The Utah State Board of Education is rolling out the welcome mat for early childhood educators, administrators, parents, and other stakeholders with the announcement of the 2025 Utah Preschool Conference (UPC). This year, the conference is going virtual, cosponsored by the Utah Education & Telehealth Network (UETN). Participants are invited to log in on November 14 and 15 for a series of Zoom Events aimed at enhancing early learning opportunities within the state.
Scheduled to run over two days, the UPC is packed with keynote speeches, panel discussions, and interactive workshops, all under the theme "Bridging the Gap: Building Stronger Connections for Early Learning Success." According to the Utah State Board of Education, the event is free and sets out to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among the preschool community. It will focus on innovative teaching strategies, increasing family engagement, and promoting inclusive practices in early childhood education.
Day one's highlight will feature a presentation by Kelly Noorda from Promise Partnership Utah and Meridith Karppinen of Weber State University, introducing "Utah's Kindergarten Readiness Pathway." Noorda emphasized the state's commitment to kindergarten preparedness, saying, "the overarching goal is to foster a community-wide approach to kindergarten readiness," as reported by the Utah State Board of Education.
The follow-up act on Saturday strengthens the lineup with Dr. Rich Nye, who currently serves as Senior Advisor for Education to Governor Spencer J. Cox, set to deliver his perspective on the event's core theme. Nye's keynote, tethered to the role of establishing stronger foundations for early learning success, is slated from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
