Workshops
Practical, hands-on workshops presented by experienced and knowledgeable professionals are the heart of this conference. The workshop choices have been expanded to give each early childhood professional the opportunity to attend sessions directly applicable t0 her/his needs and interests. Free 35th Anniversary give-a-ways.
Commercial Exhibits
This year's vendor options have been expanded again. We have added an array of exhibitors with exciting materials for you to see and purchase. Be sure to plan time for exploring this area. An early childhood educators’ heaven!
Congratulations!
Two prominent early childhood educators, Shirley K. Morgenthaler and Marilyn K. Lindeman, co-founders of Concordia’s Early Childhood Conference, are being celebrated for their hard work and dedication to creating and maintaining the conference.
Shirley K. Morgenthaler, EdD, Distinguished Professor of Education at Concordia University Chicago, is a respected early childhood educator, author, speaker and researcher. Her career spans more than 40 years including the publication of the highly recognized book, Right From the Start: A Parent’s Guide to the Young Child’s Faith Development.
Morgenthaler is a graduate of Erikson Institute and Loyola University where she earned a doctorate in early childhood education. She also holds a master’s degree from National Louis University and a bachelor’s degree from Concordia Teacher’s College, River Forest.
In 1974, Morgenthaler began the early childhood program at Concordia and followed that with the laboratory school, resource center and the annual early childhood conference. She has served as president of the Chicago Area and Illinois Associations for the Education of Young Children.
Marilyn K. Lindeman taught for more than 30 years at St. Andrew Lutheran School. In 1997, she was awarded the Kohl McCormick Early Childhood Teaching Award and was inducted into the Kohl Academy for Outstanding Educators.
A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Lindeman earned her master of arts in 1981. She was a student of Dr. Lilian Katz. Also a graduate of Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, she was selected as Alumna of the Year by Concordia-Chicago in 1987.
Lindeman was on the planning committee for the first Early Childhood Conference. She continues to be active on the Northern Illinois District Elementary School Committee for The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod as the early childhood coordinator.
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