NMAEYC Annual Conference
Join us for the largest Early Childhood Education Conference in New Mexico!See You at NMAEYC 2023!
March 31 – April 1, 2023
UNM Student Union Building
Hotel Rates for Conference
Home2Suites: $159 per night – SOLD OUT!

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!
Want to know what to do in Albuquerque when not at conference?
Click here to check out what’s happening in ABQ during your stay.
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.
NMAEYC 2023 Conference Registration is Now Open!
NMAEYC Program and Session Schedules
Schedule of Events
Friday, March 31st
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 *Sponsored by Lakeshore Learning
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 Pricing
Below you will find all of the pricing for NMAEYC 2023. Please reach out if you have any questions!
Pre-Conference and Conference
Renewing Member Fee – $200 + the cost of the membership of your choice
Non-Memeber Fee – $285
Member Fee – $210
Pre-Conference Only
Renewing Member Fee – $105 + the cost of the membership of your choice
Non-Memeber Fee – $125
Member Fee – $115
Conference Only
Renewing Member Fee – $110 + the cost of the membership of your choice
Non-Member Fee – $195
Member Fee – $120
Exhibitor Table
Friday & Saturday – $60
Friday Only – $30
Saturday Only- $30
Membership Fees
Entry Membership Fee – $30
Standard Membership Fee – $69
Premium Membership Fee – $150
Family Membership Fee – $35
You Can Still Apply to Volunteer
Exhibitor Tables are Sold OUT!
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