UTRGV Preschool Teacher Conference
Saturday, May 4, 2024
The Second Annual UTRGV Preschool Teacher Conference is sponsored by the C.B. Slemp Endowment. It will feature keynote speaker Dr. Gilberto Soto and a variety of breakout sessions. The UTRGV Mobile Literacy Unit will be available for a tour and free book giveaway. Attendees will have the opportunity to win door prizes from Lakeshore. The conference will be at UTRGV Edinburg Campus Education Complex from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM.
Conference Theme
“Bilingualism is a Superpower!” ¡El bilingüismo es un superpoder!
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Gilberto Soto, Texas A&M International University, Department of Fine and Performing Arts. Gilberto D. Soto began to play the guitar at the age of twelve. After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Universidad Autónoma del Noreste, Dr. Soto came to Texas to study music at Abilene Christian University. He graduated with honors (Cum Laude) from ACU in 1986 and received a second Bachelor’s Degree in Music. Dr. Soto then was awarded a full fellowship from the University of Southern Mississippi in order to continue his graduate studies in Music, where he received his Master’s Degree in Music Performance in 1988 and his Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Music Education in 1995. Dr. Soto has studied classical guitar under Dan Mitchell, Charles Postlewate, and Giovanni De Chiaro. Ha has also taken master classes with Max Maxwell, Vladimir Mikulka, Javier Calderon, and Carlos Barbosa-Lima. Dr. Soto began to teach music classes at the age of nineteen and directed music ensembles in both traditional and classical music. Some of the institutions where he has taught include Monterrey Tech, Universidad Autónoma del Noreste, University of Southern Mississippi, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Hinds Community College, Vidal M. Treviño Magnet School, and Laredo Community College, where he was the Department Chairperson from 1998-2001.
Dr. Soto is a member of the Guitar Foundation of America, the South Texas Classical Guitar Society, and the Texas Council for the Arts, and the Texas Music Education Association. He is also part of the subcommittee on Higher Education for the Texas Association of Music School and is currently serving as a member on the board of trustees for the Laredo Center for the Arts and the Instituto Cultural México-Laredo.
Registration is Now Open
The first 200 participants to register will receive free admission and lunch. Participants will have the opportunity to earn up to 6 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) hours and be presented with a certificate. Share the registration leaflet with colleagues. Registration will be available until Monday, April 22, 2024. If you have any questions, please email us at hdss@utrgv.edu.
Schedule at a Glance
- 08:30 AM - 09:00 AM | Sign-in
- 09:00 AM - 09:15 AM | Welcome
- 09:15 AM - 10:15 AM | Keynote Speaker - Dr. Gilberto Solo, Texas A&M International University
- 10:25 AM - 11:25 AM | Breakout Sessions
- 11:35 AM - 12:30 PM | Lunch and Student Exhibits
- 12:35 PM - 01:35 PM | Breakout Sessions
- 01:40 PM - 02:40 PM | Closing General Session
- 02:45 PM - 03:15 PM | Certificates, Evaluations and Door Prizes
Conference Location
A conference program will be provided with the full agenda and listings of breakout session details."
Conference Call for Proposals
The Second Annual UTRGV Preschool Teacher Conference invites you to submit innovative, research-based workshop presentation proposals that support the conference theme "Bilingualism is a Superpower” and reflect best practices in fostering bilingualism, biliteracy and bicultural early childhood education, ages 3-5 years. Share the call for proposals leaflet with colleagues.
To receive full consideration, proposals must be submitted by Friday, April 19, 2024, extended deadline. You will be notified of your proposal acceptance to the conference on Monday, April 22, 2024. If you have any questions, please contact irasema.gonzalez@utrgv.edu, and hilda.medrano@utrgv.edu.
Proposal Topics
- Assessment of Young Children
- Best practices for Dual Language Learners
- Biliteracy
- Children with Disabilities/Early Intervention
- Creative Arts
- Emerging Bilingual Children
- Family Engagement
- Learning Environment
- Mathematics
- Music
- Play
- Science
- Social Emotional Development
- Social Studies
Types of Proposals
- 60-minute workshop presentation
- Interactive, Innovative, Research-Based
- Aligned with Principles of Children’s Development
- Aligned with the U.S. Department of Education Initiative Bilingual Is A Superpower Initiative
- Aligned with the Conference Theme.
Required Proposal and Presenter(s) Information
- Full Name(s):
- Email:
- Phone:
- Job Title:
- Affiliation / Company / Organization:
- Title of your presentation:
- Session Description: Summarize your topic; state the importance, relevance and impact for attendees about maximizing young children’s optimal development, learning and educational opportunities (40 words max). Description will be added to the conference program/website.
- Session Objectives: Include 1-3 session objectives that describe the specific knowledge and skills your participants will acquire in your session.
- Select a Conference Topic Track:
- Assessment of Young Children
- Best practices for Dual Language Learners
- Biliteracy
- Children with Disabilities/Early Intervention
- Creative Arts
- Emerging Bilingual Children
- Family Engagement
- Learning Environment
- Mathematics
- Music
- Play
- Science
- Social Emotional Development
- Social Studies