The QUALITYstarsNY team came together for our 2025 All-Staff Summit in Saratoga Springs, NY, where we spent three days focused on learning and connection. We explored valuable resources in the early childhood field, shared impactful stories and enjoyed fun activities like a game of “Guess Who” and a scavenger hunt through the city to learn more about each other and strengthen team camaraderie across the regions of New York State.
Day One: Sharing Impacts and Metrics
The first morning together was kicked off with a celebration of our team’s accomplishments this year. We recognized the statewide reach of QUALITYstarsNY, with our team attending over 60 conferences and events across New York in 2025. The morning also featured a read-aloud of the “Adventures of Starry”, a story following “Starry”, a crocheted star companion, as it joined the Western New York team on various adventures and helped them brighten the lives of children, families, and communities wherever they traveled.
In the afternoon, Nora Yates, Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Child Care Services at the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), joined us to share updates and highlights from our longstanding partnership, namely the New York State Impact Project, which aims to develop a standard definition of quality in early childhood systems, policies, and practices.
Day Two: Key Early Childhood Resources
On the busiest day of the summit, our partners at the Office of Early Learning (OEL) led a session showcasing their numerous early childhood-related resources, such as webinars, self-assessment tools, and guidance documents focused on positive behavior and multilingual learners. We also heard from the Infant Early Childhood and Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC), a project of the Early Care and Learning Council (ECLC). IECMHC talked about the holistic support they offer to child care programs through their Consultants, who work with providers to identify goals and strategies regarding social-emotional development and responding effectively to challenges in the classroom.
Later on, our Quality Improvement Specialists spent time in working groups using their expertise in the early childhood field to make recommendations to further improve the QUALITYstarsNY Quality Standards. These sessions were structured to ensure the Standards remain aligned with best practices for supporting continuous quality improvement for participating programs.
Day Three: Closing Celebrations and Gratitude
Assistant Regional Manager Cassie Annis at the OCFS Albany Regional Office and Associate Executive Director Abbe Hahn at ECLC spent the final morning with us sharing insights into the continued prioritization of the collaboration among New York early childhood systems and its importance in maintaining high-quality early childhood education throughout the state. Abbe highlighted the array of services ECLC provides to Child Care Resource Center members, including annual events, professional development, and data insights.
Finally, we welcomed Patty Persell from the Council on Children and Families, who shared information about the current support and opportunities available to teachers, providers, parents and caregivers. Patty also spoke with QUALITYstarsNY about current implementations of the Pyramid Model and how it can continue to be used effectively in early childhood settings.
Before departing, we recognized our rock star team members whose behind-the-scenes and frontline contributions keep our team running smoothly. QUALITYstarsNY Regional Quality Improvement Coordinator Jenna Pettinicchi and Data Systems Coordinator Robert Inocencio were celebrated for their outstanding technical support. Their commitment and readiness to answer questions and provide guidance keep our team moving forward.
Thank you to the QUALITYstarsNY staff and state partners who joined us this year and helped make this summit a success. Our time together was lively and informative, and we look forward to continuing to uplift children and families in New York with high-quality support for early childhood programs!
