Child Care Provider Professional Development Series

Description

Program: Bringing the Classroom Outside
Speaker: Brenda Holopirek, Regional Community Consultant at ChildCare Aware of Kansas
Course Description: Join us as we discuss and identify elements of design for a cost effective outdoor learning environment. Attendees will receive 2 hours of KDHE health and safety approved training.

We are also pleased to offer FREE fingerprinting services at this event from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Preference will be given to child care providers and their spouses whose fingerprints expire within 45 - 60 days of each event. Fingerprinting will also be provided during the remaining Child Care Task Force of Ellis County evening meetings from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Welcome Center at 2700 Vine Street on June 25th and September 24th, and the Child Care Provider Professional Development event scheduled for November 14th from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Child care providers will be treated to a delicious meal from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., with the formal workshop beginning at 6:30 p.m. There will also be a prize drawing for attendees that evening. This is a wonderful opportunity for child care providers to connect with fellow professionals and build strong networks.
Thanks to the Robert E. & Patricia A. Schmidt Foundation for sponsoring this year’s Child Care Provider Professional Development series as well as the Child Care Task Force of Ellis County for providing these quarterly opportunities to area child care providers.

Brenda's Bio: Brenda Holopirek is a Professional Development Trainer and Regional Community Consultant with Child Care Aware of Kansas. She is passionate about children and their development in their early childhood years.  Brenda herself is a lifetime student in staying at the leading edge of early childhood development and best practices. 

Brenda has served as a director of a childcare center for 5 years, owned her own preschool program for 5 years, director for Head Start program 12 years, family service worker, and Lead teacher for birth - 6 years of age. She has worked with K-6th graders in after school programs, summer programs and tutoring with Ameri-Corps. She has also served as the children’s minister 9 years in Texas and 3 years in Dodge City and 3 years in Larned Kansas. 

Brenda started babysitting at the age of 12 and has never stopped working with children in one way or another. Brenda has her National Directors Credential’s, a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Family Counseling and her Early Childhood Endorsement. 

She has 5 children of her own and 8 grandchildren that are the apple of her eye.

Brenda loves the outdoors and is passionate about getting children outdoors as much as possible. She will be speaking to you tonight about how to take the classroom outdoors. Her mantra is, “Anything you do indoors you can do outdoors, but not everything you do outdoors can you do indoors”.