ECCLPS and NJC host Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead early childhood conference Jan. 31

Early childhood educators, family providers and local specialists met at E.S. French Hall on the Northeastern Junior College campus in Sterling for the ECCLPS/NJC Early Childhood Education Conference, a one-day program aimed at expanding S.T.E.A.M. practice in care and classrooms for children from birth to eight years old. The event ran roughly 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Jan. 31, 2026, and was hosted by the Early Childhood Council of Logan, Phillips and Sedgwick counties and Northeastern Junior College.

Organizers framed the program around the theme “Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead.” “We have an amazing list of presenters this year, with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics,” ECCLPS said in a press release. Keynote speakers listed for the conference included Shannon Stark Guss, PhD, Senior Research Associate at the Marsico Institute for Early Learning at the University of Denver, with a presentation titled “The Serious Business of Teaching Thinkers,” and Scott Liebler, founder of Move to Improve, with a presentation titled “Empowering Yourself and Children with Four Essential Strategies.”

Supporting sessions brought together local and regional practitioners. Presenters named in the program included Rachelle Maker, a family nurse practitioner in Sterling; Catherine Vancik, MA, and Tanna Neufeld, PhD, both Research Associates at the Marsico Institute for Early Learning; and local early childhood specialists Terry Curtis and Stephanie Swenson. The conference followed a familiar format for the college, which has hosted similar events in past years with sessions on technology in early learning, brain development and autism.

The conference is part of a broader workforce and quality-improvement effort in Logan County and neighboring districts. By concentrating professional development on S.T.E.A.M. content, ECCLPS and NJC aim to equip providers with classroom strategies and program ideas that can improve early-learning outcomes and strengthen local child-care capacity. Local officials and center directors often point to continuing education as a lever for staff retention and program accreditation; however, materials available before the event did not specify continuing-education credit counts, registration fees or a full session-by-session agenda.

Registration for the conference followed a two-tier schedule prior to the event: early-bird pricing ended at midnight on Jan. 16, 2026, and registration closed at midnight on Jan. 23, 2026. The registration link was not present in the press materials supplied to media outlets; attendees seeking post-event materials or confirmation of credits can contact Northeastern Junior College at 100 College Avenue, Sterling, Colorado 80751, or by phone at 1-800-626-4637.

For Logan County, the conference highlights an ongoing local investment in early-childhood professional development but also underscores information gaps that affect access and accountability. Policymakers, funders and providers will need clear follow-up on continuing-education credits, costs and program outcomes to assess whether local training translates into stronger staffing, expanded child-care slots and better readiness for school. Organizers and college officials are the next stop for those seeking session materials, credit verification and plans for future training.