Presentation formats we’ll feature at Convention, as well as the five learning strands

Developing Afterschool and Youth Professionals: Workshops

Advancing NAA HEPA Standards: Policy and Practice

The NAA Healthy Eating and Physical Activity standards were adopted in 2011. Since then significant progress has been made in the utilization of the standards. This session will cover key policy advances as well as growth in HEPA professional development.

Presented by: Daniel Hatcher, National Out-of-School Time Advisor, Alliance for a Healthier Generation; Jennifer Hofman, Specialist, YMCA of the USA; Lauren Marciszyn, Technical Advisor, YMCA of the USA
Affirming Language and Culture

In this workshop, participants will view We Speak America, a moving, award-winning documentary that weaves together the voices of children, youth, parents and teachers as they speak about the importance of community ties, having a bicultural and bilingual identity and connecting to family heritage. Drawing on the film’s powerful intergenerational perspectives as well as on other interactive activities, we will build a vision for what it takes to create schools and youth programs that nurture students’ cultural and linguistic assets, affirm their identities and help them thrive in a multicultural world.

Presented by: Jimena Quiroga Hopkins, Co-Executive Director, Development Without Limits West
After School, but Not an After Thought

Afterschool programs have been viewed by many as a baby-sitter for working parents. This session will illuminate how to shed the stigma of afterschool program as a baby-sitting service and how afterschool programs help in the social, academic and emotional development of students.

Presented by: Myke Collins, Principal, Shelby County Schools
Amplifying Your Leadership

In this interactive workshop, participants will explore both the importance of and strategies for successfully leading a team, including observation and assessment tools, on-going professional development techniques, motivational practices and strategies for effective communication in order to develop a pipeline of leaders within our schools and organizations.

Presented by: Amanda Meeson, Vice President of Programming, The Leadership Program; Erika Petrelli, Senior Vice President of Leadership Development, The Leadership Program
Ask Human Resources

How do I handle an employee who is constantly late for their shift? What can I do to address an employee who is consistently performing below my expectations? What should I do when my employees do not seem to be working well together? How do I answer wage or benefit questions? As a leader in a service based industry, it is inevitable that you will be faced with these questions. In this session, you will be given some simple and effective tools to manage your employee relations effectively. Much of the session will be an open question and answer session where you can bring your specific question or concern and have it answered by a seasoned Human Resources professional who has over fifteen years experience.

Presented by: Stacy Litteral, Executive Director, Kids' Country
Ask-Listen-Encourage

Do you communicate with youth in a way that makes them feel supported and heard? This is an interactive workshop introducing various communication techniques that will help build more supportive, youth-centered relationships. Participants will learn how to ask more effective questions, listen actively to youth and offer encouragement rather than praise.

Presented by: Sylvia Benoit, Quality and Accreditation Advisor, Knowledge Universe-Champions
Better Kid Care: A Toolkit for Professionals

Prepare to be amazed at the wealth of resources from Penn State Better Kid Care for busy afterschool professionals. Participate in hands-on activities to teach nutrition, wellness, STEM, project-based learning and more. You will leave this session with a toolkit of information to plan curricula, instructions for learning activities, online professional development opportunities and resources for taking a good program and making it great!

Presented by: Lyn Horning, Assistant Director, Penn State Better Kid Care Program; Claudia Mincemoyer, Professor and Program Director, Penn State Better Kid Care Program
Coaching Conversations for Quality Improvement

Continuous quality improvement for afterschool programs requires an intentional process of assessment, reflection, planning and implementation. Effective systems include not only professional development with peers, but also on-site observations and support. Identify important elements and useful tools to create a coaching cadre in your own system.

Presented by: Lynn Sobolov, Excel Beyond the Bell Manager, Montgomery County Collaboration Council
Communication for Working with Parents and Staff

Do you want to learn skills and techniques to help motivate and inspire fellow staff members? How about strategies to help lead difficult conversations and reduce conflict within your organization? Do you want your team members to learn how to become part of the solution and not part of the problem? How about reducing stress in your organization during difficult times? Are you interested in becoming a better leader and a better teacher? Then join us for this intensive, fun and motivational workshop on reducing stress within yourself and your organization through the development of your communication skills.

Presented by: Ezra Holland, Owner and CEO, The Holland Group
Data into Decisions that Lead to Success

Using child care data enrollments, surveys, payment information and website data you will learn how to turn it into decisions. Get up to speed on Excel charting, filtering, conditional formatting, subtotals and more. Make sense of your data with Access for importing data, creating queries, establishing relationships and more.

Presented by: Malik Bush, Education Technology Specialist, FeePay
Developing Leaders that Reflect our Children and Youth

This workshop will explore how one organization is seizing the opportunity that the out-of-school field has to diversify the broader leadership of executive staff, boards and policymakers. You will hear directly from the co-designer and fellow of the program, recently highlighted in AfterSchool Today, about how to invest in the development of emerging leaders of color to create more responsive programming, policies and services that reflect the racial, ethnic and cultural diversity of children and youth.

