Southern Arizona Association for the Education of Young Children

05/15/2026

Registration for the 2026 Southern Arizona Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference is now open! We are excited to launch a new and easier registration platform this year. Registration videos and more information are available at SAZAEYC.org.

05/13/2026

We our so proud of our student representative!!! Congratulations, Mackenzie!!!

Congratulations to Mackenzie Frithsen for being named this year’s Outstanding Senior for the College of Education!

Winning Outstanding Senior is truly an honor and a privilege, and I am ecstatic to accept this award. Throughout my time at the College of Education, I have learned about the importance of access to information as well as building and contributing to the community. These are lessons I will carry with me for the rest of my life. As I look forward, I plan to teach within my Tucson community for a couple of years before pursuing a master's in education policy.

Mackenzie Frithsen

05/08/2026

We’re building this year’s conference one voice, idea, and experience at a time ✨ The call for presenters for the 2026 Southern Arizona Association for the Education of Young Children Conference is officially open! Share your passion, strategies, and stories as we explore The Architecture of Belonging: Building Spaces Where Every Child Fits.

Link in bio and on SAZAEYC website! Submit a proposal and help inspire our early childhood community today 💛

05/04/2026

Meet Jimmy Wells, this year’s Frances Miller Community Action on Behalf of Young Children Award winner!

Jimmy is a preschool teacher, a mentor, an advocate, and a community builder. His classroom has a 5-star Quality First rating. His impact? Immeasurable.
From championing children’s rights to empowering families and fellow educators, Jimmy embodies what it means to have a fierce devotion to this profession.

Congratulations, Jimmy. We are so proud to celebrate you! 🎉

05/02/2026

It’s here! The 2026 SAZAEYC Annual Conference Theme is The Architecture of Belonging: Building Spaces Where Every Child Fits! Save the date, November 21, 2026! More info to come soon!

04/17/2026

Families are a child’s first and most important teachers. Today we celebrate the partnerships that help children learn, grow, and thrive. Thank you for being part of our learning community! ❤️

04/16/2026

Congratulations to Jessica Brock, our Paraprofessional/Support Staff Award winner and one of Dietz K-8’s biggest hearts! Jessica was nominated by multiple colleagues and it’s easy to see why. She puts children first, every single time. From lovingly preparing her classroom to subbing across the building, creating visual schedules for an inclusive Pre-K environment, and keeping families in the loop every step of the way, Jessica shows up with her whole heart.

Her background as a behavioral support specialist, PE teacher, and parapro means she’s truly seen it all; and she keeps coming back to early childhood because that’s where her gifts shine brightest. Today her parents joined us, the staff shared some well-deserved cake, and we got to honor someone truly deserving. We are so lucky to have you, Jessica!

04/16/2026

Art encourages creativity, confidence, and self-expression. Today we explore colors, textures, and imagination while creating unique masterpieces. Every child is an artist! 🖌️

04/15/2026

Kick off Week of the Young Child with a little music, movement, and joyful reading 🎶🚌

It’s Music Monday! Sing, clap, and roll along with Wheels on the Bus, a favorite that brings rhythm and language to life for little learners. Did you know you can read and sing along to this classic in both English and Spanish for FREE on the Make Way for Books App? Music builds early literacy skills by helping children hear sounds, learn new words, and connect through joyful moments with the adults in their lives 💛 📲

Download the app today and take storytime on the go...anytime, anywhere.