NMAEYC Annual Conference
Join us for the largest Early Childhood Education Conference in New Mexico!Welcome to the NMAEYC Conference page. On this page you can view our past and present professional development conferences.
Coming to Las Cruces October 20-21, 2023


Friday, October 20, 2023
Networking Reception
Please join us on October 20, 2023 at the NMSU Golf Course banquet room from 6pm – 9 pm for a reception. There will be hors d’Oeuvres and non-alcoholic drinks. A cash bar will be available to purchase your own beer, wine, and cocktails.
Todos Unidos PLI Agenda
Tickets are $25 per person. Breakfast, lunch, drinks, and snacks are included.
All attendees will receive a 1 year entry NAEYC membership ($30 value) and a $20 discount code to attend NMAEYC 2024 Annual Conference.
Friday, October 20, 2023
- Networking reception 6pm – 9pm at the NMSU Golf Course Banquet Room.
Saturday, October 21, 2023
- Registration check-in begins at 7:30 am
- Continental breakfast opens at 7:45 am
- Opening remarks 8 am -9:45 am
- With speeches from Dr. Stacy Gherardi; the Lieutenant Governor, Howie Morales, and a performance by Ballet Folklorico of Las Cruces. The keynote will be given by Dr. Loui Reyes.
10am-12pm Sessions:
Advocacy & public policy – CHI St. Joseph’s Children – Jessa Cowdrey
NAEYC Accreditation part 1 – Kathryn Montiel and Victoria Carbajal-Rodriguez
Spanish Language – Play – Dr. Loui Reyes
Early Intervention – Michelle Pruitt
FYI+ – Trauma in the Classroom: Community Solutions for the Social Emotional Learning Environment – Jolene Martinez, LCSW and co-presenter Lisa Chavez, LISW
————— Lunch Break ——————
1pm-3pm Sessions:
Advocacy 101 and Dona Ana County Organizing – Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) – Brady Steel and Pamela Munoz
NAEYC Accreditation part 2 – Kathryn Montiel and Victoria Carbajal-Rodriguez
Integration of Emergent Literacy Across a Culturally Inclusive Spectrum: Our Classroom to Familial Home Environments Post Quarantine – Glass Family Research Center – Dr. Angela Owens
Home Visiting – CHI St. Joseph’s Children – Maria Navarro
You Could Save a Life: Child abuse & bullying prevention with Kids Empowered – Diane Alongi Berger
We have arranged a special rate for Todos Unidos attendees at the Hilton Garden Inn (2550 Don Roser Drive, Las Cruces, NM 88011). To reserve your room at the arranged $139 per night please click here or cal (575) 522-0900 and mention SRP CODE: NMAEYC.
NMAEYC and/or NAEYC are not finanically responsible for travel or hotel costs.
Annual Conference

2024 Conference Pricing
Early bird registration – Nov 13 – Jan 5
Non-Member
Pre-conference Only: Early bird – $115; Regular – $135Conference Only: Early bird – $195; Regular – $215
Pre-conference and Conference: Early bird – $285; Regular – $300
Member
Pre-conference Only: Early bird – $100; Regular – $120
Conference Only: Early bird – $120; Regular – $140
Pre-conference and Conference: Early bird – $200; Regular – $225
New or Renewing Member
- Pre-Conference Only: Early bird – $90; Regular – $110
- Conference Only: Early bird – $110; Regular – $130
- Pre-Conference and Conference: Early bird – $190; Regular – $215
Exhibitor pricing: $40 per table
NMAEYC Conference 2024 Sponsorship Levels
- Copper ($200-$499): You will receive a 6’ table for exhibiting at the NMAEYC Annual Conference, get two free conference registration; be mentioned in the Annual Conference Program, and a social media sponsorship “thank you”.
- Bronze ($500-$999): You will receive a 6’ table for exhibiting at the NMAEYC Annual Conference, get two free conference registration; be mentioned in the Annual Conference Program and two social media sponsorship “thank you”.
- Silver ($1,000-$1,999): You will receive a 6’ table for exhibiting at the NMAEYC Annual Conference, get four free conference registrations, and receive space for a quarter page (3.5”W x 4.5”H) ad in our Annual Conference Program, and two social media sponsorship “thank you”.
- Gold ($2,000-$4,999): You will receive a 6’ table for exhibiting at the NMAEYC Annual Conference, six free conference registrations, featured in Annual Conference digital signage, and receive space for a half page (7.5”W x 5.5”H) ad in our Annual Conference Program, and three social media sponsorship “thank you”.
- Platinum ($5,000-$9,999): You will receive a 6’ table for exhibiting at the NMAEYC Annual Conference, eight free conference registrations, featured prominently on NMAEYC Social Media platforms, in Annual Conference digital signage, and receive space for a full page (7.5”W x 10”H) ad in our Annual Conference Program.
- Diamond ($10,000-$24,999): You will receive a 6’ table for exhibiting at the NMAEYC Annual Conference, fifteen 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 receive space for a full page (7.5”W x 10”H) ad in our 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 receive space for a full page (7.5”W x 10”H) ad in our 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 2024 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 receive space for two full page (7.5”W x 10”H) ads in our Annual Conference Program.
The 2024 NMAEYC bulk registration form will be available as of November 13, 2023.
NMAEYC 2023 Annual Conference: The Power of Play in Our Everyday
NMAEYC 2023 was a smashing success! We had over 1050 attendees – our largest conference in recent history; over 55 exhibitors and sponsors, and more than 75 concurrent sessions. We’re amazed with how much our annual conference grows each year, and can’t wait to do it again in 2024!
Don’t forget to check out our upcoming Southern NM Professional Learning Institute, which will be happening October 20-21, 2023 in Las Cruces. We look forward to seeing you soon and at next year’s conference.
Thank you to this year’s keynote speaker, Sean Buchanan. We’ve received nothing but positive feedback about his keynote address.
Below you will find presentations from NMAEYC’s 2023 Annual Conference.
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.
2020 Conference Keynote Speech
Author and illustrator Suzanne Kaufman talks about her story and the importance of inclusivity.
Conference Highlights from Previous Years
Watch one of these videos to see what in-person NMAEYC conferences have been like!
NMAEYC is now a virtual organization!
Mailing address:
1933 San Mateo Blvd NE #258
Albuquerque, NM 87110
PHONE: 505 264 5464
info@nmaeyc.org