Presented by: Ruth Obel Jorgensen, Executive Director, California School Age Consortium; Aleah Rosario, Program Coordinator, California School Age Consortium
Developing Your Teachers' Tech IQ

Technology is hard. Many experienced teachers find it a challenge to open up to experimentation and will avoid situations where students might know more than they do. This session will offer some effective ways to develop your staff’s technical toolkit. Bring your tablet or laptop for best results.

Presented by: Leonid Tunik, Founder, Empow Studios
Dynamic Techniques for Successful Self-Coaching

Do you feel like you are always correcting your staff? Have you figured out the balance between training and coaching? It’s challenging to touch base with your employees to reflect on their performance and have the best approach when addressing issues. Pick up some tricks on cultivating relationships and helping employees learn from failures and “see” themselves through their own interactions.

Presented by: Jaime Garcia, Operations Director, Extend-A-Care for Kids; Matthew Rushing, Director and Trainer, Extend-A-Care for Kids
Eight Habits of Highly Effective Afterschool Leaders

Explore the traits, passions and habits required to be a highly effective afterschool leader. These eight habits are essential for afterschool professionals leading kids, mentoring colleagues, or supervising staff. Come investigate these powerful elements and learn practical approaches to enhance these traits and transform yourself and others into extraordinary afterschool leaders.

Presented by: Chelsea Ashcraft, Founder and CEO, Children's Choice; Mike Ashcraft, Founder and CEO, Children's Choice
Essential Skills Necessary to Supervise Staff

Supervising adults is challenging under any circumstances, but in afterschool supervision can be even more challenging because those supervised need to be independent workers who are creative, energetic, enthusiastic and calculated risk takers. They must also be able make decisions on a regular basis to best serve the interests of the children and youth. So the afterschool supervisor or leader must have an arsenal of skills and strategies to be both a leader and a supervisor.

Presented by: Michael McGarity, Program Supervisor, Clovis Unified Campus Club
Fear No Number: Working on the Positives of Math

Fear no number by learning some simple strategies and fun games that teach need math skills. Research shows that we need to be focusing more on math than any other subject and making math positive is the best way to accomplish increased interest and increased skills.

Presented by: Mary Curry, President, MANGO Math Group
Generation Z: Your Guide to the Youth You Serve

Forget what you know about Millennials, today’s young people, Generation Z, are different than any other generation. Research has shown that not only do their brains look different than ours, but they function differently. Participants will explore characteristics of Generation Z and learn how these young people think and react to situations. Finally, participants will discover what they can do to bridge the gap between what we as professionals want to teach and what Generation Z wants to know.

Presented by: Breanna Hawkey, Associate Professor, Arizona Western College; Kyle Hawkey, Projects Director, University of Minnesota
Helping Youth to Thrive through Staff Development

How can you use current research and innovation to prepare and support afterschool professionals to help young people thrive? This session introduces a framework for thriving, based on research conducted by leaders in the field of positive youth development. This approach fosters an outcome-oriented approach to enhance your afterschool programs!

Presented by: Melissa Hanson, Vice President, Program Planning and Evaluation, Camp Fire National Headquarters; Shawna Rosenzweig, Director, Program Delivery and Evaluation, Camp Fire National Headquarters
Lead Staff Reflection (No More Garbage Crafts)

Establishing a reflective practice in the context of afterschool programming presents personal and professional challenges. Reflection takes time (do not have it) and commitment (already stretched thin)! Yet we know that thinking about our work is critical to improving staff performance and project quality. When we reflect we find greater meaning in our practice and create more meaningful experiences for children. So, how do we build reflection into teamwork? How do managers encourage reflective practice in staff? How do staff reflect with youth? This workshop features a series of reflection tools created through a rigorous examination of afterschool programming: enrichment activities, group management, behavior guidance and teamwork.

Presented by: Emily Holder, Site Manager, Saint Paul Public Schools
LET US Play: Increasing Physical Activity

The LET-US-Play principles of removing lines, eliminating elimination, reducing team size, identifying uninvolved staff and children and modifying space, equipment and rules of games help providers achieve the NAA HEPA Standards. Attendees will evaluate traditional games and apply these principles through experiential game play. LET-US-Play resources are freely available at p2yp.org.

Presented by: Daniel Hatcher, National Out-of-School Time Advisor, Alliance for a Healthier Generation; Robert Weaver, Research Assistant Professor, University of South Carolina
Linking Leadership Directions for Success

North, south, east or west - a full team of directions is really the best! Get ready to discover the course of your leadership style and how to get the most from your team by developing a better understanding of your work style and that of team members and students in this interactive and fun workshop. Take home tools to put into action and deliver your team to even greater success!

