BLOOMINGTON – Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington has opened registration for its early childhood education conference, “Community Roots: Working Together to Strengthen the Village that Raises Every Child,” to be held Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. Registration is free for early educators working in Brown, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Morgan, Orange, and Owen counties.
The full-day event will welcome up to 200 early childhood professionals and is hosted by Ivy Tech Bloomington’s Early Childhood Education program. The conference will include four breakout sessions, a keynote address, a closing speaker, and an on-site expo.
The keynote will be delivered by Heather Bernt-Santy, host of “That Early Childhood Nerd,” the number one early childhood podcast in the United States.
Breakout sessions will offer topics on purposeful play, early literacy, high-quality classroom environments, educator wellness, and other specialized areas.
The conference will also feature an on-site expo, including Monroe Smart Start, Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children, Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning, and child-centered local businesses such as Lakeshore Learning and Mairzy Doats.
Registration is free, but space is limited and will close on August 30 or sooner if spots become full. To register, visit https://link.ivytech.edu/edconference2026.
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana’s largest public postsecondary institution and a leading provider of early childhood education programs statewide. With the support of a $21.9 million grant awarded by Lilly Endowment Inc, Ivy Tech is expanding pathways for Hoosiers to enter and advance in early childhood careers. Through strong partnerships, the College is developing the next generation of educators to lead Indiana’s early learning system forward.
About Ivy Tech Bloomington
Ivy Tech Bloomington offers more than 40 career and four-year transfer programs, with courses that start multiple times per year for quick entry and graduation. To get started, apply online at ivytech.edu/bloomington or email askBloomington@ivytech.edu. For information on free, short-term training programs, visit ivytech.edu/bloomington/NLJ.
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest single-accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor’s degree. Follow Ivy Tech on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
