Are you interested in presenting at the NMAEYC 2025 Annual Conference? Presenters and their co-presenters will receive free registration to attend the 2025 NMAEYC Annual Conference. Presenters also receive a discount on exhibitor tables. Make your mark on ECE and submit your session proposal by clicking on the button below. The Call for Proposals will close on November 30, 2024. So get your submissions in soon.

NMAEYC and NMHU's School of Education have partnered to bring you, Para los Niños: A Northern New Mexico Professional Learning Institute (PLI). Para los Niños is an early childhood education regional conference, which will be held in the Student Union Building at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, NM. There will be a special performance by Robertson High School's Mariachi Cardenal band, highlighting the culture of Northern New Mexico.

Tickets are only $35 to attend, which includes entry to the PLI, breakfast and lunch, snacks and drinks, $30 entry NAEYC annual membership, 1 free ticket to a 50/50 raffle, and your CEUs.

Exhibitors pay $30, which includes a table, two chairs, breakfast, lunch, snacks, and drinks.

Please join us at 7:30 am on October 19, 2024, at the NMHU SUB.

This event is open to the ECE community and the public. Parents are welcomed to attend.

SnowBall 2024 will be on December 14, 2024 from 6pm-9pm at Electric Playhouse.

This year’s theme is: A Night in Paris – A night of elegance, fashion, beauty, and glamour all under the shimmering lights of the Eiffel Tower.

Imagine yourself whisked away to a magical Parisian evening, where the enchanting ambiance of the Eiffel Tower lights up the night sky, casting a warm glow over our annual SnowBall Fundraiser Gala. This is not just any evening; it’s an experience of beauty, elegance, and romance that supports NMAEYC’s mission to nurture exceptional early childhood education experiences. 

As you dance joyfully under twinkling lights, savor delightful culinary creations, and sip on exquisite drinks, you’ll be part of a vibrant community dedicated to making a difference in the lives of young children in New Mexico.

Imagine the thrill of bidding for exceptional items in our silent auction, where every bid brings you closer to unforgettable experiences and unique treasures. Picture yourself savoring a bottle of Casa Azul tequila or indulging in luxurious spa packages designed to unwind and rejuvenate, or a week’s stay in Paris drinking champagne under the glittering lights of the Eiffel Tower. With premier hotel stays, stunning jewelry, and generous gift cards up for grabs, there’s truly something for everyone. Each auction item not only enhances your experience but also directly contributes to nurturing young minds through early childhood education. Join us in this exciting opportunity to give back while treating yourself or loved ones to something truly special. Your evening at SnowBall can make a lasting difference.

Tickets and sponsorship opportunities for Snowball 2024 are already available.

Does your staff need professional development, but you don't want to send them to after work or weekend workshops? NMAEYC has your solution. We will have one of our trainers come to your center for a PD day. Your staff can earn their state required CEUs all in the comfort of your center. You choose the date, time, and topics that meets the needs of. your center and we will make it work. Spanish trainers are also available for your convenience.

To schedule, contact our coordinator, Michelle Garcia, at michelle@nmaeyc.org or click on the button below.

She will have a quote sent to you to submit for your PO; set up all of the details for the training, and connect you with a NMAEYC trainer. After your staff has received their training, she will send you their CEU certificates. How easy is that?

Unplugged Coding for Young Learners Virtual Workshop

Oct 9th @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

A virtual workshop for educators, librarians, and out-of-school time providers (2 CEU hours).

Join us for pattern recognition and early algorithmic thinking activities which require no tech at all and build the early skills for coding. You’ll immediately be able to apply these ideas with your students!

Register here

Makey Makeys In-Person Workshop

November 13 @ 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

An in-person workshop for educators, librarians, and out-of-school time providers (2 CEU hours).

Join us for coding activities with Makey Makeys, an easy-to-use microcontroller. Learn a variety of activities adapted to young learners. You’ll immediately be able to apply these ideas with your students!



