Early Childhood Educator Series

Greensboro Day School is proud to host a free professional development experience for preschool, childcare, and early childhood educators. This program is open to those in Greensboro, the Triad, and beyond! Join GDS faculty experts for engaging sessions, hands-on learning, and collaborative opportunities designed to inspire your teaching practice. Connect with fellow educators, explore new strategies, and take home tools to help in your classroom.

Date: Thursday, October 29, 2026

Location: Helen Monroe Preschool at Greensboro Day School (4700 Lake Brandt Road)

Schedule

5:30 p.m.: Arrival/Check-In and Networking (Helen Monroe Preschool)
5:45 p.m.: Breakout Sessions begin
6:45 p.m.: Transition to Keynote Session
7–8:30 p.m.: Keynote Speaker: Dr. Peter Gray, Kaplan Lobby

This professional development opportunity is free of charge.

Parking and Map

Parking is available at the Helen Monroe Preschool (4700 Lake Brandt Road). A map is available here.

Contact Hours

Contact hours are offered, and training certificates are available after completion of breakout sessions and Keynote Speaker Sessions. Please refer to individual session descriptions.

Helen Monroe Preschool

4700 Lake Brandt Road
Greensboro, NC 27455

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Breakout Sessions

Supporting Child Wellness in Early Education

1 contact hour

Young children’s emotional and social well-being plays an important role in their ability to learn, connect, and thrive. This session will explore practical, developmentally appropriate strategies you can use to support children’s social-emotional wellness in the classroom. Participants will learn ways to recognize and respond to children’s emotional needs, build strong and trusting relationships, support healthy emotional expression, and create a classroom environment where every child feels safe, valued, and supported. Participants will walk away with practical tools to implement in your routines and interactions.

Presenter: Becca Helms-Krizmanich

Becca brings a decade of experience in early childhood education and currently serves as a three-year-old homeroom teacher at Greensboro Day School. She holds a degree in Human Development and Family Studies from UNCG and is currently pursuing her M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from A&T State University. Becca is passionate about supporting wellness in the early years and looks forward to connecting and sharing with fellow educators who share that commitment.

Growing Great Thinkers: Deepening Discovery Through Playful Learning

1 contact hour

Participants are invited to explore the relationship between emergent play and purposeful instruction. Together, we will discover how to tap into the potential of the learning environment to drive cognitive growth. The session centers on Intentional Scaffolding, a powerful approach where educators observe the child’s play and use interventions, such as strategic questioning and modeling, to elevate thinking and encourage complex problem-solving. Participants will gain an understanding of this approach and a practical toolkit to transform their classrooms into hubs of learning and discovery.

Presenter: Rebecca Holland

Rebecca has a degree in Elementary Education and a Birth-Kindergarten licensure. She brings more than 20 years of classroom experience and is currently a three-year-old Homeroom Teacher at Greensboro Day School. She is committed to a student-centered, experiential approach using play as a primary vehicle for learning.

Managing Challenging Behaviors

1 contact hour

In this session, we will discuss how to support preschool teachers in recognizing, understanding, and effectively responding to challenging behaviors in young children. The training emphasizes proactive, relationship-based strategies that create predictable, nurturing environments where children feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. Teachers will walk away with developmentally appropriate strategies, communication techniques for partnering with families, and a deeper understanding of how to support each child’s emotional needs while maintaining a positive, inclusive classroom environment.

Presenters: Ariel Everett and Carly Lucas

Ariel brings extensive teaching experience to Greensboro Day School, where she serves as a three-year-old Homeroom Teacher. She has been a valued member of our faculty for several years. Ariel has a bachelor’s degree in Birth-Kindergarten Education from UNC Greensboro and holds a North Carolina Birth-Kindergarten teaching license.

Carly brings more than a decade of early childhood education experience and currently teaches two-year-olds at Greensboro Day School. She received her bachelor’s degree from UNC Greensboro and holds a Birth-Kindergarten Education and Special Education license. She also holds a master’s degree in Education from UNC Chapel Hill with a focus on Birth-Kindergarten, Early Intervention, and Family Support.

Creative Art Through Sensory Exploration

1 contact hour

Explore how sensory experiences can enhance creative expression in young children. Educators will learn simple, hands-on art techniques that engage the senses, support developmental milestones, and encourage open-ended exploration. Participants will leave with practical ideas, material suggestions, and confidence in creating meaningful, sensory-rich art experiences in the classroom.

Presenters: Sharina Campbell

Sharina Campbell holds a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood from A&T State University. She works on our two year old team as an assistant teacher.

Kelly Lawless has been in the field of Early Childhood for over a decade, supporting infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children. She works on our three-year-old team as an assistant teacher.

