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Wednesday, July 19, 2023, Breakout Sessions
10:00 a.m.
A Project-Based Approach to Career Exploration
David McConnell, You for Youth (Y4Y)
Shanika Peck, You for Youth (Y4Y)
The career possibilities for your students are extensive, and 21st CCLC programs are positioned to develop students’ fundamental career skills while delivering high-quality activities. Join the U.S. Department of Education’s You for Youth (Y4Y) Technical Assistance Team as we explore the career pathways approach and how to incorporate that approach into project-based learning experiences – where students pose the questions and answer them through hands-on activities. Learn how Y4Y resources can support you as you work with students to craft a driving question, facilitate an investigation, and work towards a culminating event, all while building key career skills and allowing students to explore pathways suited to their interests.
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Beyond the Workshop: Implementing a Professional Learning Cycle
Nicole Hamilton, Change Impact
Great professional development (PD) builds individual staff members’ knowledge and skills, boosts organizational culture, and strengthens programs. We all know – and research confirms – that one-time workshops have a limited impact on staff. In this session, we will explore a professional learning cycle framework for youth programs: Prepare, Learn, Practice, Unite, and Grow. We will share a case example of how we implemented our learning cycle to train a group of educators and youth work professionals on restorative practice, and provide opportunities for discussion and peer learning.
Building a System of Support for Behavior After School
Kymberly Caddell, Completely KIDS
Struggling with behavior management? This session will give participants practical strategies to build a system of support for behavior in their OST program or across programs in OST agencies. It will focus on tiered interventions to support positive behaviors, social and emotional learning and mental health, and use data to build resilience in children with highest risk.
Cultural Responsiveness: What is That Really?
Julia deLeon, Big Thought
Lela Wesley, Big Thought
This workshop will explore what it means to put youth at the center, work from a social emotional lens, and think about being culturally responsive. Participants will explore their current practices and learn new tips for how to dive deeper into igniting a space that allows all youth to thrive.
EPIC - Engaging Students Through Project Based Learning
Holly McPartlin, Eliot K-8 Innovation School
Traci Walker Griffith, Eliot K-8 Innovation School, Boston Public Schools
Project Based Learning is the vehicle for delivering content rich, academically rigorous, equitable and playful learning experiences for students. By learning through high quality PBL, students will engage at higher levels, especially at the upper grades, and develop strong content knowledge that is relevant and authentic to their daily lives.
Experientially Rich: Let What You Have Work for You AND Others
Temika Carroll, United Planning Organization
J'Lyn Henderson, United Planning Organization
Larry Jones, United Planning Organization
In this interactive session, participants will experience what it is like to be a student again by engaging in a C.R.E.A.T.E. program townhall. Get ready for a fun yet reflective time as you learn to maximize your life experiences to benefit you and the participants you serve.
Making Afterschool Learning Count: Introducing Credit-for-Learning Programs
Alexis Steines Rao, Afterschool Alliance
In several states, new legislation is allowing out-of-school time programs to pilot opportunities for youth to earn credit. Through partnerships with afterschool programs and schools, youth are engaging in opportunities that earn credits on high school transcripts. Learn more about the credit-for-learning concept and how to advocate for these opportunities.
No presentation is available at this time.
Relationships Matter: How to Build a Psychologically Safe Learning Environment
Katie Frazier, WINGS for Kids
Mallory Dorsey, WINGS for Kids
Supportive environments that are conducive to learning, healthy development, and happy students, don’t happen overnight. It is up to us as adults to build them over time through consistency and intentional social emotional skill building. Proactive strategies will help to reduce the likelihood of negative behaviors occurring and create an overall culture that is more positive. Proactive approaches provide students with the tools they need to make good choices both in the moment and in the future.
Students Taking Ownership: Allowing Students to Start Their Future Through Entrepreneurship
Ryan Hulec, Greater Cleveland Neighborhood Centers Association
Today’s students are clearly distracted. Empowering students to envision and create their individualized success puts students in real control and allows students to develop a confident, self-starter mindset. This session will explore an Entrepreneurship program designed to foster socialization and ownership identity in preparing students for life after high school.
Successful Afterschool Leaders Start With Why!
Sarah Daly, Texas Education Agency
Shawn Petty, Westat
In this workshop explore the importance of starting with why as a tool to not only make a difference in the lives of young people but also to recruit stellar talent, reduce staff turnover, and motivate team members. The presenters will explore key questions & share a wealth of resources.
