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Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning Hosts Leaders Summit for Hundreds of Early Childhood Educators and Family Advocates

The cost-free professional development event focused on play-based learning and community collaboration to support long-term child and family success.

Hershey, Pa. – April 24, 2024 – Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning (CHS), a subsidiary of Milton Hershey School (MHS), hosted its second early childhood education leadership conference this week at the Hershey Lodge & Convention Center, engaging local and state child- and family-serving professionals. Themed “Rooted in Community, Connected in Purpose,” the two-day event focused on play-based learning and community collaboration. It included keynote addresses from national experts, networking opportunities, and educational workshops with practical takeaways for participants.

Paul Siefken, president and CEO of Fred Rogers Productions

The event kicked off on Tuesday, April 23, with a welcome reception featuring a keynote address from Paul Siefken, president and CEO of Fred Rogers Productions, which creates shows, games, and apps that encourage children’s curiosity, including Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.

Senate Alexander, Executive Director of Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning
 Chastity Lord, president and CEO of the Jeremiah Program

On Wednesday, April 24, participants attended large-group sessions with keynotes from Dr. Roberta Golinkoff, researcher, author, and the Unidel H. Rodney Sharp Professor of Education at the University of Delaware, and Chastity Lord, president and CEO of the Jeremiah Program, a national organization dedicated to disrupting the cycle of poverty through a two-generational approach. Lord also hosted a panel discussion with Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) Chief of Staff Carolyn Green. Additionally, Emily Tate Sullivan, an award-winning senior reporter at EdSurge, a nonprofit newsroom covering national education issues, delivered remarks on early childhood education trends.

Dr. Roberta Golinkoff, researcher, author, and the Unidel H. Rodney Sharp Professor of Education at the University of Delaware
Emily Tate Sullivan, senior reporter at EdSurge

Event attendees included CHS staff, local early childhood education program leaders and teachers, K-12 leaders, college educators, social workers, and nonprofit leaders. Among the guests were also MHS students completing a semester-long internship at CHS Hershey. The internship is part of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) program at MHS, designed to prepare students for college or a career

Chastity Lord, president and CEO of the Jeremiah Program, and Carolyn Green, Chief of Staff of the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL)

“The Summit is a powerful professional development event that brings together a wide variety of expertise and perspectives in early childhood education and family advocacy,” said Pete Gurt, president of CHS and MHS. “The event enables us to learn from each other, discuss best practices, and identify opportunities for collaboration to improve outcomes for children everywhere.”

Attendees during a breakout session discussing ECE trends

CHS is a $350 million initiative to initially develop six Early Childhood Education Centers in Pennsylvania to serve children from six weeks to age 5 from under-resourced and over-burdened backgrounds, with all costs covered for qualifying families. Recent CHS developments include the opening of CHS Hershey in fall 2023, the planned opening of CHS Harrisburg later this year, and a groundbreaking for CHS Middletown, opening in 2025. Expected to open beginning in 2026 are locations in Lancaster City, New Danville, and Elizabethtown. CHS is hiring qualified staff at multiple sites, including CHS Middletown, where employment begins with a nearly year-long paid professional development program. Learn more at chslearn.org/careers.

Read more about the content of the Summit on our latest Professionals Blog post.

ABOUT CATHERINE HERSHEY SCHOOLS FOR EARLY LEARNING

Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning (CHS) provides non-residential, year-round weekday care and education to children from six weeks to age 5 from under-resourced and over-burdened backgrounds, with all costs covered for qualifying families. CHS is a subsidiary of Milton Hershey School (MHS) and is part of a $350 million initiative to develop six Early Childhood Education Centers in Pennsylvania. For more information, visit chslearn.org.

ABOUT MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL
Milton Hershey School is one of the world’s best private schools, where qualifying students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade live on campus and receive an exceptional educational experience—with all costs covered. For more information, visit mhskids.org.

Catherine Hershey Schools

Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning are subsidiaries of Milton Hershey School and will be staffed and operated independently of the Milton Hershey School core model.

Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

© 2024 Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning