February 2026 Professional Learning
Below is information on upcoming virtual and in-person professional development opportunities. Detailed descriptions and registration information can be found at: fairfaxcounty.gov/EarlyChildhood. Monthly emails, including registration links, will be sent when registration opens.
To receive a certificate for in-person or webinar courses, please be sure to review the following requirements:
- To receive credit for a series with two meetings, you must attend both sessions.
- For series requiring three or four meetings, you must attend all sessions to receive credit.
- A 15-minute grace period is allowed; however, certificates will not be issued if you miss more than 15 minutes of the session.
- Certificates will be issued within 2-4 business days.
- If you can no longer attend a training you have registered for, please email NCSchildcareclasses@fairfaxcounty.gov before the scheduled date and time.
You can find references to the CDA Subject Areas, Virginia Early Learning Development Standards (VELDS), and CLASS under each Professional Learning course. Additionally, a reference to the CDA Subject Area is included at the bottom of this email.
Visual literacy, or the ability to carefully look at images or symbols and interpret meaning, is an important skill for preschoolers to develop. Art observation is an engaging and natural way to foster visual literacy in young children. In this workshop, we will discuss Harvard Project Zero’s “See-Think-Wonder" thinking routine and consider how to use this technique while looking at art with preschoolers to foster visual literacy.
CDA Areas: 2 & 8
VELDS: Approaches to Play and Learning
CLASS Support
Domain(s):
PreK: Instructional Support
Dimension(s):
PreK: Concept Development, Quality of Feedback, Language Modeling
Instructor: Melody Passemante Powell
Date: Tuesdays, 2/3 & 2/10
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
This presentation will look into the complexities of Down Syndrome in children in detail. Our discussion will cover a wide range the physical, including the physical and cognitive characteristics of Down Syndrome, the challenges that children may face in different environments, the adjustments and accommodations that can be made to support them, and various strategies for including them in our programs.
CDA Areas: 2
VELDS: Physical Development
CLASS Support
Domain(s):
Infant: Responsive Caregiving
Toddler: Engaged Support for Learning
PreK: Instructional Support
Dimension(s):
Infant: Facilitated Exploration
Toddler: Facilitation of Learning and Development
PreK: Concept Development
Instructor: Bronwyn Dean
Date: Tuesdays, 2/3, 2/10, & 2/17
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Effective leadership in early childhood goes beyond family involvement—it requires authentic partnerships built on trust, access, and shared responsibility. In this four-part leadership series, participants will explore how to create program cultures where families are active partners. Leaders will examine program climate, strengthen family access and engagement practices, and move beyond static resource lists toward meaningful community pathways. Participants will also learn the “Warm Hand-Off” approach to actively support families in connecting with services, ensuring no family falls through the cracks.
CDA Areas: 2 & 4
VELDS: Approaches to Play and Learning; Social and Emotional Development
CLASS Support
Domain(s):
Infant: Responsive Caregiving
Toddler: Emotional and Behavioral Support
PreK: Emotional Support
Dimension(s):
Infant: Relational Climate
Toddler: Positive Climate
PreK: Positive Climate
Instructor: Bernice Mayfield and Debbie Weigand
Dates: Wednesdays, 2/4, 2/11, 2/18, & 2/25
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Extended Learning: One additional credit hour per session earned through Canvas extended learning activities.
Creativity begins with exploration and can be a source of joy and excitement for children. We will discuss how children can be encouraged to explore their surroundings and experiment with different materials and activities. They should be encouraged to approach learning with enthusiasm and curiosity.
CDA Areas: 2
VELDS: Fine Arts
CLASS Support
Domain(s):
Infant: Responsive Caregiving
Toddler: Engaged Support for Learning
PreK: Instructional Support
Dimension(s):
Infant: Facilitated Exploration
Toddler: Facilitation of Learning and Development
PreK: Concept Development
Instructor: Bronwyn Dean
Date: Thursdays, 2/5, 2/12, & 2/19
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
This training focuses on creating a calm, cozy environment in every childhood setting. Participants will be introduced to the concept of "hygge" a Danish term that centers on comfort, warmth, and contentment. We will explore practical ways to bring hygge into the early childhood classroom by designing warm and inviting spaces, strengthening meaningful connections, and cultivating a sense of calm and well-being in both children and educators.
