Yearning for learning? TEACH delivers

Tools annual TEACH conference brings us together to learn and grow. The 2025 conference was chock-full of informative sessions and inspiring moments, with keynote addresses from leaders in the field of early education and a wide array of sessions presented by Tools staff and partners.

‍Tools educators shine as they share

Tools educators shared knowledge, insights, and experiences with a broad audience of fellow educators eager to soak up ideas to incorporate in their classrooms. Even experienced educators saw the benefit of a fresh perspective. “It just helped me think that things could be done a little differently,” said one participant.

“TEACH opened my eyes to a new lens of learning! I walked away from the conference with a new perspective on Early Childhood Education around the world and the empowerment we have as educators. This conference allowed me not only to grow as an educator but also as a person, strengthening my knowledge and teaching practices for young children. I am looking forward to attending next year’s conference.”
- 2025 TEACH conference attendee

Tools teachers, coaches, and administrators presented on a wide range of topics—far too many to recount here, so we’ll share two wonderful examples. Below, watch a clip from New Jersey Preschool Instructional Coach Cindy Quinnones, who presented on supporting English and Spanish language development through play.

And, following, click to view some of Tulsa Kindergarten Teacher Sommer Lyons’ session on integrating literacy with inquiry-based science learning.

These sessions, and others, transported attendees into the amazing learning communities Tools educators are creating in classrooms across the country, supporting young children as they learn how to learn and develop self-regulation in the most fun and developmentally appropriate ways.

Between sessions, presenters and participants came together with Tools staff for virtual Table Talks. These connection points were opportunities for collaboration and collegial discussion on topics of mutual interest. For some, this chance to connect was a rare opportunity to exchange ideas with others doing similar work.

Hearing from the experts

Many participants were captivated by the first event of the conference, a presentation by keynote speaker Dan Wuori, founder and president of Early Childhood Policy Solutions, whose recent book, The Daycare Myth, has sparked a newfound interest in early education by educators, policy-makers, and, unsurprisingly, parents. A former kindergarten teacher and district administrator, Wuori, who also serves in an array of advisory roles at the state and national levels, shared his groundbreaking thinking on solutions to the stumbling blocks that interfere with the kind of quality early education Tools educators care deeply about.  

“Dan Wuori captured my interest from the start and the amount of knowledge he shared really challenged my thinking as a educator.”
- 2025 TEACH conference attendee

Executive Director of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning, Isabelle Hau, whose book Love to Learn describes how early childhood relationships are a critical determinant of early learning, also made a splash. “Early relationships matter for brain development and learning,” she emphasized, as she reflected on the science behind relationships, noting that health, happiness, resilience, wellbeing, and even longevity, are impacted by interactions we have before the age of five. She pointed to the many benefits of guided play in classroom settings and free play experiences outside of school.

Both Wuori and Hau mentioned Tools as a point of inspiration in their own work. If you haven’t yet had a chance to read their wonderful books, add them to your summer reading list!

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