Present at the 2026 Early Childhood Professionals’ Summit
Share Your Voice. Strengthen Our Field.
Thank you for your interest in presenting at BY5’s Second Annual Early Childhood Professionals’ Summit!
Young children, families, and early childhood educators thrive because of dedicated, knowledgeable professionals like you. This Summit is designed to honor and uplift our profession while creating meaningful opportunities for learning, connection, and inspiration across East Central Indiana.
The 2026 theme, Play Builds Brains, Advocacy Builds Futures, reflects our shared belief that joyful, responsive learning experiences and strong advocacy are foundational to thriving children, families, and communities.
We are especially excited to welcome Indiana’s very own Heather Bernt-Santy, MA.Ed., “That Early Childhood Nerd,” as our keynote speaker.
We invite you to join us as a breakout session presenter and help spark ideas, conversations, and connections that strengthen our field.
We’re Looking For Sessions On:
Teaching & Learning
Advocacy for children and programs
Play and playful transitions
Brain development & executive functioning
The science of reading
ACEs, neurodiversity & challenging behavior
Culturally responsive practices
Family engagement
High-quality interactions
Nature play
Process art vs. product art
Supporting different types of play
Professional Practice & Leadership
Business & legal practices
HR, documentation & compliance
Fundraising, budgeting & sustainability
Marketing & grant writing
Responsible AI use
Professional communication & self-advocacy
Understanding the legislative process
Career pathway development
Self-care & burnout prevention
Other relevant early childhood topics are also welcome.
Key Dates
Proposals Due: March 13, 2026
Presenters Notified: By April 3, 2026
Draft Presentation Due: April 10, 2026
Final Presentation Due: April 17, 2026
Submission does not guarantee acceptance. Photos will be taken during the event and may be used for promotional purposes.
Accessibility
BY5 is committed to an inclusive and positive conference experience. For accommodation requests, contact:
Emma Dragoo
emma@muncieby5.org
Ready to Share Your Voice?
We are deeply grateful for the dedication, care, and expertise you bring to early childhood education. We hope you will consider presenting and contributing to a day designed to elevate, educate, and empower our profession.