The Conference Is Over – Now What?

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EXTENDING THE LIFE OF YOUR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING


Professional learning opportunities, specifically workshops and conferences, are among the most exciting places to be as an early childhood education and care leader. The chance to step away from your day-to-day work, reflect deeply on your growth and the state of the profession, and learn from many diverse individuals is stimulating and dynamic. It can also bring unique challenges, namely, what do you do when it's over?


You may feel overwhelmed, inspired, or fatigued. These are all normal. But once you've unpacked your bags and gotten a good night's sleep, you'll want to capitalize on all you took away from your professional development experience. Using the ideas below, you can ensure that your insights and learnings continue growing beyond the days you attended the conference. Instead of gathering dust, you'll gather momentum.


ORGANIZE YOURSELF


You’ve likely come out of this experience with much more than you entered it with: intangibles, like ideas, wonderings, a-ha moments, and likely many tangibles like notes, flyers, brochures, and branded gifts! It can feel like an overwhelming amount of “stuff.” Dedicate time to sort through it all. Determine what you want to keep, and put things where they belong. Organize these items according to your intended use. Here are some suggestions for how that might look: 


  • Notes: You likely took many notes, and you may have them in a multi-media format (something scribbled on a post-it, perhaps, or a photo of a slide). Bring all of the information you want to remember to a central location. You may like to type up everything into a document. You could have a folder on your computer for professional development containing a Word document for each conference and workshop you attend. Or you can group items by function. For example, all your notes on compliance may go with your previous professional development on licensing and compliance. Whatever the system, ensure your new learnings quickly join the rest of your information and knowledge.
  • Promotional materials: Water bottles, notepads, and product samples. The list goes on. Sort through those things and put them where they need to go. For example, my McCormick Institute for Early Childhood tote is stored with my reusable grocery bags, and my Leadership Connections 2026 boat is in my desk drawer, ready to squeeze in a stressful moment.
  • Connection materials: These are the business cards you may have collected. Any brochures or handouts for organizations you want to follow also belong here. You'll want them together to use them for the next step. 


REFLECT AND CONNECT


You'll want to think deeply about all the information you took in. It likely all seemed vital and exciting in the moment, and much of it still is. But now that you're out of the excitement and long days that come with conferences, determine the most helpful information. Make a list of what you want to keep front-of-mind.


And once that’s done, remember the little stack of connection materials you made? Go through them! This is one of my favorite parts about a professional development experience – you've met wonderful people and don't want that professional bond to end. Whatever social networks you use, jump on and connect! Maybe it's following Michelle Kang on LinkedIn after her remarks at the Colloquium or browsing the new MIEC website. Was there a presenter you couldn't stop thinking about? Find them and send them a message – tell them how exciting it was to sit in their session. You'll never know when these professional acquaintances will have a meaningful impact on your growth.


DEBRIEF WITH COLLEAGUES


A colleague once said that the best way to learn something is to teach it to someone else. If your colleagues did not have a chance to join you in this experience, bring the experience to them. Schedule a lunch-and-learn with your staff to share the knowledge you gained with them. Use this as an accountability checkpoint for yourself. You can discuss any actionable changes you're considering with them so they know what to look for. Make it exciting! Show the photos you took, and display the additional materials presenters posted in the conference app (for example, the LC25 App or here for Android phones).


If you were able to attend with colleagues, schedule a separate debrief with that group. Share what you learned with one another. Someone may have a perspective from a workshop you hadn't considered. This helps maintain accountability and lets you process all your learnings.


TAKE SUSTAINABLE ACTION


You likely want to do so much based on all the learning you did. Start immediately by taking one small action. It can be as small as emailing your local legislator and discussing the importance of quality early-childhood learning experiences for all children. Maybe you want to purchase a copy of Dan Wuori's book to put in your site’s professional development library. Was there a Professional Learning offering that you wanted to recommend to a colleague?


Extend your learning onward


The most crucial step to take is to keep the momentum going. Your energy and enthusiasm about what you've learned may not always be as high as it is right after a conference. Use this opportunity to plan intentional experiences for your future self. You may want to research and register for other workshops related to the informative sessions you attended. You could schedule regular reflective sessions for your leadership practice and check in with how you're applying those actionable steps from above. It could be as simple as marking your calendar for Leadership Connections 2026. Whatever your next step is, your look to the future will propel your professional development onward while keeping you connected to the knowledge you've gained.

Natalia Ambrozek, B.S., is a Quality Assessment Coordinator at the McCormick Institute for Early Childhood at National Louis University. Natalia earned a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in French at DePaul University and has since completed her ESL endorsement. Previously, Natalia taught for over 10 years in Chicago in Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms and has experience as an Assistant Director. Natalia is also part of the leadership team for the Illinois Southland chapter of NAEYC and an alumnus of the Maria Whelan Leadership Institute.

