For Tamika Bartley and her sizable contingent from Sheldon Independent School District, Saturday’s matching shirts and crescendo cheers when pointed out from the crowd was fitting.
The 40th Annual R.T. Garcia Early Childhood Winter Conference (ECWC) was made for them.
Bartley, a registered apprenticeship coordinator at Sheldon, leads the district’s program supporting paraprofessionals working toward their teaching credential. A group of 25 teacher hopefuls joined her and more than 1,000 early childhood educators for the full day of professional development, hosted by Harris County Department of Education’s (HCDE) Center for Educator Success (CES).
Held Jan. 31 at Kingdom Builders’ Center, this year’s attendance more than doubled the 2025 conference. Bartley said the conference is a good way for the teacher candidates to gain valuable professional development.
“This is a good foundation for them and to get their feet wet,” she said. “They can figure out what they want to do, where do they want to do it and with the early childhood component, it’s more than just content. This is great preparation for our group.”
ECWC is among the many trainings the Sheldon teacher candidates attend, but it stands out due to everything offered under one roof. The event has grown into the state’s second-largest early childhood conference and drew attendees from across Texas and neighboring states.
“For me, this is about getting the experience because most of my colleagues are already in the classroom,” said Maegan Holt, currently a Sheldon ISD human resources paraprofessional who hopes to become a kindergarten teacher. “I do have some experience at the preschool level, so I understand some concepts and themes, but being able to incorporate everything and bring them into the classroom is big for me right now.”
The theme, “Hands-One, Minds-On: S.T.E.A.M. in Early Learning,” was evident throughout the hallways and classrooms across two floors at the day-long conference. Things got started with musician SaulPaul, who served as emcee and got the crowd moving and shouting through his music and a freestyle rap later in the afternoon. Conference namesake Raymond T. Garcia and HCDE Superintendent James Colbert Jr. followed with testimonials and words of affirmation to educators.
Veteran educator and social media sensation Gerry Brooks provided the keynote address, combining his witty storytelling with phrases of encouragement.
Conference sessions touched on sparking discovery in students through science, technology, engineering, arts and math, as well as hands-on activities, collaboration or other creative techniques to bring learning to life.
New this year was an exclusive Leadership Track, designed for aspiring administrators and center managers. This group attended specific sessions and participated in a leadership panel that featured five industry experts who shared strategies and best practices. Also new was the Creation Station Challenge, where educators submitted learning units that were voted on by conference attendees. Winners earned a $500 classroom scholarship and mini robot, courtesy of sponsor Sphero.
Returning for a second year were conference awards. Dr. Axinia Zepeda of the Tejano Center for Community Schools was named Early Childhood Leader of the Year, while Spring ISD’s Cynthia Bustamante Ramirez was named the Early Childhood Teacher of the Year.
“Just doing what you love is its own reward but having other people see the love and see the hard work you put into it is such a blessing,” said Ramirez, a pre-K dual-language teacher at Northgate Elementary School. “I would tell a young teacher to just love on the children and don’t be afraid to meet them where they are.”