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NEIGHBORHOOD and COMMUNITY SERVICES
Early Childhood Professional Learning
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November 2026 Professional Learning
Below is information about upcoming virtual and in-person professional development opportunities offered through the Institute for Early Learning (IFEL).
Registration for professional development courses is now completed through the Early Learning Management System (ELMS). ELMS allows educators to explore available courses, register for professional development opportunities, track completed training, and access certificates in one convenient location.
Getting Started with ELMS
To register for professional development courses, educators must create an ELMS account and complete the Educator Registration process. Educators affiliated with a child care program may need approval from their program's designated Point of Contact (POC) before accessing courses. Once registration is approved, educators can browse the Course Catalog and enroll in available courses.
Professional Development Attendance and Certificate Requirements
To receive professional development credit and a certificate for in-person or virtual courses, please review the following requirements:
- Course Series: Educators must attend all required sessions to receive credit for a series, whether it includes two, three, four, or more sessions.
- Attendance: A 15-minute grace period is permitted. Educators who miss more than 15 minutes of a session will not receive credit or a certificate.
- Certificates: Certificates will be available through ELMS within 2 to 4 business days after successful completion of all course requirements.
- Cancellations: If you can no longer attend a course for which you have registered, please notify IFEL at NCSchildcareclasses@fairfaxcounty.gov before the scheduled course date and time.
Professional Learning References
Course descriptions include references to the Child Development Associate (CDA) Subject Areas, Virginia Early Learning and Development Standards (VELDS), and Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS), as applicable.
A reference guide to the CDA Subject Areas is also included at the bottom of this email.
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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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Challenging behaviors can often occur in early childhood years, and it can be difficult for educators to know the best way to respond. We will explore simple, strengths-based strategies that can be used to respond to and redirect challenging behavior. When children’s challenging behavior is addressed appropriately, children become emotionally aware problem solvers and continue to use those skills throughout life.
CDA Areas: 3 &7
VELDS: Social and Emotional Development
CLASS Support
Domain(s):
Infant: Responsive Caregiving
Toddler: Emotional Behavioral Support
PreK: Classroom Organization
Dimension(s):
Infant: Teacher Sensitivity
Toddler: Behavior Guidance
PreK: Behavior Management
Instructor: Stephanie Barker
Dates: Thursdays, 11/5, 11/12 & 11/19
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
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Early childhood leaders often feel pressure to remain positive and available, even when they are carrying stress, exhaustion, or personal challenges. Inspired by Steve Burns’s ZERO TO THREE keynote theme, this series explores the emotional demands of leadership and the importance of caring for the adults who care for children. Through reflection, mindful practices, and practical leadership strategies, participants will explore emotional honesty, supportive relationships, and workplace conditions that sustain well-being. Leaders will connect these practices to CLASS and Virginia’s Early Learning and Development Standards (VELDS) and develop a plan for supporting themselves, their teams, and responsive care for children. Each session includes facilitated reflection, collaborative analysis, active application, and an extended learning experience completed through the Early Learning Management System (ELMS).
CDA Areas: 6
VELDS: Social and Emotional Development
CLASS Support
Domain(s):
Infant: Responsive Caregiving
Toddler: Emotional and Behavioral Support
PreK: Emotional Support; Classroom Organization
Dimension(s):
Infant: Relational Climate
Toddler: Positive Climate
PreK: Positive Climate
Instructors: Bernice Mayfield and Debbie Weigand
Dates: Wednesdays, 11/4, 11/11 & 11/18
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
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Helping children navigate their emotions is an important part of early childhood education. This session focuses on supporting children as they navigate nerves. We will define nervousness, differentiate nerves from anxiety, and discuss the benefits of nerves. We will learn how to help recognize nerves in children and explore how to help children recognize this emotion within themselves. We will explore various techniques and tools, which engage the whole child to support children when they feel nervous. Literature is an excellent tool to help children process emotions, especially the more challenging ones, like nervousness. We will read three children’s books and explore ways these books can be used in conjunction with the techniques and ideas we reviewed in session one to help children navigate nerves. We will explore techniques and activities paired with each book and work together to create additional activities and techniques participants can take back to their classrooms.
