NMAEYC Annual Conference

Join us for the largest Early Childhood Education Conference in New Mexico!

Save the Date for NMAEYC 2023!

March 31 – April 1, 2023

UNM Student Union Building

Early Bird Registration opens November 14.

Hotel rates for 2023 conference:

Home2Suites: $159 per night

Hotel Parq Central: $175 per night

Attendees will need to call the hotel directly to book the room under: NMAEYC Conference

Stay tuned for more details!

Sean Buchanan

Keynote Speaker

Sean Buchanan is an author, international speaker, consultant, and public school superintendent. He has become a leading expert in forming connections with and motivating educators through leveraging the power of human connection. His student-first philosophies have been presented to, and implemented by, thousands of educators both nationally and internationally. Mr. Buchanan was born and raised in Oklahoma, and has dedicated his life to inspiring educators and driving student achievement.

About the Keynote

Educators today face many challenges. Oftentimes, situations beyond our control such as poor funding or lack of parental support can exasperate us. In fact, many educators today find themselves “at the end of their rope” when it comes to getting students to succeed, especially in the twilight of a global pandemic. What principles can allow an educator to get out of a mode centered around surviving, and into a mode centered around THRIVING? Attend this fast paced and humorous session to find out!

NMAEYC 2023 Annual Conference

This Year’s Theme: The Power of Play in Our Everyday

Play in our every day, is part of what makes childhood fun, but it’s also essential and critical work! Playing builds the skills that help kids grow into capable, competent people. Research indicates that play is a young child’s natural language, benefitting their cognitive and social development. Play is the way in which kids act out their experiences and make connections that help them understand their world. Additionally, play boosts creativity, helps kids develop their interests, helps kids become resilient, provides them with great social benefits, and… is great exercise, and so much more! The 2023 NMAEYC conference will help shed more light on the Power of Play in our Everyday.

Early Bird Registration is Now Open!

Click Here to Register

Schedule of Events

Friday, March 31^st

8:00am: Badge Pick up

8:00am: Vendors/Exhibitors open up

10:00am – 12:00pm: 6 concurrent Preconference Workshops

12:00pm-1:00pm: Lunch on your own

1:15pm- 3:00pm: Preconference sessions resume

6:00-8:00pm: Reception at Hotel Parq Central Apothecary Lounge

Saturday, April 1st

7:00am: Badge Pick up

7:00am: Breakfast buffet opens

7:30am – 8:30am: Opening Remarks / Keynote – Grand Ballroom

8:00am: Vendors/ Exhibits open up

8:30am-9:30am: concurrent sessions

9:45am – 10:45am: concurrent sessions

11:00am-12:00pm: LUNCH on own

12:15pm-1:15pm: concurrent sessions

1:30pm-2:30pm: concurrent sessions

2:45pm – 3:45pm: concurrent sessions

Conference ends at 4pm

Conference Proposals, Applications, and Exhibitor and Sponsor Registration

Session proposals, exhibitor and sponsor registrations, and volunteer and scholarship applications are now open.

Volunteers and scholarship recipients will receive a complimentary one year NAEYC membership valued at $30. Apply below.

Submit a Session Proposal (English)

Submit a Session Proposal (Spanish)

Volunteer Application

Scholarship Application

Exhibitor Registration

Become a Sponsor: NMAEYC Conference 2023 Sponsorship Levels

Bronze ($500-$999): You will receive a 6’ table for exhibiting at the NMAEYC Annual Conference, get one free conference registration, and be mentioned in the Annual Conference Program

Silver ($1,000-$1,999): You will receive a 6’ table for exhibiting at the NMAEYC Annual Conference, get two free conference registrations, and be mentioned in the Annual Conference Program.

Gold ($2,000-$4,999): You will receive a 6’ table for exhibiting at the NMAEYC Annual Conference, four free conference registrations, featured in Annual Conference digital signage, and the Annual Conference Program.

Platinum ($5,000-$9,999): You will receive a 6’ table for exhibiting at the NMAEYC Annual Conference, six free conference registrations, featured prominently on NMAEYC Social Media platforms, in Annual Conference digital signage, and the Annual Conference Program.

Diamond ($10,000-$24,999): You will receive a 6’ table for exhibiting at the NMAEYC Annual Conference, ten free conference registrations to distribute to your employees or members, featured prominently on our Social Media platforms, receive top billing in our Annual Conference digital signage, and in the Annual Conference Program.

Ruby ($25,000-$39,999): You will receive a 6’ table for exhibiting at the NMAEYC Annual Conference, twenty free conference registrations to distribute to your employees or members, featured prominently on our Social Media platforms, receive top billing in our Annual Conference digital signage, and in the Annual Conference Program.

Presenting ($40,000 or more, one sponsor only): You will receive a 6’ table for exhibiting at the NMAEYC Annual Conference, thirty free conference registrations to distribute to your employees or members, be listed as the presenter in all Conference logos, digital/print media, and on the NMAEYC website (i.e., “The 2023 NMAEYC Annual Conference presented by YOUR ORGANIZATION OR BUSINESS), your name and logo will appear alongside the NMAEYC logo on all conference bags, featured prominently on our Social Media platforms, receive top billing in our Annual Conference digital signage, and in the Annual Conference Program.

Sponsor Registration

Annual Conference

by Simone Seagle | Sep 21, 2020

NMAEYC 2022 was a fantastic success! We hosted over 800 attendees, nearly 50 exhibitors and sponsors, and over 70 engaging sessions at UNM’s Student Union Building in the heart of the campus.

Come back and see us next year as we continue to grow this wonderful event.

2022 Keynote Speaker:

Dr. John W. Hodge

Dr. John W. Hodge is president and co-founder of Urban Learning and Leadership Center (ULLC), an organization focused on student achievement and reduction of the achievement gap. He has served as a reading teacher, English teacher, AVID teacher, Assistant Principal and Associate Director of AVID Center Eastern Division. He served as Director of An Achievable Dream Academy, an inner city school that piloted many of the interventions used by Urban Learning and Leadership Center. An Achievable Dream Academy is a high performing, high poverty school that has received numerous national awards.

Watch his moving keynote speech here!

NMAEYC 2022 Conference Presenation Videos

Refresh your memory with videos of presentations from our 2022 conference.

2021 Virtual Conference Keynote Speech

PBS Dinosaur Train host and California Academy of Sciences director Scott Sampson gives a wonderful talk about how to get our kids out into nature.

The video begins with opening remarks by Albuquerque First Lady Elizabeth Keller and then followed by some remarks by Executive Director Alicia Borrego and Board President Kathy DeSoto-Strickland.