Welcome to the 2023 HighScope Annual International Conference!

We are delighted to embark with you on the next few days of active learning. We are especially excited to welcome both our in-person and virtual attendees as we offer a hybrid experience at this year’s HighScope Conference. The rich and empowering content of this conference will be available to all, near and far.

We also want to note that last year marked the 60th anniversary of the Perry Preschool Study, the groundbreaking research that started it all. HighScope continues to be built by research. We continue to grow and learn in the 21st century as we develop resources for early childhood educators that are based on the research we support and conduct at HighScope.

Teachers are a central part of that research. In fact, teachers are researchers, but they often don’t get the credit they deserve. One of our goals at HighScope is to elevate the profession of teachers to recognize that their work is imperative to society. Indeed, valuable educational research happens because teachers are willing participants who invite researchers into their classrooms. Imagine if Perry Elementary School Principal Charles Beatty had not opened his school’s doors in 1962 and actively participated in the Perry Preschool Study. Where would we be today? Without teachers, there would be no research to inform the field of education. It is an inarguable truth that the positive impact of a teacher can be life changing for a child. The work teachers do is sophisticated and their contributions should be more highly valued in the field of education.

We are excited to announce our three keynote speakers at this year’s conference, all of whom are teachers who have made important contributions to the field of education.

First, we welcome Tabatha Rosproy who was named National Teacher of the Year in 2020 and is the first preschool teacher to earn this prestigious award. Rosproy is an early childhood educator with 13 years of experience who will share her passion for social-emotional learning, working with families, and empowering educators at all levels to be advocates for the positive impact of high-quality education.

We also welcome Dr. Michele Borba, an educational psychologist, best-selling author, and Today Show contributor. Dr. Borba combines 40 years of teaching and consulting with the latest science to offer sound, realistic advice to parents, teachers, and child advocates about how to best help children thrive.

Finally, we are excited to welcome our closing keynote speaker Vittoria Jimerson, CEO and Program Director of Gems of Jackson Child Care & Education Center. Jimmerson will share the story of her journey to create an innovative early care and education program model to meet the needs of working parents and her community.

Our keynote speakers have been selected with care to inspire, invigorate, educate, and empower you through their life experiences, research, and storytelling. We hope that these speakers will deepen your connection to the important work you do in the classroom and beyond.

Never underestimate the value of what you do as an educator. Whether you are a teacher, administrator, coach, curriculum specialist, or are working in another role, your work matters. We commend each of you and your dedication to be here with us and to invest in yourself as a professional and as a lifelong learner. Your openness to new learning, to research, to growth, and to change is inspiring.

Alejandra Barraza, Ph.D., President, HighScope Educational Research Foundation