Professional Development

Anyone who knows me knows how passionate I am about afterschool. The research and stories about the value of afterschool excite me. The dynamic and skilled professionals committed to their work with and for kids in OST inspire me. These feelings propel our team at NAA to do more deep work advocating for and supporting program, organization, public and philanthropic policies, practices, and funding to support quality programs AND job quality for OST professionals. 

Employee burnout is at an all-time high as we are transitioning through and out of the pandemic.  Many places are short-staffed, and well, short-tempered.  Our mental, emotional and physical health have been tested in more ways than we ever thought possible.  We are burning out. Which means returning or even transitioning back into the workplace is a challenge for us all.

To accelerate student learning and ignite their natural curiosity, Discovery Education provides an array of no-cost dynamic digital resources supporting learning anywhere. This selection of content, created in partnership with leading corporate and community partners, inspires students to learn together by exploring the world around them. Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place.

As out-of-school time providers plan for the new school year, many are looking to social-emotional learning SEL to respond to the needs of children, staff and the communities they serve. The traumatic events of recent years and the COVID-19 pandemic have affected kids, but social-emotional skills—such as community-building, empathy and kindness, and growth mindset—can help children stay resilient.