No presentation is available at this time.
The Roadmap from Access to Success: Ensuring Authentic Experiences for Students with Disabilities
Dr. Dawn Tyler, East Orange School District
This workshop will provide innovative strategies for programs to ensure equitable access for students with disabilities. The East Orange School District has found success by using best practices to modify and accommodate students with special needs students with activities in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.
There’s Power in Partnerships: How Intentional Collaboration increases Youth Access and Engagement
Brodrick Clarke, National Summer Learning Association
Tiyana Glenn, Afterschool Alliance
Brandis Stockman, National League of Cities
Dr. Sheronda Witter Fleming, U.S. Department of Education
As modeled by the U.S. Department of Education’s recently launched Engage Every Student initiative, this session highlights the value of intentional partnerships between state and local school districts, state and city elected officials and afterschool and summer learning programs. This session will focus on partnership identification and engagement to develop and implement high-quality afterschool and summer learning programs for students.
1:15 p.m.
"Yes, And” Flexibility and Creative Purpose!
Happi Price, Improv 2 Improvement LLC
During these uncertain times, we have had to improvise our livelihood. We live in an improvised mood from when we wake up and go to bed. Being creative is an innate ability we all can use to balance our energy and make crucial choices to achieve a quality of life while supporting the lives we serve. Join me on an interactive experience through Applied Improvisation, exploring creative purpose and flexibility.
Building A Successful Team Through Purposeful Training and Professional Development
Abby Boen, Project Success of Vermilion County, Inc.
Kimberly David, Project Success of Vermilion County, Inc.
Joanna Pickering, Project Success of Vermilion County, Inc.
Mackenzie Woods, Project Success of Vermilion County, Inc.
We all try to make programs exciting for students, how often do we make it exciting for our staff? In this session you will receive the tools and tips necessary to engage and retain staff. Walk away with a professional development plan and resources to help your staff be successful!
Connecting the Dots between Program Needs and Expertise - The Key to Sustainable Programming
Brenda McLaughlin, National Comprehensive Center at Westat
Hillary Oravec, National Comprehensive Center at Westat
Are you a state leader working to build the capacity and sustainability of OST providers? Or a program leader hoping to grow your network and boost your expertise? Join us to hear about a new Needs Assessment and Summer and Afterschool Asset Map that connects program leaders to systemic supports.
No presentation is available at this time
Empowering Partnerships Through Storytelling
William Rodriguez, Santa Fe Public Schools
Empowering Partnerships through Storytelling:Enter the realm of storytelling as you discover the incubation journey of partnerships in Santa Fe Public School’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers. Participants will discover where and how community partnerships are recruited created, and maintained.
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Meaningful Family Engagement Strategies for Expanded Learning Programs
Casey Pulz, NYSED 21st CCLC Technical Assistance Resource Center
This session will review the "Meaningful Family Engagement Strategies for Expanded Learning Programs" Toolkit, developed by the NY State 21st CCLC Technical Assistance Resource Center. Participants will receive a copy of the toolkit and explore various family engagement practices tailored to expanded learning programs. Networking and sharing time included.
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Our Listening Drives Our Behavior: How Trauma Informed Listening Creates Psychological Safety
Maiysha Clairborne, Mind ReMapping Company LLC
On the journey of cultivating inclusive thinking, an important and often overlooked component is how we listen. Listening, or more specifically what we hear, drives our perceptions, and our perceptions drive our communication and behavior. In this workshop, participants will examine the "already always" way of listening, understand why that occurs, and begin to explore new assumptions from which to listen in order to shift from the already always to shift perspective in any conversation or interaction.
Out-of-School Time Career Pathway Program: Implementation from the Field
Liza Ambrose, Tennessee Department of Education
Jen Beck, Nashville Technology Council
Emily Bounds, Nashville Technology Council
Carolyn Eastman, New Hampshire Learning Initiative
Casey Foye, OSTCP District Lead,
Vic Jaras, Iowa Department of Education
JeuneElle Jeffries, Boys and Girls Club of Northern Utah
D'Lisa Ware, Council Bluffs Community School District
In January 2021, the U.S. Department of Education awarded four grants to State Education Agencies (SEAs) to expand opportunities for students to participate in career pathway programs outside of regular school hours that lead to a post-secondary credential. The SEAs partnered with an employer in a demand sector or occupation and a local community with a 21st CCLC grant to expand existing, or build new, career pathway programs. The session will highlight implementation in Iowa, New Hampshire, Tennessee, and Utah.