Register here

Patterns to Virtual Thinking Workshop

December 12 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

A virtual workshop for early childhood educators, librarians, and out-of-school time providers (2 CEU hours).

Discover ready-to-go activities which will support young students’ understanding of patterns, sequencing and other skills needed for coding. You’ll immediately be able to apply these ideas with your students!

Register here

We have scheduled a fundraiser with Savers. We are currently accepting donations, such as clothing/shoes/bedding, small household goods, and books/media. These donations will be given to Savers to sell in their stores and NMAEYC will receive a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each donated item.

So, if you have stuff laying around your house that you need to get rid of donate it to the NMAEYC/Savers FUNDrive. Your donations are tax deductible. NMAEYC will provide you with a tax memo with the value of your donation for your taxes.

To donate, contact Shara Foster: sharafoster@yahoo.com; Alicia Borrego: alicia@nmaeyc.org; Michelle Garcia: michelle@nmaeyc.org

It is with great sadness that we must announce the departure of our accreditation consultant, Katie Montiel. Unfortunately, Katie needed to step back from her position with NMAEYC due to family medical issues. Her newborn son, Josiah, was recently diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Hurler's Syndrome. Katie's main focus is now on Josiah, as it should be. Katie's family now has a long journey ahead of them to keep Josiah healthy so they can spend as many years as possible loving him. This will be a very expensive and time consuming journey, which is why Katie had to step down as our accreditation consultant.

With that said, we are sharing Josiah's GoFundMe page. If you can, please help by donating to Katie's family so they may cover Josiah's medical expenses. He requires weekly enzyme replacement infusions at an out of state medical facility and will hopefully qualify for a medical trial.

We'd like to give a warm welcome to Dr. Maria Elena Salazar. Dr. Salazar is our new Accreditation Consultant. Dr. Salazar is a local Norteña from Espanola. She is honored to have worked with students, early childhood through doctoral level, during her 24 years as a professional educator. Her degrees are in Print Journalism and Spanish (BA Double Major, UNM), Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies, Language Arts Emphasis (MA, UNM), and Curriculum and Instruction, Early Childhood Education, Literacy and Children’s Literature Emphases (PhD, NMSU).

She received her first teaching license at Northern New Mexico College. She now holds three Level III State of New Mexico Instructional Leader teaching licenses: Birth through Third Grade, PreKingarten through Twelfth Grade and Kindergarten through Eighth Grade. Maria Elena taught Bilingual Education, Title 1, primary grades, and Special Education Preschool with the Española Public Schools (EPS). She also served as EPS’s Early Childhood Specialist, supervising the early childhood professionals, reports and activities therein.  Dr. Salazar supervised and taught pre and in-service teachers while a doctoral student at NMSU and during the past seven years at the University of New Mexico.

Her areas of teaching, presenting and professional development are Multicultural Education (MCE), Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC), Teacher Preparation and Literacy. Maria Elena loves open ended materials, a pedagogy of ecology, and culturally responsive practices. She has three young adult children, five cats and thousands of children’s books.    

To reach Dr. Salazar with questions about accreditation or to schedule, please email her: mariaelena@nmaeyc.org

October 17, 2024 9:00 am - 1:00 pm.

This event is to celebrate the Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM). It is a collaborative undertaking with many from the federal, state, and local agencies with some non-profits involved in making this happen. 

This is an opportunity for people with disabilities and employers to be in one place, where we hear speakers in the morning and attend the hiring event in the afternoon. If you are interested in celebrating and supporting the DEAM event, I invite you to attend.  

This is an opportunity for people with disabilities looking for work, the hiring event is in the afternoon from 1:30 to 4pm. The morning session is open to everyone to learn and network. There will be at least 17 employers present, if not more to provide an opportunity to learn about working for their company. A private room is available for 1:1 interview on site. Please register to attend the event.