Early childhood professionals from across Pennsylvania gathered in Pittsburgh on April 22–23 for the 2025 Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) Early Childhood Education Conference, hosted by the OCDEL and supported by the Pennsylvania Key. Centered on the theme “Stable and Secure: Supporting Children Through Trauma Sensitive Approaches,” this year’s conference highlighted the importance of creating safe, supportive, trauma-informed environments for children and families.
Day One featured keynote speaker Dr. Marc Brackett, founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and professor in the Child Study Center at Yale School of Medicine. In his presentation, Permission to Feel, Dr. Brackett emphasized the role of emotional intelligence as a foundation for learning, resilience, and overall well-being in children and educators.
On Day Two, Dr. Junlei Li, co-chair of the Human Development and Education Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, delivered a compelling keynote titled Relational Health as the Foundation for Social Emotional Development. His address stressed the power of everyday human connection in supporting young children’s emotional development and healing.
Throughout the event, attendees participated in breakout sessions covering a range of relevant and practical topics, including trauma-informed care, brain development, social-emotional learning, behavior guidance, and mindfulness. These sessions provided early childhood professionals with actionable strategies to enhance their classroom environments and support the development of young learners.
In addition to valuable professional development, the conference offered opportunities for collaboration and networking among early childhood professionals across the Commonwealth.
Visit www.pakeys.org/ocdel-conference to view session details, speaker information, and future updates.