CDA Areas: 3
VELDS: Social and Emotional
CLASS Support
Domain(s):
Infant: Responsive Caregiving
Toddler: Engaged Support for Learning
PreK: Classroom Organization
Dimension(s):
Infant: Facilitated Exploration
Toddler: Facilitation of Learning and Development
PreK: Instructional Learning Formants
Instructor: Bronwyn Dean
Date: Thursday, 2/26
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
El invierno nos cuenta historias de aventuras bajo la nieve, en lo profundo del bosque, de la vida animal y la supervivencia. Esta serie de dos sesiones explorará libros infantiles que brindan conocimientos sobre la vida animal en invierno, despertando la curiosidad y el pensamiento crítico de los niños. Los educadores explorarán los libros y desarrollarán experiencias de aprendizaje significativas para implementar en el aula con sus niños en los programas.
CDA Áreas: 1, 2, y 3
VELDS: Ciencias: El mundo natural y físico
Apoyo de CLASS
Dominio(s):
Bebé: Cuidado Sensible
Niño pequeño: Apoyo Emocional y Conductual
PreK: Apoyo Pedagógico
Dimensión(es):
Bebé: Exploración Facilitada, Apoyo Temprano de Lenguaje
Niño pequeño: Consideración hacia las Perspectivas del Niño, Formatos Didácticos de Aprendizaje y Desarrollo
PreK: Desarrollo de Conceptos, Retroalimentación de Comentarios, Ejemplar el Lenguaje
Instructora: Lisseth Palacios
Fechas: martes, 5 y 12 de febrero
Hora: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Esta clase de dos sesiones ofrece un espacio de acompañamiento para los educadores(as) que ya han comenzado a implementar los cuestionarios ASQ-3 y ASQ-SE. Podremos reflexionar sobre la experiencia en el aula, resolveremos dudas reales que surgen en la práctica y compartiremos estrategias para fortalecer el uso del instrumento con confianza y sensibilidad hacia los niños y familias. También será una oportunidad para conectar con otros educadores que están recorriendo el mismo camino con la herramienta se seguimiento ASQ-3 y ASQ-SE. Experiencia con los cuestionarios es requerida para registrarse a esta clase.
CDA Áreas: Aplicable a todas las áreas
VELDS: Aplicable a todas las áreas
Apoyo de CLASS
Dominio(s):
Bebé: Cuidado Sensible
Niño pequeño: Apoyo Emocional y Conductual
PreK: Apoyo Emocional
Dimensión(es):
Bebé: Sensibilidad del Maestro
Niño pequeño: Sensibilidad del Maestro
PreK: Sensibilidad del Maestro
Instructora: Lisseth Palacios y Leah Pagala
Fechas: jueves, 19 y 26 de febrero
Hora: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
La invitación se enviará por correo electrónico.
Family Child Care Business Workshops
Proper nutrition is essential to the rapid growth and development during an infant’s first year. Learn about the requirements for the infant meal pattern, age-appropriate foods and nutritional needs to promote good health in the first year of life.
This training is offered in English and Spanish. Since both sessions cover the same material, participants may only register for and receive credit for one class.
CDA Area: 5
Instructor: Jami Arocho
Date: Wednesday, 2/4
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Una nutrición adecuada es esencial para el rápido crecimiento y desarrollo durante el primer año de un bebé. Conozca los requisitos para el patrón de comidas para bebés, los alimentos apropiados para la edad y las necesidades nutricionales para promover la buena salud en el primer año de vida.
Esta capacitación se ofrece en inglés y español. Dado que ambas sesiones cubren el mismo contenido, los participantes solo pueden inscribirse y recibir crédito por una sola clase.
Área de CDA: 5
Instructora: Patricia Quezada
Fecha: miércoles,18 de febrero
Hora: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Introduction to Family Child Care, new providers will hear information on Safety and Health, Nutrition, Programming and Professionalism. This training will use the Introduction to Family Child Care Handbook to guide the course material.
CDA Area: 1, 3, 5, & 6
Instructors: Tracey Brown and Tye Nesbitt
Date: Saturday, 2/21
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Invite will be sent via email.
En la capacitación Introducción al Cuidado Infantil Familiar, los nuevos proveedores recibirán información sobre Seguridad y Salud, Nutrición, Programación y Profesionalismo. Esta capacitación utilizará el Manual de Introducción al Cuidado Infantil Familiar para guiar el contenido del curso.
Área de CDA: 1, 3, 5, & 6
Instructoras: Nancy Hackett and Patricia Quezada
Fecha: sábado, 21de febrero
Hora: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
La invitación se enviará por correo electrónico
Tax filing for a daycare business can be complex. Here is your opportunity to take a deeper look at IRS Tax Forms! In this training, we will do a quick overview of IRS form 1040 and then do a deeper review of Schedule C - Profit or Loss From a Business form.
CDA Area: 5
Instructor: Rose Yaguchi
Date: Tuesday, 2/24
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Invite will be sent via email.
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