Loose Parts, Big Learning

1 contact hour

This session introduces the power of loose parts—open-ended materials that can be moved, combined, redesigned, and repurposed in countless ways—to foster creativity, problem-solving, and flexible thinking in young children. Participants will explore why these materials are essential in early learning environments and how they support cognitive, social, and motor development. The session will highlight different types of loose parts, their benefits, common challenges, and practical solutions. Attendees will leave with ideas for designing engaging loose-parts spaces and strategies for observing and extending children’s thinking through play.

Presenter: Melissa Lehman

Melissa graduated from Meredith College with degrees in Child Development and Psychology. She received her Birth-Kindergarten teaching license from UNC Greensboro and brings more than 20 years of teaching experience, most of which has been spent as a Junior Kindergarten homeroom teacher at Greensboro Day School, working with four- and five-year-olds.

Space Matters: Setting Up Your Environment for All Students

1 contact hour

This session invites you to explore the critical role physical space plays in supporting young children’s learning and well-being. Participants will take a guided walk-through of each grade level to observe room design in action, noting how layout, materials, and intentional choices shape children’s experiences. The session will also highlight the balance between quiet and active areas, as well as thoughtful design and color palettes that create calm, engaging, and developmentally supportive environments.

Presenter: Emilee Transou

Emilee has spent over a decade working with young children and now serves as the Preschool Assistant Director and Music & Movement Teacher at Greensboro Day School. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies and a Master of Education degree (Birth-Kindergarten license). Emilee is also an adjunct instructor at UNC Greensboro, teaching classes with an emphasis on social and emotional development and curriculum.

Building Your Classroom Community

1 contact hour

This session focuses on building a strong, connected classroom community where students feel valued, seen, and heard. Through interactive activities, you will explore ways to foster collaboration, empathy, and a sense of belonging among students. The session will also provide exposure to frameworks such as Responsive Classroom and Social Thinking, highlighting strategies that support social-emotional growth and positive relationships. Participants will leave with practical ideas to cultivate a classroom culture where every child feels included and empowered.

Presenters: Michelle Browning and Leslie Eckle

A smiling woman with long blonde hair stands in front of a blurred green background, appearing to be outdoors.

Michelle has a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from UNC-Greensboro. She is a Junior Kindergarten Homeroom Teacher at Greensboro Day School.

Leslie has a degree in Early Childhood Education from The Ohio State University. Leslie is a Junior Kindergarten Homeroom Teacher at Greensboro Day School. She is also a certified yoga instructor.

Building the Brain and Body for Success

1 contact hour

In this session, participants will discover the significant impact physical skills and activity have on the brain. You will walk away with strategies for building a learning environment where movement is welcome, and you’ll receive practical takeaways for using simple steps to engage children’s minds and bodies in large- and small-group learning.

Presenter: Suzanne Billips

Suzanne holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from Wingate University and an M.Ed. in Reading Education from UNC Charlotte. She has experience teaching in a variety of classroom settings and serves as a Learning Support Coordinator at Greensboro Day School.

Keynote Speaker: Raising Resilient, Happy Kids: The Roles of Free Play and Other Independent Activities in Children’s Healthy Psychological Development

1 contact hour

Join us for a thought-provoking presentation by renowned developmental psychologist Dr. Peter Gray. Drawing on decades of research in psychology, education, and evolutionary biology, Dr. Gray makes a powerful case: play isn’t a break from learning—it is learning. Come away with a renewed understanding of your child’s most natural and powerful learning tool—and how to protect it in a world that undervalues it.

Presenter: Dr. Peter Gray

Dr. Peter Gray is a research professor of psychology at Boston College, where he taught for more than 30 years. He is known for his work in evolutionary psychology, education, and the role of play in child development. His recent work explores how children learn naturally through play and self-directed exploration—ideas he explores in his influential book Free to Learn (Basic Books, 2013). Dr. Gray authors a regular Substack series entitled Play Makes Us Human and is a founding member of the Alliance for Self-Directed Education and the nonprofit Let Grow.

In This Section

Early Childhood Educator Series

Parking and Map

Contact Hours

Helen Monroe Preschool

Breakout Sessions

Supporting Child Wellness in Early Education

Growing Great Thinkers: Deepening Discovery Through Playful Learning

Managing Challenging Behaviors

Creative Art Through Sensory Exploration

Loose Parts, Big Learning

Space Matters: Setting Up Your Environment for All Students

Building Your Classroom Community

Building the Brain and Body for Success

Keynote Speaker: Raising Resilient, Happy Kids: The Roles of Free Play and Other Independent Activities in Children’s Healthy Psychological Development

Registration