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United Federation of Teachers

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2025 UFT Spring Conference

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Early Childhood Conference 2025

More than 300 early childhood educators packed Shanker Hall for the UFT’s 17th annual Early Childhood Conference. Attendees took inspiration from social and emotional learning expert Leslee Udwin, the event’s keynote speaker, and enjoyed a day of camaraderie with colleagues, a vendor fair, workshops for professional development and a grab-and-go lunch.

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Teachers take part in a workshop at the 2025 UFT Early Childhood Conference on April 5, 2025.

Teacher Paola Gutierrez Navarro and paraprofessional Mildred Eusebio of the Learning Through Play Pre-K Center in the Bronx enjoy the workshop “Math Party: Bringing Joyful Math Exploration to Early Learners,” where educators made geometric shapes with Play-Doh.

Erica Berger
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UFT VP for Elementary Schools Karen Alford welcomes attendees to the UFT Early Childhood Conference on April 5, 2025.

Vice President for Elementary Schools Karen Alford welcomes attendees and shouts out paraprofessionals, whom she calls critical to effective early childhood education.

Erica Berger
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A woman listens intently during the keynote address at the UFT Early Childhood Conference on April 5, 2025.

Educators, including teachers Yajaira Eduardo (center) of PS 168 in the Bronx and Angel Desepeda (left) of PS 158 in Brooklyn, listen intently to keynote speaker and social and emotional learning expert Leslee Udwin.

Erica Berger
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Leslee Udwin, founder of Think Equal, a program for social and emotional learning, addresses attendees at the UFT Early Childhood Conference on April 5, 2025.

Leslee Udwin, founder of Think Equal, a program for social and emotional learning, delivers a rousing and emotional call to arms, telling attendees, “You hold the future in your hands.”

Erica Berger
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Students from PS 66, PS/IS 155, PS 41, and Mott Hall IV of Brooklyn, all members of the “Science of Music” program, perform on the steel drums for attendees at the 2025 UFT Early Childhood Conference.

Students from PS 66, PS/IS 155, PS 41, and Mott Hall IV of Brooklyn, all members of the “Science of Music” program, perform on the steel drums for conference attendees.

Erica Berger
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Attendees are engaged as Anne Marie Hogan of the UFT Teacher Center facilitates a workshop during the UFT Early Childhood Conference on April 5, 2025.

Attendees are engaged as Anne Marie Hogan of the UFT Teacher Center facilitates a workshop during the conference.

Erica Berger
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UFT President Michael Mulgrew greets attendees at the 2025 UFT Early Childhood Conference.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew greets early childhood educators to the conference, whose decor reflected its carnival theme.

Erica Berger
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Musician Polanco Jones Jr. entertains attendees with a song at the 2025 UFT Early Childhood Conference.

Musician Polanco Jones Jr. entertains attendees with a song.

Erica Berger
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Attendees at the UFT Early Childhood Conference on April 5, 2025 wave their napkins to the beat of the music performances.

Early childhood educators stand and swing napkins in time to the beat of the student musicians who performed at the conference.

Erica Berger
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Attendees pose for a picture before heading to a workshop at the UFT Early Childhood Conference on April 5, 2025.

Early childhood educators stream toward the elevators at UFT headquarters on the way to the professional development workshops offered at the conference.

Erica Berger
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Participants engage in a literacy workshop at the UFT Early Childhood Conference on April 5, 2025.

Participants engage in a literacy workshop.

Erica Berger
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Educators cheer for the winner of a raffle awarded during the UFT Early Childhood Conference on April 5, 2025.

Educators cheer for the winner of a raffle awarded during the conference.

Erica Berger
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Teachers take part in a workshop at the 2025 UFT Early Childhood Conference on April 5, 2025.

Teacher Paola Gutierrez Navarro and paraprofessional Mildred Eusebio of the Learning Through Play Pre-K Center in the Bronx enjoy the workshop “Math Party: Bringing Joyful Math Exploration to Early Learners,” where educators made geometric shapes with Play-Doh.

Erica Berger
Image
UFT VP for Elementary Schools Karen Alford welcomes attendees to the UFT Early Childhood Conference on April 5, 2025.

Vice President for Elementary Schools Karen Alford welcomes attendees and shouts out paraprofessionals, whom she calls critical to effective early childhood education.

Erica Berger
Image
A woman listens intently during the keynote address at the UFT Early Childhood Conference on April 5, 2025.

Educators, including teachers Yajaira Eduardo (center) of PS 168 in the Bronx and Angel Desepeda (left) of PS 158 in Brooklyn, listen intently to keynote speaker and social and emotional learning expert Leslee Udwin.

Erica Berger
Image
Leslee Udwin, founder of Think Equal, a program for social and emotional learning, addresses attendees at the UFT Early Childhood Conference on April 5, 2025.

Leslee Udwin, founder of Think Equal, a program for social and emotional learning, delivers a rousing and emotional call to arms, telling attendees, “You hold the future in your hands.”

Erica Berger
Image
Students from PS 66, PS/IS 155, PS 41, and Mott Hall IV of Brooklyn, all members of the “Science of Music” program, perform on the steel drums for attendees at the 2025 UFT Early Childhood Conference.

Students from PS 66, PS/IS 155, PS 41, and Mott Hall IV of Brooklyn, all members of the “Science of Music” program, perform on the steel drums for conference attendees.

Erica Berger
Image
Attendees are engaged as Anne Marie Hogan of the UFT Teacher Center facilitates a workshop during the UFT Early Childhood Conference on April 5, 2025.

Attendees are engaged as Anne Marie Hogan of the UFT Teacher Center facilitates a workshop during the conference.

Erica Berger
Image
UFT President Michael Mulgrew greets attendees at the 2025 UFT Early Childhood Conference.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew greets early childhood educators to the conference, whose decor reflected its carnival theme.

Erica Berger
Image
Musician Polanco Jones Jr. entertains attendees with a song at the 2025 UFT Early Childhood Conference.

Musician Polanco Jones Jr. entertains attendees with a song.

Erica Berger
Image
Attendees at the UFT Early Childhood Conference on April 5, 2025 wave their napkins to the beat of the music performances.

Early childhood educators stand and swing napkins in time to the beat of the student musicians who performed at the conference.

Erica Berger
Image
Attendees pose for a picture before heading to a workshop at the UFT Early Childhood Conference on April 5, 2025.

Early childhood educators stream toward the elevators at UFT headquarters on the way to the professional development workshops offered at the conference.

Erica Berger
Image
Participants engage in a literacy workshop at the UFT Early Childhood Conference on April 5, 2025.

Participants engage in a literacy workshop.

Erica Berger
Image
Educators cheer for the winner of a raffle awarded during the UFT Early Childhood Conference on April 5, 2025.

Educators cheer for the winner of a raffle awarded during the conference.

Erica Berger

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