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Overcoming Math Anxiety: Inclusive Strategies for Supporting Mathematics
Aditya Nagrath, Elephant Learning Mathematics Academy
This presentation will discuss the causes of math anxiety, behaviors that can be indicative that mathematics anxiety is occurring. Finally, we discuss an overarching inclusive framework to use around making decisions around students that are exhibiting mathematics anxiety and strategies for dealing with specific behaviors.
Partner Development and Relationship Building Lead to Sustainability
Janelle Cousino, Afterschool Alliance
Are critical partners aware of your work? This “partnership development” interactive session will help programs think through how to engage broader support from education leaders, media, local officials, businesses, philanthropy and community. This builds on the communications work by the Afterschool Alliance.
Supporting Caregivers: Simple Social-Emotional Health & Learning Resources
Daniel Hatcher, Alliance for a Healthier Generation
In this interactive workshop, attendees will explore resources from Kohl's Healthy at Home - a hub of proven tips and resources designed to help families prioritize physical and social-emotional health. Together, we’ll practice new ways to feel calm, confident, and connected.
This session did not use a PowerPoint presentation
We Can All Be Game Designers!
Hillary Jones, Foundations, Inc.
Yana List, Foundations, Inc.
Are you looking for a new way to engage your students? Game design could be for you! Learn how you can leverage student interests and develop literacy, technology, and social emotional skills through game design. Join us to create your own character and excite your students!
What is All That Data Really Saying?
Lauri Celli, Westat
Shanya Dean, Westat
Our team will provide an overview of the data dashboards that we have developed using Tableau by extracting data points from our robust data system that captures hundreds of data pointson students and adults served in 705 centers throughout Texas. These dashboardshave helped staff better understand context and information in order to improve their programsand assist with attendance and dosage over time to benefit all students.
You for Youth Listening Session: Authentic Staff Well-Being: Listening, Learning and Sharing
Michelle Owens, You for Youth
More than ever, out-of-school time staff need support. We know that receiving a training on self-care only goes so far. To promote staff well-being, we need leadership involved to create a positive work culture and climate, and we need to identify our staffs’ most pressing needs before determining how we will address them and implement wellness practices. Join us for this session and hear what others in the field are doing to provide “authentic” staff well-being and leave with ideas and resources to take back to your program in the coming school year.
No presentation is available at this time
3:00 p.m.
Behavior Management Training That "Sticks": Strategies for Direct Service Staff
Brandis Stockman, National League of Cities
Behavior management, or guiding positive behaviors, is likely the most difficult part of your job, but is arguably the most important. Join this session to learn a training method that is sure to "stick" with you, and come away with ideas you can implement in your program immediately.
Building Strong Brains Tennessee
Brenda Hughett, Putnam County School System
This training aids in building a knowledge mobilization movement around early childhood brain development. This knowledge mobilization means developing a common understanding about early childhood through a shared, up-to-date, clear storyline based on science, including the following: The architecture of a young childs brain is shaped by the interaction between genes and experiences, and this can have either a positive or negative result. Science makes it clear that Adverse Childhood Experiences negatively impact the architecture of the developing brain. Children thrive in a safe, stable, nurturing environment of supportive families, caregivers, neighborhoods, and communities.
No presentation is available at this time
Building Teams and Relationships
Jason Bryant, Auburn University - Truman Pierce Institute
This session offers a powerful opportunity for you to reflect on five essential practices, think beyond your personal agenda, and to involve others in the planning and doing while having fun along the way to build a strong team and strengthen relationships within your organization.
Circling the Wagons in a Rural Environment - Overcoming the Obstacles of Location and Poverty
Adrienne L. Steen, Gonzales Independent School District
Sarah Whitton, Gonzales Independent School District
This presentation will encompass all you will need to build your rural program into a thriving, well attended site through family engagement activities. The insights you will receive will be invaluable to creating a truly model program in which you too will have a waiting list of students and families eager to attend.
