Keeping Current to Get Ahead: The Heart of Afterschool
The term unsung heroes is commonly used when referring to afterschool professionals. A workforce that shows up everyday from 3:00 - 6:00, sometimes later. It is often a job that…
Keeping Current to Get Ahead: Recognizing the Forest from the Trees
The out-of-school time field (also known as after school, school-age childcare, enrichment, etc.) has a long history, starting in the late 1800’s in response to the Industrial Revolution in order…
Keeping Current to Get Ahead: A Good Time to Reset
The holidays have passed and the cold bleak of mid-winter is setting in. Staffing has stabilized for the most part and you are busy working on the new staff schedules…
Keeping Current to Get Ahead: Falling into Patterns
As program leaders we have all been there. The rush of registration is over, the program is settling in, things are going smoothly, and you finally have a minute before…
Keeping Current to Get Ahead: It’s Not One, It’s Everyone
Being a leader often means that you are the one that everyone sees as the organizer and planner of events. As we all know, it takes a team to pull…
Keeping Current to Get Ahead: Creating Connections and Opportunities
By now, mid-October afterschool programs are moving along at a good pace. Children and staff know established routines, relationships have been formed, and we are rapidly moving toward the holiday…
Keeping Current to Get Ahead: Weaving Expectations into Program Improvement
When we hear the terms “high-quality”, “impactful programming”, “standards of excellence”, “continuous quality improvement” they often sound like a far-off place we would like our programs to get to. An…
Keeping Current to Get Ahead: Celebrations, Recognition, and Connections
By now, most programming is moving along. There may be some bugs to iron out, schedules to adjust, and supplies to buy for the upcoming season. How are you orchestrating…
Keeping Current to Get Ahead: Prioritizing Your Own Learning from the Start
As the new school year starts we have an opportunity to rethink old habits, start new ones, explore interests, and become engaged in the field beyond your program. The Out-of-School…
Unpacking the Power of Us Survey
The place of out-of-school time programming in supporting young people’s learning and growth is well established. Yet little is known about the staff and volunteers who support young people. In…