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NAA Hosts the Largest Gathering of AfterSchool Professionals

The 19th Annual NAA Conference Soars to New Heights

NAA Hosts the Largest Gathering of AfterSchool Professionals The 19th Annual NAA Conference Soars to New Heights What is the recipe for a successful conference for afterschool professionals? Consider the following ingredients:

  • More than 3,000 afterschool professionals, speakers, and exhibitors meeting under one roof.

  • LeVar Burton-producer and host of PBS' Reading Rainbow and co-chair, along with First Lady Laura Bush, of the Share-a-Story initiative-providing the opening keynote. (Mr. Burton is also known for his roles in Roots and Star Trek.)

  • More than 330 professional development opportunities occurring over a three-day stretch.

  • Bob Stonehill, former US Department of Education leader, sharing the latest developments in the afterschool field from Washington, DC. in a general session. (Mr. Stonehill led the development and implementation of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program and has become a leading figure in the afterschool field.)

  • An Exhibit Hall featuring more than 200 afterschool product and service providers.

This was the main course that the National AfterSchool Association served at its Annual Conference, March 21-23, in Phoenix, Arizona. The attendance and offerings both set new marks in the 19 years NAA has provided the afterschool community with an annual gathering.

What's more:

  • NAA offered attendees a series of workshops that partner Cooperative Extension/4-H Afterschool provided. The workshops carried both CEU and college credit options.

  • NAA provided attendees with latest information and access to those who are on the cutting edge of research, theory, and practice in the afterschool community.

For a copy of many of the presentations that speakers provided, please go to www.afterschoolconference.org/speakerpapers.htm.

To those of you who joined NAA in Phoenix for the 19th Annual Conference, thank you for making the event such a professionally rewarding and truly inspiring experience. If you were not able to attend, begin to prepare now for your day in the sun-three fun-filled, action-packed days in the sun-and a celebration of the afterschool field. NAA's 20th Anniversary conference will be held in beautiful Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, March 12-14, 2008. Stay tuned for details!