The Early Educators Leadership Conference (EELC) is a national event that supports a broad vision to advance and unify the early childhood education workforce, inspire early childhood educators, elevate educational leaders, and foster professional development.

The 2025 EELC theme is “Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence: Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders.” This year’s conference will take place October 8-11, 2025, in Orlando, Florida. We look forward to welcoming you to the beautiful Renaissance Orlando at Seaworld.

At the 2025 Early Educators Leadership Conference you will have an opportunity to strengthen your skills through engaging, interactive sessions and events that will delve into the areas of advocacy, equity, diversity, inclusion, innovation, and workforce development. Each session is curated to include presenters that provide hands on experiences, expertise and access to valuable resources to enhance your leadership toolkit.

Our all-inclusive, retreat-style conference will continue with health and wellness programing, deluxe hotel accommodations, gourmet meals, special events and time to fellowship and network with conference presenters’ sponsors, and attendees.

The sessions focus include:

• Shaping Future Policies through Evidence and Advocacy: Gain insights into the development of evidence-based policies for early childhood education. We will delve into the role of specialized technical assistance in supporting legislative caucuses and committees, as well as uncover experiences that illustrate successful advocacy for early education initiatives. Together, let’s amplify the voices of stakeholders within the early childhood landscape.
• Empowering Early Educators through Credentialing: Highlight the significance of the Child Development Associate® (CDA) Credential™ and the role of innovative learning technologies in enhancing access to professional development for early educators. We will delve into the integration of AI-driven tools and personalized learning strategies, as well as initiatives that engage diverse stakeholders to overcome barriers to access. Together, let’s celebrate the success stories that showcase effective workforce innovations.
• Collaborative Leadership for ECE Advancement: Explore models for fostering collaboration among various stakeholders in early childhood education. We will delve into effective communication strategies, innovative collaboration tools, and proven methods to align early learning providers, community leaders, and investors. Together, let’s identify actionable insights for building a cohesive and responsive early education system that reflects the needs of children and families.
• Cultivating Inclusive Excellence in Early Childhood: Discover the essential role of diversity in early education through the lens of inclusive leadership practices. We will delve into succession planning and leading system development, highlighting how culturally relevant practices and social-emotional learning contribute to effective leadership. Together, let’s identify actionable strategies for aligning diverse groups and fostering inclusive environments.

Join us in Orlando!

Note: All Early Childhood Education Leaders Conference sessions will be presented in English. Interpretation services will be available for attendees in several languages, including Spanish. Interpretation for simultaneous sessions is limited. Instructions on how to access the interpretation service will be provided prior to the event. If you have questions, contact cdaevents@cdacouncil.org.