Caroline has been the Director of the Keane Kids After School Enrichment Program since 2016. Caroline is primarily responsible for designing, planning, and coordinating Afterschool enrichment programs at all 5 Wethersfield Elementary Schools. Caroline believes in providing quality programs to children that can help them develop a sense of competence, confidence, and connection.
Keysha Evans is an award-winning educator, proudly recognized as Connecticut’s 2025 Paraprofessional of the Year. With a deep passion for education and student advocacy, she currently serves as the Director of Extended Day, a thriving before- and after-school program based in Easton, Connecticut. In this role, Keysha leads a dynamic team dedicated to providing a safe, engaging, and enriching environment that supports students academically, socially, and emotionally beyond the regular school day.
With over a decade of hands-on experience in education, Keysha is known for her creative, student-centered approach and her ability to build strong relationships with families, staff, and the community. Her work reflects a deep commitment to equity, holistic learning, and the belief that all children deserve access to programs that inspire curiosity, confidence, and growth.
In addition to her leadership role, Keysha is a passionate presenter and advocate for paraeducator empowerment, youth development, and extended learning opportunities. She frequently shares insights on best practices in out-of-school time programming, social-emotional learning integration, and inclusive classroom support.
Keysha’s work is rooted in her faith, her love for children, and her belief that education is not just a career—but a calling.
Tracy Cheney is a wife and mother, as well as a Grand-Ma! She is Vice President of Dr. Day Care, Inc. and is a professional consultant who has been in the field of early childhood education for the past 35 years. Her experience includes teaching young children, as well as being an administrator in a variety of different capacities.
In her dual role of VP of Education and Compliance, Tracy supports many levels of early learning professionals with a wide array of topics. In addition, Tracy oversees compliance with many regulatory agencies.
Tracy also supports professional development by presenting to hundreds of private organizations and at many national conferences.
As a veteran in OST and non-profit management, Nichelle Harris uses her expertise to coach OST educators, classroom teachers, and administrators to meet the increasingly complex demands of the communities, families and youth we serve. She often advises non-profit leaders on community partnership development, systems change, organizational sustainability and staff support. Harris is the past Executive Director of the Ohio Afterschool Network, a White-Riley-Peterson Policy Fellow, and has chaired several national leadership committees for the Out-of-School-Time field. Harris is also a seasoned national presenter on building collaborations and adult learning strategies.
Sam is a certified HOPE facilitator, health educator and coach with a healthcare career rooted in positive psychology. A former youth and family therapist, she has since led a wide range of initiatives promoting empathy in medicine, health promotion efforts for people in recovery and holistic wellness retreats for teen women. Currently Sam applies her “pro-human flourishing” lens to the field of prevention as a program manager with Amplify, a Regional Behavioral Health Action Organization (RBHAO) covering north central CT. In this role she manages federal block grants and provides technical support to Local Prevention Councils (LPCs) in the region.
Amanda Amtmanis has more than 25 years of experience teaching K-5 physical education in Middletown, CT. She was named CTAHPERD elementary TOY in 2014. Amanda continually seeks out professional development opportunities, as both an attendee and as a presenter. Some notable experiences that have informed her practice have been attending the RULER Institute at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, attending facilitator training with the Center for Applied Research and Equity, and being asked to serve on the national physical education standards revision task force. She is a state, regional and national presenter on a variety of topics, including a particular focus on SEL.
Lesleigh Drake is the Director of Leadership and Organizational Development for Nature’s Classroom – New England, an experiential, outdoor education program where she has worked since 2011. Prior to that, she directed overnight summer camp, was a wilderness/trip director and substitute teacher. Since 2017, Lesleigh has volunteered as the Assistant Education Director for a youth education organization in Uganda (The Child is Innocent) and is a trained facilitator for Population Education. (M.A., History, Florida State University).
Jen McCool comes to Narrative 4 from a theatre education and disability inclusion background. With a BA in Theatre Arts and an MA in Cultural Policy and Arts Administration, Jen has been a teaching artist, a theatre education and community engagement administrator and most recently, a program director for a school-based, inclusive theater education program. Jen’s entire career has been driven by developing empathy as a tool for building a more inclusive world so Narrative 4 is the perfect continuation of that journey. Jen lives in Glastonbury with her husband and two young kids.
Scarlett Lewis is a renowned thought leader, international speaker, and founder of the Choose Love Movement™, a global nonprofit inspired by the heroic life and final message of her son Jesse, who was tragically killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Her life mission is to empower people around the world to choose love over fear in every circumstance, cultivating healing, resilience, and well-being.