Presented by: Nancy Jeffs, District Coordinator, Before After School Programs, Ankeny Community School District
Make the Most of Professional Learning Communities

Have you struggled to find training that can truly improve your practice? Professional learning communities (PLC) may be the answer! You will: learn about the structure and benefits of professional learning communities (PLC); and experience training techniques used in PLCs such as resource mapping, collective problem solving and intentional networking. You will leave with guides that provide practical advice about how to make the most of PLCs. Topics covered in the guides include why participate in a PLC, how to know if your organization is ready for a PLC and how to know if your PLC is effective even after staff turnover. You will have an opportunity to discuss how the advice in the guides can be used in your own programs.

Presented by: Jocelyn Atkins, Research Associate, Public Profit; Femi Vance, Research Associate, Public Profit
Mistake? Admit It, Learn From It, Do Not Repeat It!

Improve all aspects of your program by - learning from your mistakes. We will also cover systems to prevent mistakes. As well as how to handle the devastating mistake! An once of prevention, is worth a pound of cure.

Presented by: Bob Sickles, Owner, Kids After Hours
NAA Core Knowledge and Competencies: What-Why-How?

Whether you are an administrator, trainer or site staff working with youth, the NAA Self-Assessment Tool could be what you have been waiting for! Learn to use this tool, based on the NAA Core Knowledge and Competencies for Youth Development Professionals, to guide professional development, hiring and evaluating staff. Join this session to learn how to use this tool to help yourself and your staff to grow professionally.

Presented by: Heidi Ham, Vice President, Programs and Strategy, National AfterSchool Association; Lorraine Thoreson, 21st CCLC Education Consultant, Michigan Department of Education
Research, Tools and Resources for Success

The REACH Center at the University of Minnesota utilizes a multi-disciplinary approach in providing research-informed tools and resources that support those that work with young people. Participants will explore free online professional development resources available to their entire team. These resources include: (1) online professional development modules in the areas of positive youth development, coaching and managing for success and program evaluation; (2) youth program quality self-assessment tools; (3) empirical research that identifies and addresses key issues impacting young people and the programs that serve them; and (4) a virtual coaching platform for staff seeking constructive feedback for their program.

Presented by: Lynne Borden, Department Head and Professor, University of Minnesota; Kyle Hawkey, Projects Director, University of Minnesota; Mark Otto, Project Director Outreach, University of Minnesota - REACH Lab
STEM Professional Development: From Good to Great

Evaluations of the national Frontiers in Urban Science Exploration (FUSE) initiative show deep professional development can improve staff confidence and capacity to deliver high-quality informal STEM learning activities. In this interactive session presenters will explore the FUSE findings and describe a variety of effective approaches to PD from cities. We will also discuss how to incorporate the Next Generation Science Standards and social and emotional skills into science professional development.

Presented by: Ellen Dickenson, Program Director, Partnerships and STEM, Boston After School and Beyond; Christine Mai, Policy and Communications Manager, Every Hour Counts; Alex Molina, Deputy Director, Providence After School Alliance; Saskia Traill, Vice President for Policy and Research, TASC
The Child’s Digital Universe

This session is about the ever-evolving world of technology and digital media, and the ways in which digital devices are reshaping modern childhood and early childhood education and out-of-school time care.

Presented by: Maria Taylor, President and CEO, Childcare Education Institute
Tools to Create Successful Groups of Staff or Kids

Got kids? Got staff? Then you need techniques to build and sustain happy, friendly, relationships and powerful stories that last a lifetime! Join us for an interactive session filled with activities designed to build warm and purposeful groups of children and/or adults, who work and play together on a daily basis. These simple tools can be used to create a purpose and a set of core values for any group. Also, learn to effectively brainstorm solutions to problems or prioritize program improvements, while giving all group members a voice in the process. You will leave the session with a set of simple techniques to use immediately with kids or adults, at your afterschool program and/or your next staff meeting or retreat!

Presented by: Joan Altobelli, Executive Director, Extend-A-Care for Kids
Tricks of the Trade: 30 Years of Wow! Ideas

Looking to immediately improve staff and/or program development? Look no further! We will share a dynamic plethora of - wow what a great idea - tools to help you make it happen. You will leave ready for immediate improvement.

Presented by: Jim Atkinson, Dream Weaver, H-A-P-P-Y!!! Productions, Inc.; Martin County E.D.

Triple Delight Fitness (Yoga and Zumba)

I will be talking about the importance of health and nutrition for children. I will give the staff yoga exercises for the kids, parents and staff to take to their organizations. Teaching them how to make a yoga-storytelling and doing exercises, cooking projects and ideas, yoga, breathing and meditation for the special needs child.

Presented by: Victoria Cook, Assistant Site Director, The Campagna Center
Youth-Driven Space: A Framework for Youth Voice

Youth-driven space rests on one simple idea: older youth need a voice in running their own programs at all levels. This session will introduce the Youth-Driven Space framework and provide an active exploration of its key concepts.

Presented by: John Weiss, Executive Director, Neutral Zone