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Elevating Early Childhood Family-Teacher Conferences: From Meetings to Meaningful Connections
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EDT
Presented by Dr. Tricia Shelton, Assistant Professor, Slippery Rock University
Moderated by Stephanie Roselli, Executive Editor, Gryphon House, Inc.
Sponsored by Gryphon House
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
This edWebinar aims to transform the way early childhood educators approach family-teacher conferences by shifting the focus from routine meetings to meaningful, relationship-centered interactions. Viewers explore practical strategies that foster trust, encourage two-way communication, and prioritize student growth and family engagement.
The session includes discussion of research-informed strategies, conversation guides, and planning tools. Emphasis is placed on culturally responsive communication, goal setting with families, and navigating difficult conversations with empathy and clarity.
Learning objectives include:
- Explore inclusive, strengths-based practices that center family voices
- Develop tools to prepare, structure, and follow up on conferences with intentionality
- Reflect on how conference interactions impact school-family partnerships and student success
Early childhood educators, school leaders, and family engagement staff leave with actionable ideas to make conferences more personalized, purposeful, and empowering for all stakeholders. This edWebinar supports stronger home-school collaboration and helps teachers build confidence in engaging families as true partners in the learning process.
About the Presenter
Dr. Tricia H. Shelton is a nationally recognized expert in early childhood education, family engagement, and equity-centered school leadership. With over two decades of experience as an educator, K–4 principal, and higher education faculty member, she brings a unique blend of classroom expertise and research-informed leadership to her work.
Currently an Assistant Professor at Slippery Rock University, Dr. Shelton’s scholarship focuses on inclusive practices and dismantling systemic inequities that impact marginalized children and families. Her work empowers future educators to lead with cultural responsiveness, empathy, and a strong sense of social justice. A passionate advocate for family-school partnerships, Dr. Shelton is dedicated to helping educators build meaningful, affirming relationships with families that support student success and create thriving school communities.
About the Moderator
Stephanie Roselli is the Executive Editor at Gryphon House, Inc., the leading publisher of educational resources for teachers and parents, where she acquires and develops the latest books from today’s top early childhood experts.
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Join the Early Learning Book Chats community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.
Gryphon House, Inc. is an award-winning publisher of early childhood resources for teachers and parents.
