SDE's 13th Annual I teach K! National Kindergarten Conference Features All-Star Presenter Lineup

PETERBOROUGH, N.H., May 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Staff Development for Educators (SDE), one of the nation's leading providers of professional development for K-12 educators, is pleased to announce the lineup of presenters for this summer's I teach K! National Kindergarten Teacher Conference, taking place July 15-18, 2013 in Las Vegas.

Now in its thirteenth year, the perennially popular professional development event offers kindergarten teachers strategies, techniques, tips, and ideas for becoming more effective educators—all in an environment that is upbeat, fun, and full of excitement.

"There's a lot that's very exciting about this year's conference—practical teaching and learning strategies for the Common Core State Standards, skills for the connected educator, developmentally appropriate technology for the kindergarten classroom, and more," reports Melissa Sheldon, who planned and programmed the event. "And there are some real stars among the topnotch educators who will be presenting at the conference."

In keeping with past years' conferences, the 2013 I teach K! will feature nationally known authors, musicians, and early childhood educators. The keynote speaker on day one of the conference will be Debbie Clement, classroom teacher, administrator, presenter, concert performer, and winner of the Ella Lyman Cabot Award for her excellence in creating music programs for young children with special needs.

A highlight of the 2013 conference will be well-known children's author Audrey Penn. Her best known book, The Kissing Hand, was a New York Times number-one best seller and won the Distinguished Achievement Award for Excellence in Educational Journalism, in 2004. First published by the Child Welfare League of America in 1993, it has been used by countless parents to help their young children survive the first day of school.

Joining the lineup will be children's author Tad Hills, whose books Duck and Goose and How Rocket Learned to Read enjoyed a presence on the New York Times bestseller list, and Stephen Fite, an award-winning musician and writer whose albums have received eighteen nationally recognized honors. Fite's upbeat, curriculum-based songs have aided in educating over 650,000 children nationwide.

Also presenting at the conference will be Deanna Jump, a17-year elementary school teacher whose outstanding lesson ideas have made her the number-one seller on the popular website, TeachersPayTeachers.com. Jump will present sessions on the Common Core State Standards for Language Arts, creating critical thinkers, and student engagement, among others.

About SDE

SDE provides professional development for PreK through Grade 12 educators. Through Onsite PD, PD Events, Web-based PD, and PD Resources, the company empowers teachers and administrators across the country with ongoing professional development that is not only research-based, innovative, and rigorous, but also practical, motivating, and fun. All SDE training is presented by the nation's top authors and educational experts, with the goal of creating extraordinary classrooms that prepare students for the evolving demands of the 21st century.

Educators interested in learning more about SDE's national conferences and the many other professional development opportunities offered by SDE can visit the company's website, www.SDE.com, or call 1-800-462-1478.

SOURCE SDE