CDA Areas: 3
VELDS: Social & Emotional Development; Communication, Language & Literacy Development; Health & Physical Development
CLASS Support
Domain(s):
Toddler: Emotional and Behavioral Support
PreK: Emotional Support
Dimension(s):
Toddler: Teacher Sensitivity & Regard for Child Perspectives;
PreK: Teacher Sensitivity & Regard for Child Perspectives
Instructor: Melody Passemante Powell
Date: Tuesday, 11/10
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
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Step into the colorful world of children's literature in this engaging session for early childhood educators. We will introduce a curated selection of new and diverse children's books that inspire curiosity, imagination, and a love for reading. Discover books that reflect a wide range of cultures, experiences, and themes, offering rich opportunities for social-emotional learning, language development, and creative expression. Let's turn the page to a new chapter in early childhood education—one filled with vibrant books that captivate and inspire!
CDA Areas: 2, 3 & 8
VELDS: Communication, Language, and Literacy Development
CLASS Support
Domain(s):
Infant: Responsive Caregiving
Toddler: Emotional Behavior Support
PreK: Emotional Support
Dimension(s):
Infant: Early Language Support
Toddler: Regard for Child Perspectives
PreK: Regard for Student Perspectives
Instructor: Leah Pagala
Date: Wednesday, 11/18
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
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In this webinar, Understanding and Managing Food Allergies, you will learn all about food allergies: the causes and symptom; major food allergens; understand the differences between food allergies and intolerances; and how to manage day-to-day challenges to keep children safe from food allergy reactions.
CDA Area: 2
Instructor: Tye Nesbitt
Date: Wednesday, 11/4
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
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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.
Área de CDA: 2
Instructora: Patricia Quezada Palomino
Fecha: viernes, 6 de noviembre
Hora: 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
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En este seminario web “Comprender y Manejar las Alergias Alimentarias”, aprenderá sobre las alergias alimentarias, incluyendo sus causas y síntomas, los principales alérgenos alimentarios y las diferencias entre las alergias e intolerancias alimentarias. Además, conocerá estrategias para manejar los desafíos diarios y ayudar a mantener a los niños seguros de las reacciones alérgicas a los alimentos.
Área de CDA: 2
Instructora: Patricia Jordan
Fecha: lunes, 9 de noviembre
Hora: 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
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Are you ready to strengthen your childcare program and create an environment where children can learn, grow, and thrive? This virtual training introduces childcare center operators and family home providers to Virginia’s Child Care Financing Program, a resource designed to help you enhance your facilities, upgrade equipment, and make meaningful quality improvements.
Whether you are an established provider or just beginning your childcare journey, this session offers a clear, high level overview of how to access funding for playground enhancements, classroom furnishings, technology, and other essential improvements that support children’s education, health, safety, and wellness. You will learn who qualifies, how the program works, what you can use the funding for, and what to expect during the application process.
Join us to explore practical steps that make financing simpler, strengthen your program, and support the families you serve. This training provides the confidence and clarity you need to turn your ideas into real improvements with the support of the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority.
CDA Area: 5
Instructors: Women’s Business Center and Karen White
Date: Tuesday, 11/10
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
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La clase Proveedores Saludables, Niños Saludables, esta enfocada en información y conocimiento que los proveedores de cuidado de niños familiar pueden usar para nutrir su propia salud e implementar medidas de prevención para protegerse a sí mismos y a los niños bajo su cuidado.
Área de CDA: 2
Instructor: Fairfax County Health Department
Fecha: martes, 17 de noviembre
Hora: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 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: Gene Anderson
Date: Wednesday, 11/18
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
Instructora: Patricia Quezada Palomino
Fecha: miércoles, 18 de noviembre
Hora: 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
La invitación se enviará por correo electrónico.
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