Quotes from previous National Smart Start Conferences
"Thank you for an amazing conference. It is one of the best I have ever attended! Great workshops from the pre-conference which I loved to Friday, wonderful speakers, and even good food."
"As always I was intellectually stimulated, creatively inspired, and wonderfully renewed. It was a great conference. "
"After 34 years of service with public education, I have attended many conferences throughout the United States. This was by far the best I have ever experienced!! "
"We had approximately 30 staff, board members and service providers attending this year. ALL of them have raved about the diversity of the workshops, the quality of the workshops and the organization of the conference. Everyone who attended before said it was the best ever and I agree. "
"The speakers were inspirations and the workshops gave me information I can use! "
"This was absolutely the best conference I’ve ever attended. I am so thankful for the opportunity to be there and returned energized."
"It was an excellent conference, and I've been to more than a few in my life! It energized and motivated me to continue the work here in Arizona."
"As a newcomer, the info I received educated, inspired and prepared me to be the employee I need to be. I have learned so much. "
"Excellent speakers, good variety of subject matter."
"There was such a diverse selection of courses. I was able to tailor my curriculum to meet my immediate needs."
"It made me feel excited about what I do."
"Good sessions with great presenters and many networking opportunities."
"Being new to Iowa’s early childhood initiative, it brought many aspects together and highlighted best practices."
"The conference exceeded my expectations. All the sessions were wonderful and inspiring. "
"The conference provided me with time to take stock of what we do, take on new information and start to plan for the future making improvements."
"This was my first Smart Start Conference. I was looking for some inspiration and I found it. "
“This conference far exceeded my expectations – wonderful organization and guides, great speakers, great food and activities!”
“Gave me a greater perspective of the need for blending early learning care and education, health and safety and family support.”
“I received a wealth of information even though I have been in the early childhood field since 1968!”
“As a newcomer, the information I received educated, inspired and prepared me to be the employee I need to be.”
“There was such a diverse selection of courses. I was able to tailor my curriculum to meet immediate needs.”
“This conference provided an excellent opportunity to network with other states in learning new methods and ideas to promote in my own state.”
“The energy, variety and idea sharing has been amazing!” “Lots of good sessions offered – actually it was hard to decide what to take.”
“The conference let me see that there are so many people who have children on their minds.”
“I am a full day (for profit) provider…I heard about the conference through my work with United Way. The conference exceeded my expectations and I am taking away so much useful information. We all work for quality care regardless of our settings!”
“This year’s keynote was perfect – great message with high entertainment value.”
“Great workshops – great sharing – great fun”
“Quality of presentations was excellent.”
“I came to learn and gather information and it was a completely successful search.”
“I got lots of great ideas that I can use in my state, learned lessons of what works and what doesn’t and felt inspired by what is possible.”
“There’s no other conference like it!”