Professional Development

The new podcast series by The Wallace Foundation shares findings and early lessons from a RAND Corporation study of our Partnerships for Social and Emotional Learning Initiative (PSELI). The five-episode series features in-depth conversations with school/district and afterschool/out-of-school time leaders about their experiences working together to help children develop social and emotional skills.

NAA's "Stories That Shape Us" series shines a spotlight on the authentic stories and varying career paths of the afterschool profession. Told from the perspectives of NAA members themselves, each story is unique and highlights the differences but also the commonalities of the dedicated professionals serving youth around the country in out-of-school time today.

What are the books that have helped you grow both personally and professionally over the course of your career? Recently, Gina Warner, President and CEO, NAA, hosted a conversation with NAA Executive members examining this question.

I found my way to youth development by way of youth sports and was hooked within the first 20 minutes. Not because it was easy—coaching kindergarten T-ball practice may be one of my more complex assignments to date—but because I was deeply engaging my mind and my heart at nearly every turn.