Preschool Staff is Inspired and Unified by ACSI Conference

Grace Preschool Staff, led by Director Dawn Munden, recently gathered together for a development day and off-campus retreat. We are blessed to have leaders at Grace who value our staff and desire to cultivate their skills through conferences and other development opportunities throughout the year. Not only are professional skills enhanced by these events, but morale is strengthened because of the personal bonds that are formed and deepened by them, leaving us better equipped to make a lasting difference in the lives of the children at Grace.

About the conference, Sandy Smith said, "What a wonderful opportunity to have our whole staff attend the ACSI Early Education Conference and put into practice what we learned in our break-out sessions. My favorite part was fellowship with our staff on the car ride home. I loved the chance to get to know each other better and laugh like little school girls as we playfully joked around with one another".

Director Dawn Munden described the day for us; "Attending the ACSI Early Education Innovate Conference as a preschool team was a powerful reminder of our shared calling and passion for the ministry of teaching. The event took place at Vanguard University and gave us a chance to step away from daily routines, recharge, and grow both professionally and relationally.

In the main session, keynote speaker, Carly Bedard, M.A. Ed., shared a message centered on the power of play, reminding us that active exploration is fundamental to how young children process the world, build social-emotional connections, and experience God’s love. Carly had us engage in interactive play activities ourselves, stepping into our students' shoes and reminding us of the wonder and joy of hands-on learning. 

Through the various breakout sessions, our teaching team gained research-informed insights, practical classroom strategies, and actionable ways to naturally weave biblical truth into our daily routines and play activities. 

Although we were there mainly for a professional development opportunity, there was plenty of time for laughing and collaborating with one another. Spending quality time together strengthened our relationships and refreshed our team.  We returned to our classrooms inspired, unified, and ready to make a lasting, Christ-centered impact together."

To learn more about Grace Preschool, click here.