks!

Together, we can expand support and opportunities for Vietnamese-speaking providers across Orange County.

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