Collaborating Across Colorado to Support the “Whole Child Success” of Underserved Youth
Cody Buchanan, Colorado Department of Education
Jamie Burciaga, Colorado Department of Education
Paula Gumina, Colorado Department of Education
Anna Young, Colorado Department of Education
Collaborative and cohesive work to advance 21st CCLC programs across Colorado has opened the door for coordinated efforts to support “whole child success” through awareness building and opportunities for greater equity in serving youth who encounter multiple vulnerabilities, including poverty, high mobility, homelessness, and foster care. After sharing examples from local, regional, and statewide initiatives, participants will engage in strategy sharing, discussion and action planning for ensuring success for students in 21st CCLC/OST programs.
Designing and Facilitating Human-Centered Learning Experiences
Kristin Stayer, Mizzen by Mott
Whether you’re just getting started or are building your youth development toolbox, build your creative confidence with us as we explore human-centered, highly engaging, and brain-friendly student and staff learning experiences. We will use the collective wisdom in the workshop room plus expert-designed resources from the Mizzen community to discover solutions for accessing free and relevant content, back-pocket program ideas, tips for setting up your programming day for success, and other easy-to-implement activities.
No presentation is available at this time
From Involvement to Engagement: Building Family Efficacy in Your 21st CCLC Program
Jennifer Wotring, The EdVenture Group
Parent involvement, family engagement… isn’t it the same? In fact, these terms (and their practice) have changed significantly over the years. This engaging session will explore this evolution, assess our assumptions about family (dis)engagement, and identify strategies and tools to increase family efficacy and empowerment in afterschool programs.
It’s Never Too Early to Think About Program Sustainability
Brodrick Clarke, National Summer Learning Association
Tiyana Glenn, Afterschool Alliance
Hillary Oravec, National Comprehensive Center at Westat
Dr. Sheronda Witter Fleming, U.S. Department of Education
Whether your 21st Century Community Learning Center is new or nearing the end of your funding cycle, its never too early to think explore program sustainability options. This session will provide a definition and framework for program sustainability and a brief overview of Federal Funds that can be leveraged for Afterschool and Summer Learning. Additionally, this session will feature a panel to showcase program funding and sustainability strategies.
Leveraging Partners in Your Afterschool Program
Jacque Rosales, Westat
The objective of our presentation is to take a close look at six strategies for partner development in an afterschool program. The audience will learn strategies but will discover tools related to partnership development, investigate potential partnerships, and how to evaluate, and gain insight into the power of effective partnerships.
Out of School Time Learning: What Works and What We Still Want to Know
Holly Miller, U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences
Nikki Yamashiro, Afterschool Alliance
This program will share resources including the What Works Clearinghouse through the Institute of Education Sciences and the Afterschool Alliance Impact Database to help providers and program managers understand what works in OST settings as well as share data from program provider surveys documenting the afterschool field’s experience through the pandemic. Further, we will look at ongoing research in the field and consider what research questions need to be answered to move the OST research agenda forward.
Shared Decision-Making Power: A Community Engagement Model
Sharon Amey, Unique Xpression Ministries, Inc., Positive Youth Development V.I.
Zahra Baptiste, Unique Xpression Ministries 21st Century Afterschool Program
Gritell Berkeley-Martinez, Unique Xpression Ministries
The UXM Positive Youth Development Virgin Islands 21st Century Community Learning Center uses the Shared Decision-Making Power approach. The shared decision-making power model is a leadership and community engagement program management style that empowers and encourages the unique perspective, skills, lived experience, and participation of executive leadership/program directors, site coordinators, staff instructors, students, and parents/guardians in the decision-making process.
Trauma-Informed Practices: Nurturing Resilience for Success
Michelle Denney, Auburn University - Truman Pierce Institute
Sandy Resa, Auburn University - Truman Pierce Institute
Coping with trauma is not a one-size-fits-all experience. Join us to discuss proactive strategies for supporting children as they learn to manage the adverse effects of trauma. Building relationships and nurturing resiliency can reduce mental stress, strengthen student outcomes, and create a healthier learning environment for all.
Warming Up Unlocks the Door to Opening Up
Happi Price, Improv 2 Improvement LLC
Warming up is crucial to human development and allows for greater participation. Starting from moderate to vigorous gives the brain, body, and heart the necessary blood flow to focus on what is happening here and now. Join me on an informational and experimental journey on how to physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially warm up through improvisational activities and games to make learning more effective.
No presentation is available at this time