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My Bookshelf: Titles That Inspire, Inform, and Influence

By Barb Volpe • July 14, 2025
by barb volpe This summer, as I dove into Mindset : The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck, I found myself reflecting on the books that have shaped how I think, lead, coach, and grow—not just as a professional, but as a person. These books have informed how I show up in my work: how I support others, design and facilitate professional learning, and continue to learn myself. So, I thought I’d share what’s on my shelf—the books I’ve read and returned to, and the ones I’m looking forward to next. Maybe one will speak to you, too. Books I’ve Read (or Reread) This Year (These have sparked recent insights or support current work.) The PD book: 7 Habits that Transform Professional Development by Elena Aguilar and Lori Cohen . I love a book that is a perfect blend of the “why” and “how to” for designing transformational professional development. I am a big fan of Elena Aguilar’s books, and this is one of my favorites. Lose the Lecture: Engaging Approaches to Early Childhood Professional Learning by Teresa A. Byington . Another great book with lots of tips and strategies to engage early childhood adult learners. This book is great for those who facilitate (coaches, mentors, early childhood directors, and trainers). It gave me new tools for designing interactive sessions. Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard by Chip Heath and Dan Heath . A go-to resource on leading change, packed with memorable stories and practical strategies. The ideas of “directing the rider, motivating the elephant, and shaping the path” stuck with me. The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever by Michael Bungay Stanier . This book is approachable, concise, and surprisingly powerful—it offers a way to ask key questions for coaching in your regular routine. Onward: Cultivating the Emotional Resilience in Educators by Elena Aguilar . I found myself returning to this throughout the year. It’s not just a book—it’s a companion through the ups and downs of working in education. Books I Return to Again and Again (These books live close by. They are grounding, uplifting, and continue to offer new insights no matter how many times I read them.) Learning to Listen, Learning to Teach: The Power of Dialogue in Educating Adults by Jane Vella . Every time I revisit this book, I’m reminded of the power of listening and true dialogue in adult learning. A must-read for anyone who facilitates learning. Circle of the Nine Muses: A Storytelling Field Guide for Innovators and Meaning Makers by David Hutchens . A playful and powerful guide to using storytelling in professional settings. I return to it when I want to bring more heart and creativity into facilitation. Inspiring Peak Performance: Competence, Commitment, and Collaboration by Paula Jorde Bloom, Ann Hentschel, and Jill Bella . An excellent guide for leaders aiming to build strong teams. It offers frameworks that feel grounded in real early childhood contexts. Reflecting in Communities of Practice: A Workbook for Early Childhood Educators by Deb Curtis, Debbie Lebo, Wendy C.M. Cividanes, Margie Carter . A hands-on, thoughtful workbook that helps teams go deeper together. The reflection prompts are gold for peer learning teams and coaching. The Art of Awareness: How Observation Can Transform Your Teaching by Deb Curtis and Margie Carter . Reading this feels like an invitation to slow down and truly see children. A beautiful reminder of why observation matters. Leading with Heart and Soul by Toni Christie . A heartfelt book on leadership that blends personal reflection with professional purpose. It speaks to the soul of early childhood leadership. I simply love this book; it brings me back to my “why”. Graceful Leadership in Early Childhood Education by Ann McClain Terrell . This book models leadership that is dignified, values-driven, and relationship-based. It’s like a wise mentor in book form. The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander . This book helps me reframe challenges and step into possibility. It’s equal parts philosophical and practical—a favorite when I need inspiration. Books Waiting for Me (On my “to-be-read” list, each is chosen with curiosity and intention. I’m looking forward to what they will teach me!) Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact by Dan Heath and Chip Heath Joy, Inc.: How We Built a Workplace People Love by Richard Sheridan Small Teaching: Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning by James M. Lang Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor Respect: An Exploration by Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot Exit: The Endings That Set Us Free by Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot These books have informed how I lead, learn, and reflect. I share this list not as a prescription, but as an invitation. I’d love to hear what’s on your bookshelf! Here are a few questions to get you thinking: What is a book that shaped your thinking or affirmed your values? Which titles do you return to again and again—and why? What kind of learning or growth are you seeking right now? Is there a book that might support that journey? What book would you recommend to someone stepping into leadership for the first time? Is there a story or quote from a book that has stayed with you? Each time I finish a good book, I feel like something in me has shifted—even if just a little. The stories, ideas, and questions stay with me and often show up in unexpected ways in my work and life. As Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. said, “The mind, once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions.” I share this list not because I have all the answers, but because these books have helped stretch my thinking—and maybe one or two of them will do the same for you.
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