School Specialty to Showcase Its New Childcraft Products and “Circle of Education” Social Emotional Program at the 2017 NAEYC Conference

GREENVILLE, Wis., Oct. 26, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Childcraft®, the award-winning early childhood education brand of School Specialty, Inc. (OTCQB:SCOO) (“School Specialty”, “SSI” or “the Company”), will be demonstrating its newest, innovative and developmentally-appropriate furniture and learning tools at the 2017 NAEYC Annual Conference & Expo, which runs from November 15-18 in Atlanta, Georgia. In conjunction, the Company will be sponsoring various industry expert presentations and workshops, as well as hosting fun contests and giveaways at booths #907 and #806.

“We are excited to participate in this year’s NAEYC Conference and gather with the extended early childhood community to highlight the key issues, developments and solutions impacting young learners,” stated Soren Sofhauser, Director of Early Childhood Sales. “For more than 70 years, through our Childcraft brand, School Specialty has put the needs of every child first, with an assortment of top-quality furnishings and standards-based educational materials that inspire a child’s curiosity and encourage them to explore and discover. We look forward to engaging with attendees and sharing ideas on how to best support students at their earliest stages of development, with the 21^st century learning experiences and critical skills they require to become the next generation of successful leaders. Visitors to the Childcraft/School Specialty Booth will have a first-hand look at our line of specially-curated, transformative products for 2018.”

Spend Time with Childcraft’s Experts...Design a Preschool Classroom…And Enter to Win the Grand Prize!

Whether searching for new furniture and equipment for their STEAM areas, nutrition & health products, unique items for students with special needs, infant & toddler furnishings and learning materials, or products that support social emotional wellness and family engagement, teachers, directors of EC centers, public and private school educators and administrators will be able to examine a range of Childcraft solutions for their classroom environments and programs at booth #907.

Other key conference activities will include an informative seminar titled, Listen Closely: Infants and Toddlers on the Road to Literacy, hosted by Childcraft’s Ginny Streckewald, M. Ed. and Infant Development Specialist. This workshop, slated for November 16^th, will examine the literacy journey during the first three years of life and present ideas for encouraging the development of language and literacy in infants and toddlers.

Visitors to the Childcraft booth will also be challenged to try their skills in educational design by participating in the Childcraft Design-a-Classroom Contest. Guests can win prizes as they arrange a scale-sized model classroom of furniture. Further, visitors will be invited to enter a drawing for a Grand Prize worth more than $10,000 – a KidSpaces™ Preschool Classroom of high-quality Childcraft furniture. For complete details on these exciting plans, please visit Childcraft.com/NAEYC17.

Introducing the Circle of Education®

Additionally, taking center stage at NAEYC this year is Childcraft’s collaboration with delibrainy, LLC to showcase the ground-breaking Circle of Education® program. This unique early childhood program was developed by Dr. Shulamit Ritblatt Ph.D., a leading expert in social-emotional development and early intervention. Dr. Ritblatt is a Professor and Past Chair of Child and Family Development at San Diego State University. Recognizing that a child isn't ready to learn if they don't feel safe and secure, she designed a unique bilingual, research-based social-emotional wellness program that addresses academic development, family engagement, behavioral health, and early intervention. Created especially for young children from birth to eight (8) years, the Circle of Education utilizes the latest neuroscience and child development research.

NAEYC attendees are invited to booth #806 to learn more about this innovative program and the exclusive delibrainy and Childcraft partnership. Educators will also be able to interact directly with Dr. Ritblatt via insightful workshops slated for November 16^th through the 18^th, including “Say My Name!” Developing the Sense of Self in Infants & Toddlers; Dealing with Strong Emotions; Supporting the Development of Competent Explorers; and Climbing the Social Emotional Ladder to Empathy.

In addition, there will be chances to win a daily raffle of the Circle of Education® program (digital version), worth $5,000. Attendees will also enjoy free gifts of the Circle of Education music CD, among other exciting giveaways.

Sofhauser continued, “As one of the major gathering places for the Early Childhood market, we are honored to demonstrate Childcraft’s commitment to helping educators ensure that every student – from the start – has the resources they need to reach their full potential. We eagerly look ahead to another very productive conference this year.”

Since 1946, Childcraft® prized manipulatives, furniture and games have helped early childhood educators cultivate the lives of little learners from birth to grade 2. The brand has broken ground with top-quality, unique furnishings and learning materials that can act as a second teacher in the room and align with early learning standards of excellence – including those set by NAEYC. With a full selection of early childhood educational products, Childcraft and School Specialty continue to be America’s leader in creating complete and effective learning environments that meet the needs of all children by building crucial 21st century learning skills.

The NAEYC Annual Conference & Expo will see thought leaders, classroom teachers and faculty, administrators, researchers, and other critically important practitioners and contributors come together to address the key matters impacting early childhood education. Newcomers to the field and experienced professionals alike will have the opportunity to help advance shared work on behalf of children during their most critical period of development and learning. For more information on NAEYC 2017, visit www.naeyc.org.

About School Specialty, Inc.
School Specialty is a leading distributor of innovative and proprietary products, programs and services to the education marketplace. The Company designs, develops, and provides educators with the latest and very best school supplies, furniture and both curriculum and supplemental learning resources. Working in collaboration with educators, School Specialty reaches beyond the scope of textbooks to help teachers, guidance counselors and school administrators ensure that every student reaches his or her full potential. Through its SSI Guardian subsidiary, the Company is also committed to school, healthcare and corporate workplace safety by offering the highest quality curriculum, training and safety and security products. Finally, through its SOAR Life Products brand, the Company offers thousands of products that sharpen cognitive skills and build physical and mental strength in fun and creative ways. From childhood through adulthood, they help individuals live life to the fullest – engaged, happy and well.  SOAR Life Products is a customized offering for hospitals, long-term care, therapeutic facilities, home care, surgery centers, day care centers, physician offices, and clinics. For more information about School Specialty, visit www.schoolspecialty.com.

@SchoolSpecialty
Connect with School Specialty on social media; search School Specialty on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. For ideas and resources, educational trends and inspiration for today’s educators – visit the Schoolyard blog.

School Specialty Contact:     
Kathleen Berkson
Marketing Manager - Physical Education, Special Needs, Early Childhood, Out of School
Tel: [phone] 
Email: [e-mail]
           
Media Contacts:
Glenn Wiener and Dionne Manchester
GW Communications (for School Specialty)
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail] / [e-mail]