Be the Expert Wisconsin Head Start Association Needs
2026 Annual Training Conference Call for Presenters
Transform careers. Share solutions. Make lasting impact.
The Opportunity
Picture this: You walk into a room of 300+ Head Start professionals hungry for the exact solutions you’ve developed. They’re facing the same challenges you’ve conquered. The same frustrations you’ve solved. They need what you know.
This isn’t another conference where people sit politely and forget everything by Tuesday. This is where Wisconsin’s Head Start community comes to get the tools that actually work. Where careers are strengthened and programs are improved.
Your expertise could be the breakthrough that changes everything for someone.
Conference Details
Monday – Wednesday, February 23-25, 2026 | Kalahari Resort & Convention Center, Wisconsin Dells
Three intensive days. 300+ dedicated professionals. One resort that lets you network by the waterpark and brainstorm in the hot tub. (Seriously, some of the best connections happen there.)
What Wisconsin Head Start Really Needs Right Now
Based on feedback from program directors and frontline staff
High-Impact Focus Areas:
Staff wellness and sustainability. Programs need reflective practice tools that actually prevent compassion fatigue—not just identify it.
Complex behavioral support. Traditional approaches need updating for today’s trauma-impacted children. Professionals want evidence-based interventions that work in real classrooms with real constraints.
Challenging conversations. Staff need scripts, frameworks, and confidence to navigate resistance from families, colleagues, and supervisors.
Technology integration. Everyone knows screen time is complicated, but programs need practical strategies that enhance learning without replacing human connection.
Family support during transitions. With divorce, IEP stress, and economic pressure, staff need concrete support strategies beyond “refer to social services.”
Proactive safety protocols. Programs need clear procedures for pickup/dropoff conflicts, challenging behaviors, and community tensions that protect everyone while maintaining relationships.
What Works: Your Proven Solutions
We don’t want theories. We want the strategies you’ve tested, refined, and seen transform actual programs. The tools your colleagues beg you to share. The approaches that made you think, “Every Head Start program needs to know this.”
Why Present at WHSA 2026?
Professional Recognition
- Instant credibility with 300+ Wisconsin early childhood leaders
- Presentation portfolio builder for career advancement
- Subject matter expert status in your specialty area
- Statewide network expansion with decision-makers and innovators
Benefits & What’s Included
On Your Presentation Day (FREE):
- Morning coffee & light breakfast on your presentation day (coffee, lunch, full access)
- Full access to all sessions
- Lunch on each day you present (Monday and/or Tuesday)
- Evening networking reception
- $190 savings on additional conference days (pay $200 vs. $390 regular rate)
- Kalahari Resort access – waterpark, restaurants, spa (your family will thank you)
- Wisconsin Dells weekend – turn professional development into a mini-vacation
Want the Full 3-Day experience?
- Special speaker rate: Only $200 (Save $190 off regular $390 rate)
- Includes: Monday lunch, Tuesday lunch, Monday reception, all sessions
- Note: Wednesday conference ends at noon (no lunch provided)
- Kalahari Resort access – waterpark, restaurants, spa (your family will thank you)
- Wisconsin Dells weekend – turn professional development into a mini-vacation
Your Materials:
- Electronic handouts distributed to all attendees
- Certificate of presentation for your portfolio
Speaker Responsibilities:
1. Travel to/from conference venue
2. Hotel accommodations
3. All meals not specified above
4. WHSA does not provide speaker honorariums
The Impact That Matters
Your session directly improves outcomes for Wisconsin’s most vulnerable children and families. Period.
What Makes a Winning Presentation
We Select Based On:
Immediate applicability – Can participants use this Monday morning?
Proven results – Have you actually implemented this successfully?
Practical tools – Do you provide templates, checklists, or frameworks?
Interactive engagement – Will participants practice, not just listen?
Specific expertise – Are you the person who figured this out?
Format Options:
90-Minute Workshop: Perfect for skill-building with practice time
180-Minute Deep Dive: For complex topics requiring extensive hands-on work
Our Selection Process
Monday, October 6, 2025: Acceptance notifications sent on a rolling basis
Monday, December 8, 2025: Application deadline
Monday, January 12, 2026: Digital presentation materials due
February 2026: You transform careers and change lives
Selection Committee: Active Head Start directors, veteran teachers, and program administrators who know what works in the field.
The Application Advantage
We’ve eliminated the bureaucratic nightmare. No lengthy CVs. No academic abstracts. No complicated forms.
Our streamlined application focuses on what matters:
- What specific problem do you solve?
- How do you solve it with practical tools and strategies?
- Where have you successfully implemented these techniques?
- What will participants be able to do immediately after your session?
Ready to Step Up?
Wisconsin’s Head Start community needs your expertise. Programs are struggling with challenges you’ve already solved. Staff are hungry for the strategies you’ve perfected.
The question isn’t whether you’re qualified—it’s whether you’re ready to make a difference.
Your session could be the turning point in someone’s career. The solution a program desperately needs. The breakthrough that changes everything for a struggling teacher.
Don’t let Wisconsin’s Head Start community miss out on what you know.
Apply Now
Deadline: Monday, December 8, 2025
Questions: whsaassist@whsaonline.org
Click “Submit” when finished. Questions contact whsaassist@whsaonline.org. Thank you for your interest in our event!
Wisconsin Head Start Association Annual Conference: Where practical solutions meet passionate professionals. Join the experts who are transforming early childhood education across our state.
