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NEIGHBORHOOD and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Early Childhood Professional Learning
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July 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.
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Art and creativity play an important role in children's lives, allowing them to create connections between themselves, others and the world around them. Art prepares young children’s cognitive, social, emotional and physiological development to get them ready for school. Despite the benefits, these experiences are often undervalued in the curriculum. We will explore children’s art activities inspired by contemporary artists. We will learn how these experiences enhance learning in different domains, and we will explore local community partnerships that can be utilized.
CDA Areas: 2
VELDS: Approaches to Play and Learning
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: Stephanie Barker
Date: Wednesdays, 7/1, 7/8 & 7/22
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
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Resilience is not built through endurance alone, it is also strengthened through moments of wonder, connection, and perspective. This two-part series explores the science of awe and its impact on well-being, stress reduction, creativity, and resilience. Participants will discover how experiences of awe can broaden perspective, strengthen relationships, and reconnect leaders with meaning and purpose in their work. Through reflection, discussion, and practical application, leaders will learn how to intentionally cultivate awe in their professional and personal lives. Participants will leave with practical strategies to bring more curiosity, joy, connection, and meaning into everyday leadership.
CDA Area: 5 & 6
VELDS: Approaches to Play and Learning
CLASS Support
Domain(s):
PreK: Classroom Organization
Dimension(s):
PreK: Productivity
Instructor: Bernice Mayfield & Deborah Weigand
Date: Tuesdays, 7/7 & 7/21
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
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In today's early childhood workforce, educators need more than support they need to know they matter. This four-part leadership series explores the science and practice of mattering, drawing on the work of Zach Mercurio, Jennifer Wallace, and emerging research on workplace well-being, belonging, and employee engagement. Participants will examine how leaders create environments where educators feel seen, valued, and needed through everyday interactions and organizational practices. Through reflection, discussion, and practical application, leaders will develop strategies to strengthen relationships, improve staff engagement, and foster a culture where every individual feels they contribute to something meaningful. The series emphasizes small, intentional leadership actions that can have a lasting impact on people and program culture.
CDA Area: 4, 5 & 6
VELDS: Approaches to Play and Learning, Social and Emotional Development
CLASS Support
Domain(s):
PreK: Emotional Support
Dimension(s):
PreK: Positive Climate
Instructor: Bernice Mayfield & Deborah Weigand
Date: Wednesdays, 7/8, 7/15, 7/22, & 7/29
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
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This session is designed for educators working with infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children. Participants will explore what learning looks like for young children and what educators should be teaching in their classrooms and programs. The science of how the brain works and brain development during the first five years of life will be examined, along with the research behind the effective interactions measured through the CLASS tool. Special emphasis will be placed on supporting cognitive development through responsive and intentional interactions that promote thinking, problem-solving, language development, and learning throughout the day.
CDA: 2
VELDS: Approaches to Play and Learning, Cognitive Development
CLASS Support
Domain(s):
Infant: Responsive Caregiving
Toddler: Emotional and Behavioral Support; Engaged Support for Learning
PreK: Classroom Organization; Instructional Support
Dimension(s):
Infant: Facilitated Exploration; Early Language Support
Toddler: Regard for Child Perspectives; Facilitation of Learning and Development; Quality of Feedback; Language Modeling
PreK: Regard for Student Perspectives; Instructional Learning Formats; Quality of Feedback; Language Modeling
Instructor: Joanna Parker
Date: Thursdays, 7/9, 7/16, 7/23, & 7/30
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
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Natural materials are among the most accessible and engaging resources for supporting learning and creativity in young children. In this session, participants will explore the benefits of incorporating natural materials into children's play, exploration, and artistic expression. We will discuss key considerations for planning and facilitating nature-based experiences and examine strategies for creating meaningful opportunities for discovery and creativity. Participants will leave with practical ideas for designing nature-based art experiences and supporting children's exploration of the natural world through open-ended materials.
CDA Areas: 2 & 3
VELDS: Approaches to Play and Learning
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: Melody Passemante Powell
Date: Tuesday, 7/28
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
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Los educadores suelen ser de las primeras personas en notar fortalezas, avances o posibles inquietudes en el desarrollo de un niño. En esta sesión exploraremos cómo observar y documentar de manera objetiva, cómo mantener conversaciones respetuosas y colaborativas con las familias, y cómo apoyar el proceso de referencia a programas en la comunidad que proporcionan ayuda. Juntos, los educadores fortalecerán confianza para acompañar a las familias desde una perspectiva de apoyo y colaboración.
CDA Áreas: 4 & 5
VELDS: Desarrollo Social y Emocional, Enfoques para el Aprendizaje, Desarrollo del Lenguaje y Comunicación
CLASS Support
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
Fecha: jueves 16 de julio
Hora: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
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NEW! -
The Institute for Early Learning works to offer professional development that is relevant, responsive, and grounded in equity—and your input helps make that possible! Please use this form to share the topics and opportunities that would best support you. While we may not be able to fulfill every request, your feedback directly shapes our planning and helps us better meet the needs of our early childhood community.
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Family Child Care Business Workshops |
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In this Recognize, Report, and Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect in Virginia webinar, participants will learn about the signs of child abuse and neglect. The presentation will review and discuss mandatory reporting guidelines.
CDA Area: 5
Instructor: Megan Arias
Date: Tuesday, 7/14
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
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En este seminario web del Informante Bajo Mandato del Servicio de Protección al Menor, los participantes aprenderán sobre las señales de abuso y negligencia infantil. La presentación revisará y discutirá las pautas de informes obligatorios.
Área de CDA: 5
Instructoras: Yessina Sorto-Guzman y Ericka Varillas Galleno
Fecha: jueves, 7/16
Hora: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
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Mandatory training prior to starting the CACFP, to be repeated once per contract year. This course is offered by invitation only. This one-hour course will cover the purpose of the Child and Adult Care Food Program and explore record keeping requirements. It will review meal requirements for infants and children, as well as what to expect from your monitoring visits. Participants will also understand the civil rights requirements for family day home participation in the CACFP.
CDA Area: 5
Instructor: Jami Arocho
Date: Wednesday, 7/22
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Invitation will be sent by email.
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Capacitación obligatoria antes de comenzar el CACFP, que debe repetirse una vez por cada año de contrato. Este curso se ofrece únicamente por invitación.
Este curso de una hora cubrirá el propósito del Programa de Alimentos para Niños y Adultos, se revisará los requisitos de mantenimiento de registros. También se revisará los requisitos de comidas para bebés y niños, así como lo que puede esperar durante las visitas de monitoreo. Además, los participantes comprenderán los requisitos de derechos civiles para la participación en el CACFP en hogares de cuidado de niños.
Área de CDA: 5
Instructor: Heather Gutierrez
Fecha: miércoles, 7/22
Hora: 7:00p. m. – 8:00p. m.
La invitación se enviará por correo electrónico.
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