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Barbara A. McDonnell Early Childhood Conference

Cupola atop a building on the Molloy University campus

Barbara A. McDonnell Early Childhood Conference 2026

Friday, April 24, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Madison Theatre, Molloy University
1000 Hempstead Avenue, Rockville Centre, NY

Fill your cup and transform young lives! Revolutionize your Early Childhood Education professional practice at Molloy University's annual 2026 Barbara A. McDonnell Early Childhood Conference. Keynote speaker Mary Beth Spann Mank, renowned educator, author, and puppeteer, will show you how to nurture yourself, and resilient, emotionally healthy young learners through the power of play and connection.

REGISTER NOW

Through interactive breakout sessions focused on the theme, Healthy Mind, Healthy Play, Healthy You: SEL & Trauma Informed Care, discover compassionate strategies to support children's social-emotional development and create healing, responsive classroom environments. Learn essential self-care practices that help you sustain your passion and prevent burnout, because you can't pour from an empty cup. Network with fellow ECE professionals over complimentary breakfast, explore cutting-edge resources from top exhibitors, and maybe snag awesome door prizes!

Thanks to the McDonnell family's generosity, this game-changing professional development is completely free, you are invited to help us to defray additional costs by an optional donation. Join us to refresh your practice, recharge your spirit, spark new ideas, and reimagine ECE with heart, empathy, and joy at its center.

2026 Conference Schedule & Keynote Speaker Bio

  • Schedule

    A Session: 11:15 a.m. 

    B Session: 1:15 p.m.

    • 1A/1B: Math Anxiety to Math Joy, Hagan 004
    • 2A/2B: Mindful Movement in Motion: 
    • 3A/3B
    • 4A/4B
    • 5A/5B
    • 6A/6B
    • 7A/7B
    • 8A/8B
    • 9A/9B
    • 10A/10B
    • 11A/11B

  • Keynote Speaker Bio

    Mary Beth Spann Mank: NYS Certified Teacher, Author, Speaker, Puppeteer

     

    Mary Beth Spann Mank brings decades of expertise and infectious enthusiasm to early childhood education.  As a New York State-Certified Teacher (Nursery-Grade 6), she has enriched the lives of  younger learners across diverse educational settings; from public, private, and parochial schools to innovative home-based and online environments.

     

    A longtime Long Island resident, she is a nationally recognized voice on the transforamtive power of puppetry and storytelling in education. Her dynamic presentations captivate teachers, librarians, parents, and caregivers, offering practical strategies to enhance teaching and learning throught creative engagement. 

     

    Ms. Spann Mank's prolific career as an author speaks to her deep commitment to early childhood education.  She has written over 45 teacher resource books and more than 75 children's readers for leading educational publishers, including Scholastic, Inc., Learning Resources®, and Time for Kids®.  Her news publication, Teaching with Puppets Made Easy: How to Use Puppets to Support Social-Emotional Learning and Early School Success! (2026), is poised to become an essential resource for educators seeing to nurture young minds through engaging, research-based practices. 

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