Specializing in transforming school communities through healing, connection, and courage, Scarlett demonstrates how to understand trauma, foster post-traumatic growth, and strengthen well-being through emotional intelligence. Her Choose Love Movement™ has proven effective in reducing bullying, building belonging, and creating resilient, emotionally safe classrooms.
Through her powerful blend of heartfelt storytelling and compelling research, Scarlett delivers transformational experiences that go beyond inspiration to spark real emotional and behavioral change. Attendees leave not only motivated but equipped with renewed purpose and practical tools to choose love in their daily lives.
With a background in Archaeology, Anthropology, and Forensic Sciences, Shannon has had the unique opportunity to bridge the gap between applied science and education, with her educational background allowing for a multi-disciplinary approach. Throughout her career in non-profits and museum education, she has developed and led programs that use STEM to bring complex topics to life and make them accessible to all ages and capabilities; whether it’s through hands-on neuroscience, astronomy, archaeology and anthropology-based exploration, or forensic science and space simulations. As the Director of Programs, Shannon has built educational experiences that engage students and communities in meaningful ways, fueling their curiosity and encouraging critical thinking.
Shannon thrives on problem-solving and innovative thinking and is always seeking new ways to make science and technology more accessible, engaging, and impactful.
As a mom of two young boys, she understands the importance of fostering curiosity and creativity from an early age, with STEM skills at the forefront of play.
For over 30 years in education as a classroom teacher, school social worker, magnet school principal, and now as Director of Strategic Initiatives of 2-4-1 CARE, Julie has equally prioritized social-emotional and academic learning to support student success and help communities flourish. A graduate of Sacred Heart University’s Educational Leadership program specializing in Social Emotional and Academic Learning, Dr. Goldstein’s recently published dissertation in practice showcases the use of Improvement Science to strengthen high-quality SEL practices and opportunities in 2-4-1’s sports enrichment out-of-school time program, 2-4-1 TOP Self Sports. In 2011, NASW-CT named Dr. Goldstein Clinical Social Worker of the Year for her innovative approaches promoting students’ self-awareness and adult understanding and appreciation of personality type through a developmental lens. In addition, Julie teaches Education Research as an Adjunct Professor at Lasell University in Newton, Mass, and is proud to serve on the Board of CTNCY.
Steve is the Executive Director of 2-4-1 CARE, whose flagship signature program, 2-4-1 Sports, is held at the Kingswood Oxford School in West Hartford, Conn., and now has locations throughout the United States, Canada, and Africa. 2-4-1 was recognized by the Aspen Institute in Washington, DC, as one of eight model programs in the United States for its approach to anti-specialization in youth sports. With twenty years of experience as a school counselor and sports coach, Steve is a leader with a deep understanding of how sports are the ideal context for SEL
Angeline Kamara, or Coach Angie, is a proud Afro-Latina from Silver Spring, MD, dedicated to impacting her community and inspiring young women. She graduated with a degree in Health and Fitness Management from Washington Adventist University, where she began her coaching career with the women’s basketball team. After winning an award in a marketing bootcamp with the Washington Wizards, she worked at 76ers and Nets summer camps. In 2022, she became an Assistant Community Coach for the G League champions, the Delaware Blue Coats, and now promotes healthy lifestyles as a Healthy Hoops Coach. Recently, she co-founded CYBL, a youth development league in Delaware.
Ken has been with the Network since 2008, his primary role with the is to oversee training and professional development work, creating linkages between the school day and after school, and working with communities to establish sustainable programs that both enrich and support children and families. He also leads and supports the Quality Advising efforts for State Funded After School Programs. Ken brings more than twenty years of experience in the field of after school and youth development. Ken recently graduated from the University of Hartford Educational Leadership Program with a Doctorate in Education, he holds a Master’s degree in Human Services with a concentration in Organizational Management and Leadership, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a concentration in Child Development. He has been a presenter at the local, regional, and national level on leadership and creating effective partnerships and collaborations. He authored a book entitled, “School and Afterschool Personnel Reports of Partnership, Communication, and Academic Resource Sharing” and is an area Ken is passionate about. He is the Former District Family Resource Center Coordinator for the Windsor Public Schools, where he administered five family resource centers as well as the Child Care Services Director for the New Britain YMCA and a national YMCA of the USA trainer.
