Request for Proposals

We are seeking interactive presenters to facilitate breakout sessions at the annual ECE-RJ Conference, Shoresh: Deepening the Roots of Wonder and Play, in Seattle, Washington, on Friday, January 22, 2027. This year’s conference invites participants to explore the role of wonder and play in our work as Jewish Early Childhood professionals.

Our conference attendees seek connections to colleagues and thought leaders, as well as inspiration to innovate in their home institutions. Over three days, we will dive deeply into key areas of professional growth that support our practice.

ECE-RJ conference attendees fill many roles in their home institutions. They are early childhood directors and assistant directors in synagogues and JCCs, curriculum directors and pedagogistas, teachers and assistant teachers, and community organizers who support educators in their work.

As you consider your proposal, we invite you to reflect on how your work nurtures and strengthens the foundations of Jewish early childhood education. We encourage proposals that are reflective, practical, and inspiring, offering participants meaningful ways to deepen their work and strengthen the roots that support children, educators, and communities alike. We are especially interested in sessions that explore the ways in which wonder, curiosity, and play take root and grow within our classrooms, our leadership, and our communities.

In shaping your proposal, you may wish to consider:

How can we intentionally cultivate a sense of wonder, passion, and purpose in Jewish early childhood education, both in our daily practice and long-term vision?

• How can nature-based learning deepen children’s sense of wonder, connection, and belonging, while strengthening the roots of their learning and development? And how might these approaches take root within a variety of early childhood settings?
  
• In what ways do we build, strengthen, and sustain the foundations that guide how we teach, lead, and form relationships in our schools, communities, and/or institutions?
  
• What tools, strategies, or mindsets support us in navigating change with resilience, creativity, and a clear sense of purpose?
  
• How do Jewish values and traditions ground and inspire joyful, meaningful approaches to early childhood education, and how can these be expressed across diverse settings?
  
• What challenges are we currently facing in the field, and how might curiosity and creativity help us respond with thoughtfulness and innovation?
  

Duration of breakout sessions: 75 min

Submission deadline: Priority will be given to RFP submissions received by June 15, 2026, and the final deadline is July 15, 2026.

Compensation: Presenters attending the full conference are eligible for a $200 registration discount, which will be provided via a discount code. Those presenting without attending the full conference may qualify for a $180 stipend. Conference sponsors should refer to their sponsorship agreement for details.

Eligibility: Proposals will be selected based on experience and expertise in this area, alignment with the conference theme, and connection with early childhood education. Please include any relevant experience or expertise in your application to help us determine how your work will fit with our conference.

Breakout session content is not a time for sales pitches. Contact Rebecca Baizen, ECE-RJ Administrative Assistant at [email protected], if you would like to promote your company’s expertise through conference sponsorship.

Process: ECE-RJ strives to be inclusive and diverse when reviewing session proposals. Our process combines the collective input of peers, volunteer leaders, and professional staff to co-create conference programming that is timely, relevant, and meets attendees’ needs. All proposals are reviewed anonymously to ensure selections are based solely on merit and content.

Timeline:

• June 15, 2026: Proposal deadline (priority deadline)
  
• July 15, 2026: Final deadline for proposal submissions
  
• September 1, 2026: Presenters notified
  
• January 8, 2027: Materials due – Slide deck, handouts (PDF) to be uploaded to the Whova App
  
• January 22, 2027: Present at the ECE-RJ Conference!
  

Questions? Please reach out to Sue Yulis at [email protected] to talk through your presentation or find out more about our conference.