My thanks to the Alabama Early Childhood Education Conference for inviting me to help kick off their 2025 fall conference in Birmingham. Thank you to all of the teachers who posted photos and videos from the keynote and the hands-on STEM workshop. Plus, a huge helping of gratitude to the teachers and directors who picked up a copy of our new book - The Engagement Effect. Not sure how the nicest people on the planet all decided to land in Alabama, but I’m forever grateful for your hospitality and

Quality, it's what we're all about! NAEYC's Early Learning Program Accreditation connects practice and research to ensure that ALL young children reach their full potential. Thank you to the Kiddie Academy of Gaithersburg and Hopkins House for inviting us in to show what high-quality looks like. | The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)