Are you a parent, grandparent or other caregiver for children ages birth to five? Are you an early childhood educator?

Join Katy Smith, Parent Educator, Early Childhood Advocate, and the 2011 Minnesota Teacher of the Year in a lively conversation about childhood and what kids need from it.  Katy is passionate about empowering parents and caregivers to champion a childhood that supports and nurtures children. Important life skills are wired in those first years of life.  Today’s culture of childhood has taken a sharp turn from supporting kids in developing those life skills. Katy is a storyteller and a community educator who will inspire us to reclaim those skills on behalf of children.  You will leave armed with plenty of food for thought, and new skills. This will be a fun, entertaining evening of hopeful conversation. This event will take place in-person and over Zoom. A recording will be available for 2 weeks after the event and will be sent to all registrants. Continuing education certificates will be available for those who attend in-person, virtually, or watch the recording.

In-Person at Lake Superior College, Room M255 The Commons. Park in Lot 1 and enter through the L Building.

Registration is required for virtual participation. Zoom link will be emailed after registration. 

Katy Smith is an inspired parent educator, trainer, early childhood advocate, and keynote speaker. Katy has two undergraduate degrees in social work and in parent education from Winona State University. She has a master’s degree in Education from the University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse and a master’s degree in Early Childhood Public Policy and Advocacy from Walden University. Katy and her husband, Matt, taught and raised their family in Winona and recently moved to Forest Lake to be closer to their kids and grandkids. Katy is the 2011 Minnesota Teacher of the Year, the first early childhood educator in Minnesota and the first parent educator nationally to be honored with the award.