ABC’s of Child Care Conference

How to Work with Anyone - Hayley Jackson Perez

Imagine if your most important professional relationships could be stronger, more collaborative and — let’s be honest — less awkward. Based on Michael Bungay Stanier’s powerful framework from Working with Almost Anyone, this session explores how to proactively design better working relationships through courageous conversation, clarity and compassion. We’ll unpack the five essential questions that help build “Best Possible Relationships” with colleagues, coaches and collaborators. This session blends reflection, real talk and practical tools to help you navigate trust, tension and teamwork with intention. You’ll walk away with a powerful framework to strengthen any working relationship, five conversation starters that transform collaboration, clarity about your own working style and relational needs and tools to name and navigate tension before it takes over.

A. Summer Fun - Mindy Young

Summer will soon be here! It’s time to think about enjoying the outdoors with developmentally appropriate activities that won’t break the bank. Using your understanding of child development, you will create activities that provide opportunities for learning through play. Summer fun experiences for engaged learning through play — what more could you ask for?

B. Little Kids Brains and Screens - Sarah Landell

In this workshop, participants will explore the science behind healthy brain development with a focus on children from birth to age eight. We will examine how screen exposure affects the developing brain, identify common symptoms of screen overuse and discuss the impact of addictive screen habits. Attendees will deepen their understanding of early brain development, learn to recognize the signs of excessive screen use in young children and walk away with practical, evidence based strategies they can use in their early childhood settings to prevent — and even reverse — harmful or addictive screen behaviors.

C. Light and Shadow Play - Tasha Wulf

Light and Shadow Play is a hands on, engaging training designed for early childhood educators. Participants will explore the many ways children learn through investigating lights and shadows and will gain a deeper understanding of how these experiences support development. The training will highlight strategies for facilitating meaningful light and shadow play, helping educators extend and advance children’s learning through intentionally designed play stations. By the end of the session, educators will understand the benefits of light and shadow play, feel confident in engaging both children and families in these experiences, and be equipped with practical approaches to enrich children’s physical and intellectual development.

A. Life Cycle of a Child Care Business - Jessica Campos

This session guides you in turning your idea into a child care small business using SBA data and trend resources. Through the Child Care Business Life Cycle, we will explore the start up phase, strategies for expansion and what it takes to transfer ownership, sell or close your business. Participants will develop a preliminary business plan outline aligned with the early stages of the child care business life cycle, apply the framework to map the path from start up to growth and eventual exit, and create a basic exit strategy that considers selling, transferring ownership or winding down a child care business.

B. Light and Shadow Play - Tasha Wulf

Light and Shadow Play is a hands on, engaging training designed for early childhood educators. Participants will explore the many ways children learn through investigating lights and shadows and will gain a deeper understanding of how these experiences support development. The training will highlight strategies for facilitating meaningful light and shadow play, helping educators extend and advance children’s learning through intentionally designed play stations. By the end of the session, educators will understand the benefits of light and shadow play, feel confident in engaging both children and families in these experiences, and be equipped with practical approaches to enrich children’s physical and intellectual development.

C. Autism - Aaron Bly and Jenny Daup

This presentation offers an overview of how sensory processing affects children with autism and equips child care providers with simple, practical tools to create calmer, more supportive environments. By the end of the session, learners will be able to explain how sensory processing differences commonly influence behavior, communication and learning; identify signs of sensory overload and recognize typical sensory triggers in everyday settings; and apply effective strategies to support sensory regulation and design more accessible spaces for children with autism.

How to Work with Anyone Part 2 - Hayley Jackson Perez

The closing session will build on the conversation started in the opening session. The focus will continue to be learning how to work with almost anyone, but this session will dive deeper into refocusing our attention on the joy in the work we do and the joy created through building trusting relationships with children, families and colleagues. How do we stay grounded in joy, stay motivated and continue to do the work? This session will offer strategies educators can use to keep their attention on joy and collaboration, even in the midst of chaos.

Hayley Jackson Perez

With over two decades of experience in early childhood education, Hayley has had the privilege of working with children, teachers and leaders in a variety of roles. Her journey began in the classroom, where she spent years as an early childhood teacher, and it continued through positions as a director and instructional coach. This on-the-ground experience has given her a unique perspective, firmly rooted in the everyday realities of early childhood spaces.

Hayley has dedicated her career to this field, earning both a bachelor's and a master's degree in Early Childhood Education. Her academic background combined with extensive practical experience allows her to bridge the gap between educational theory and real-world application.

Aaron Bly

Aaron is the founder and Executive Director of the Kids & Dreams Foundation. The organization's mission is to provide support to individuals and their families who are living with autism, bullying and other special needs challenges. He spent more than twenty‑five years in the banking industry, but his real passion is helping families who are on a journey similar to his own. Aaron and his wife Kerri have five kids including two sons who have autism.

Sarah Landell

Sarah is wife to Elijah and mom to four. With nearly two decades in early childhood education, Sarah has served as a center director and leader supporting children, families and educators. She is passionate about developing women leaders in early childhood education and co-owns Rising Tide Leadership Development, where she works as a coach and trainer alongside her husband. Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree in education and human sciences from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and is actively involved in advocacy and community leadership. Her involvement includes Nebraska Parent Ambassador (Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative), Vice President of her local St. Paul Early Childhood Foundation, Policy Leadership Academy Class 7 (First Five Nebraska) and ScreenStrong Ambassador.

Jessica Campos

Jessica Campos is the Women’s Business Center Director for the Center for Rural Affairs where she leads the strategic, operational, and financial management of WBC program aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs. Often in partnership with the Small Business Administration, Jessica’s responsibilities include overseeing business training and counseling, managing grant compliance, fostering community partnerships and reporting on economic impact metrics.

Before starting her job with the Center for Rural Affairs Jessica was a Senior Business Banking Specialist for Wells Fargo Bank, where she gained financial knowledge and became a business advocate. After a successful career helping small businesses financially throughout Central Nebraska, Jessica now combines her passion for helping small business owners and entrepreneurs with helping rural communities thrive through business development and education. “I moved to Grand Island, Nebraska, from Houston, Texas, when I was five years old and have known Nebraska to be my home ever since. Rural America holds a special place in my heart because I have had the opportunity to grow up here—the values I have gained growing up in a small community are the same values I would like my children to grow up with.”

Tasha Wulf

Tasha Wulf is an Early Childhood Extension Educator with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. She holds a bachelor’s degree in human resources and family and consumer sciences from the University of Nebraska–Omaha and Lincoln, an Infant Specialist Certificate from the Erikson Institute, and a master’s degree in education from Concordia University.

With more than 25 years of experience in the early childhood field, Tasha provides research-based training and resources for caregivers and educators of children from birth to age five. Her work focuses on strengthening caregiver confidence, supporting positive relationships, and translating child development research into practical, relationship-centered strategies for early learning environments.

Jenny Daup

Jenny Daup, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist for 30 years in school systems, pediatric hospitals and outpatient clinics in Virginia and Nebraska. She is the assistant director of Operation Shine Camp which is a camp for children in Nebraska who have autism and autism-related conditions. Jenny serves students ages 0-21 in ESU 15 and ESU 16 schools.  She is a member of the Nebraska Western Region Autism team and has presented at the Nebraska ASD Network conference, the Kids & Dreams Autism conference and at multiple education conferences and educational service units throughout the state.  She lives in Gothenburg, Nebraska, with her husband (also an OT) and their two ornery dogs, Bentley and Liam.