OUR Local Lead Organization

🎉 10-Day Countdown🎉

🌟 OUR LEADS Early Childhood Summer Conference 2026 🌟

📚 Day 8 – Vendor Spotlight
Books, Books & More Books!

We're excited to welcome Tonia Shue https://paperpie.com/brandpartner/l2247/
to the OUR LEADS Professional Development Conference!

Stop by her giant, room-filled book fair on Thursday or Friday to browse:
📚 Children's books
🧩 Educational games
🎨 Learning activities
🎁 Gift ideas for your students, family, or yourself! 😉

Whether you're building your classroom library or looking for engaging resources, you'll want to make time to visit!

And don't forget...every day of our countdown we're revealing another reason (or two) you won't want to miss this year's conference!

👉 Register today: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCa0O6EugdXMzd2I1YYK1LjIjmAp2iWk1_UFKn_agcE14fZA/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=102495942090978912479

🎉 10-Day Countdown🎉

🌟 OUR LEADS Early Childhood Summer Conference 2026 🌟

Day 9
What's In It For Me?🤔🤔🤔

Looking for ideas you can use immediately in your classroom?

You'll leave with practical strategies you can use right away, including:

🧠 Positive behavior guidance & social-emotional development
💬 Language-rich interactions that build communication skills
👶 Responsive care for infants & toddlers
🎨 Engaging preschool teaching practices
📖 Literacy, books & meaningful conversations
🤝 Building strong partnerships with families
🌟 Intentional teacher-child interactions that make every moment count
🧩 Learning through play, exploration & hands-on experiences
❤️ Creating supportive, nurturing classroom environments
📈 Strategies that strengthen classroom quality—all aligned with CLASS®

And...maybe a few free classroom goodies. 😉

👉 Register today: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCa0O6EugdXMzd2I1YYK1LjIjmAp2iWk1_UFKn_agcE14fZA/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=102495942090978912479

Excited to bring together local stakeholders to grapple with and forward work as part of this initiative.

🎊 The Early Childhood Governance and Finance Project is now underway! This two-year initiative, led by with Arkansas Department of Education’s Office of Early Childhood, focuses on advancing sustainable financing and governance strategies for the system.

Meet the , who are already hard at work identifying regional focus areas!

🎉 10 DAYS TO GO!! 🎉
The countdown to the OUR LEADS Professional Development Conference starts NOW...and we're kicking it off with our BIGGEST giveaway!
🎁 GRAND PRIZE: A Lakeshore Blocks & Builders Instant Learning Cart!
Imagine adding this classroom favorite to your learning space! Packed with high-quality building materials, it's designed to inspire creativity, collaboration, STEM learning, and endless imagination.
Here's how to increase your chances to win:
🎟️ Attend a conference session = 1 Grand Prize entry for each session you attend!
💥 BONUS TODAY ONLY!
Share this post and tell us what you're most excited about at the conference, and we'll add 10 BONUS entries to your name!
Over the next 10 days, we'll be revealing even more reasons to join us:
⭐ Doorbusters
⭐ Classroom giveaways
⭐ Teacher favorites
⭐ Director prizes
⭐ Session sneak peeks
⭐ Vendor spotlights
⭐ ...and a few surprises!
The only way to win is to be there!
👉 Register today: https://forms.gle/iGgd86Vg1twrpoNd8

LOVE this!

Dolly is so excited Firefighters from the Harrison Fire Department will be reading a book at the Boone County Imigination Library park activity Thursday night at 6:30. Treats, songs and fun is available for kids of all ages. Meet at the covered area close to the park restrooms, playground equipment and splash pad. The group meets in the park every Thursday during June and July. Come and find out how your children or grandchildren can receive free books every month from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.

Experiencing poverty during childhood can disrupt all aspects of a child’s life, from their physical and mental health development to their performance in school. To learn more about how economic instability is affecting Arkansas’s children, download the newly released 2026 KIDS COUNT® Data Book from our partners at Annie E. Casey Foundation See the link in the comments to explore the economic well-being of children in your state.

The next generation of Arkansas's Quality Rating and Improvement System is being designed now, and your feedback can help shape it.

Take the survey and share:
✔ What's working well
✔ What challenges you face
✔ What supports would make the biggest difference

Provider Feedback Survey: Arkansas QRIS 2026–2027
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfXAkwoRqLt78P9OqGmNScl5C35zyu9tizofaz-msOpmNcb2w/viewform

Stories, smiles, and eats in the park tonight @ 6:30!
Anne Cowie, OUR Local Lead, will be reading and bringing
Arkansas PBS resources to share with young learners and families.

Join us tomorrow for reading in the park! 6:30 PM. Arkansas PBS will be there too.

Reader: Anne Cowie.
Book: The Sour Grape.

Parents and grandparents of babies wanted!

Baby Fest 2026 is a FREE community event for expecting parents, moms, dads, grandparents, caregivers and families with children ages 3 and under!

Join us at Signature Bank Community Room on June 20th, 2026, from 10am - 12pm for a fun, educational, and supportive community event. Learn from local providers, explore valuable parenting resources, enter giveaways, and connect with others on their parenting journey!

👶 FREE to attend!
🧸 No registration required!
🎀 Dozens of giveaways!
💕 Open to parents, caregivers, grandparents and families of all kinds!

Click the link below for details and invite someone who could benefit from this amazing FREE community event!
https://www.facebook.com/events/993346796494049

Congratulations to Sarah, Nichole, Cindy, Cheyenne and Dezeray for completing CLASS Infant-Toddler Observer Training. These ladies represent 3 counties - Boone, Madison, Newton - and a world of experience.