Inside Out-of-School Time hosted by the 21st CCLC NTAC

In Part 3 of our series with the Missouri AfterSchool Network, host Karin Wolfe sits down with program leaders serving rural, urban, and small-town communities across Missouri to explore what meaningful student engagement looks like in middle and high school afterschool programs.  Guests share how student voice and choice, relationship building, hands-on learning, leadership opportunities, and car...

In Part 2 of the conversation with the Missouri AfterSchool Network, Mark Cowsert, the network’s associate director of partnerships, shares how statewide strategy, strong partnerships, and data-driven decision-making are shaping youth workforce development across Missouri.  Building on his experience as a 21st CCLC program director, Mark highlights how Missouri has expanded opportunities for middl...

In this first episode of a three-part series with the Missouri AfterSchool Network, host Karin Wolfe speaks with Aaron Banks, the network’s workforce development and entrepreneurship lead, about how out-of-school time programs can support college and career readiness for middle and high school students.  Aaron shares how his journey from law enforcement to teaching and entrepreneurship shaped his...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Chad Norton , deputy director of the Wellesley Recreation Department, we explore how parks and recreation programs intentionally blend fun, enrichment, academics, and workforce development while staying, as Chad puts it, “relationship driven more than outcome driven.”  Chad shares real-world examples of integrating STEM, literacy, and math into recreational setti...

In Episode 9 of Inside Out-of-School Time, host Karin Wolfe dives into how parks and recreation programs play a powerful — and often overlooked — role in youth development. She’s joined by Chad Norton , deputy director of the Wellesley Recreation Department in Massachusetts. In Part 1 of the two-part conversation, Karin and Chad explore how recreation programs support social-emotional growth, beha...

In Episode 8 of Inside Out-of-School Time, host Karin Wolfe reconnects with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain — this time with Laquitta Staton, Vice President of Grants and Government Partnerships.  Laquitta reflects on this year’s Lights On Afterschool celebrations, shares stories of family engagement and community partnerships, and offers insights into how 21st CCLC funding strengt...

In this special Inside Out-of-School Time episode, host Karin Wolfe sits down with Heather Joyner , vice president of operations and programs for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain in North Carolina, to explore how Lights On Afterschool inspires connection, creativity, and community impact.  Heather shares how her team prepares for Lights On Afterschool — from teen-led music showcases...

In Part 3 of this three-part series, Inside Out-of-School Time hosts Karin Wolfe and Cappella Brown conclude their conversation with Johanna Friedel, former project director for the Texas Afterschool Centers on Education at Greenville ISD. This episode focuses on the “Evaluate” and “Extend” phases of the 5E instructional model — where students demonstrate understanding, reflect on progress, and ap...

In Part 2 of this episode of Inside Out-of-School Time , host Karin Wolfe and Cappella Brown continue their conversation with Johanna Friedel, Project Director for the Texas Afterschool Centers on Education at Greenville ISD. Together, they dive into the “Explain” and “Elaborate” phases of the 5E learning model, exploring how student-centered teaching practices support both academic and social-emo...

In this special bonus episode of Inside Out-of-School Time, host Karin Wolfe sits down with Carla Jones-Wiley, program director at Spring Independent School District, to talk about what it takes to build a thriving 21st CCLC program. Carla shares her approach to intentional hiring, leadership development, and staff empowerment — and how those practices create ripple effects for students and commun...

In Episode 3, Part 1 of Inside Out-of-School Time , hosts Karin Wolfe and Cappella Brown kick off a three-part series with Johanna Friedel, Project Director for the Texas Afterschool Centers on Education at Greenville ISD. Together, they dive into what meaningful engagement really looks like in out-of-school time (OST), and how the 5E Learning Model can serve as a practical guide to spark curiosit...

Episode 2 of Inside Out-of-School Time is now live! In this episode, host Karin Wolfe is joined by Dr. Candace Ferguson, Project Director of the 21st CCLC NTAC, for a powerful conversation about how the 21st CCLC NTAC is transforming its mission into meaningful, on-the-ground support for out-of-school time (OST) programs.  Explore how tools like the Learning Management System and the Knowledge Net...

Welcome to the premiere of Inside Out-of-School Time , the podcast for OST professionals looking to connect, learn, and grow. Hosted by Cappella Santos-Brown, this series dives into best practices, innovative ideas, and real stories that shape the out-of-school time field.  In this debut episode, we sit down with Dr. La’ Shawndra Scroggins, the visionary leader behind the 21st Century Community Le...