Celebrate Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week April 21 - 25, 2025
PSAYDN is celebrating Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week, April 21-25, to recognize, appreciate and advocate for those who work with young people during out-of-school hours.
We are joining the effort because research shows that afterschool professionals make a profound difference in the lives of young people. We encourage you to join us in thanking afterschool professionals!
Here are some ideas to show your appreciation:
Declare on social media: "Research shows that afterschool professionals make a profound difference in the lives of young people. #HeartOfAfterschool"
Give a hand-written card from you and/or your child to the afterschool professionals you know.
Send an email to an afterschool professional's supervisor describing why that person is appreciated.
Make healthy or non-food treats for the staff at your afterschool program.
Congratulations to the 2025 Afterschool Impact Award Recipients!
PSAYDN proudly congratulates the 2025 Afterschool Impact awardees who were honored on Feb. 27 during the 2025 ELO & EMPOWER Conference in Harrisburg! These outstanding individuals and organizations exemplify excellence in developing, supporting and promoting high-quality afterschool and out-of-school time (OST) programs that positively impact children, youth and families across Pennsylvania.
Congratulations to this year's awardees!
Outstanding Policymaker Award
Steven Williams, Policy and Legislative Director for Lieutenant Governor Austin A. Davis – Harrisburg
Outstanding Individual Sustainability Awardees
Michelle Reed, Program Director, 21st CCLC at Chester County Intermediate Unit – Downingtown
Melvina Banti, Director of OST and Youth Programs, Episcopal Community Services – Philadelphia
Outstanding Individual Quality Awardees
Jen Danziesen, Director of OST and Youth Programs, Episcopal Community Services – Philadelphia
Leah O’Reilly, Director of Programs, Human Services Center Mon Valley (HSCMV) – Turtle Creek
Outstanding Youth Awardees
Vicky Dong, The Academy at Palumbo – Philadelphia
Jonah Smith Posner, Masterman High School – Philadelphia
Outstanding Individual Advocacy Awardees
Amanda Peretin, Tutor & To Go Coordinator / Online Science Instructor, The Learning Lamp & Ignite Education Solutions – Johnstown
Dawnise Kozen, Director of Opportunity Pathways Programs – Pittsburgh
Jessica Neely, Program Coordinator, YWCA Greater Pittsburgh’s Opportunity Pathways Program – Pittsburgh
Outstanding Organization/Program Awardees
ACLAMO – Norristown
All You Can Leadership Academy (AYCLA) – Steelton/Highspire
WTS Philadelphia’s Student Outreach TransportationYOU – Philadelphia
Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania (BGCWPA) – Allegheny and Somerset
April 19, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Get ready for a hands-on, fun-filled day of science and creativity at the Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead Interactive STEAM Fair! Hosted by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., Harrisburg Chapter, this exciting event takes place on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at the Central Allison Hill CommunityCenter (1524 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, PA 17103).
Designed for youth ages 11–15, the fair will introduce students to engaging careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics through dynamic experiments, creative projects, and hands-on learning. Lunch will be provided, and pre-registration is strongly encouraged.
Upcoming Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) Training for Mentoring Programs!
Applications open: April 9
Is your program interested in elevating youth voice and starting its own YPAR project? Would you like to build your program’s capacity to empower youth to be catalysts for change in your program or surrounding community? If so, apply for MENTOR’s upcoming four-part training cohort running from May-July 2025.
Programs interested in applying for this training should:
Provide youth mentoring services in the United States.
Have been established for a minimum of one year.
Demonstrate capacity to initiate YPAR in the following year (July 2025 – July 2026).
Have buy-in for attempting a YPAR project from program leadership.
Have at least one designated staff member to lead their program’s YPAR planning and execution.
Join us for a virtual session introducing RISE, a ready-to-use, five-week curriculum designed to boost ELA and Math outcomes for K–8 students in out-of-school time (OST) settings. RISE offers OST educators high-quality instructional materials, targeted professional development, and built-in pre- and post-assessments to identify learning gaps and measure student progress. Backed by third-party research, RISE has shown impressive results—students gained the equivalent of 4–5 additional weeks of learning, while English Language Learners (ELLs) saw gains of 7–8 weeks compared to peers. In summer 2024 alone, RISE supported more than 38,000 students across 105 community-based organizations (CBOs) and 350 school districts nationwide.
Whether you're looking to enhance academic enrichment or align with Pennsylvania’s learning standards, this session will provide a practical overview of how RISE can elevate your summer and afterschool programming.
Gain an in-depth look at the effects of trauma on school-aged children and receive practical strategies for incorporating a trauma-informed lens into social and emotional (SEL) and behavioral approaches. The webinar will be divided into two segments: one focusing on K-4th grade and the other on 5th-8th grade. In each segment, we will explore risk and protective factors for trauma, as well as how trauma presents itself in children and youth. Together, we will enhance our SEL toolkits by discussing strategies that foster resilience and create opportunities for growth, both for the students and within the broader educational community.
This webinar will focus on the 9th-12th grade educational community, examining the indicators and effects of trauma on high school students. We will discuss how to equip ourselves with effective resources that integrate a trauma-informed approach to social-emotional learning. Key to our discussion will be the creation of a safe and trusting environment in which high school students are willing to collaborate in their personal growth. The goal is to prepare educators to empower students, especially those impacted by trauma, with the tools they need to thrive in high school and as they transition into young adulthood.ain an in-depth look at the effects of trauma on school-aged children and receive practical strategies for incorporating a trauma-informed lens into social and emotional (SEL) and behavioral approaches. The webinar will be divided into two segments: one focusing on K-4th grade and the other on 5th-8th grade. In each segment, we will explore risk and protective factors for trauma, as well as how trauma presents itself in children and youth. Together, we will enhance our SEL toolkits by discussing strategies that foster resilience and create opportunities for growth, both for the students and within the broader educational community.
PSAYDN encourages you to join the nationwide celebration of 2025 Every Kid Healthy Week, April 22–26! Organized by Action for Healthy Kids, this annual event shines a spotlight on the link between health and learning by promoting activities that support physical activity, nutrition, and social-emotional wellness in schools and out-of-school time programs. Each day of the week focuses on a different theme from Mindful Monday to Family Friday providing fun, engaging ideas and resources to help kids thrive.
Looking for an easy, engaging way to celebrate Earth Day with your K–5 learners? Check out Mystery Science’s free Earth Day Collection! This set of bite-sized, high-interest video lessons explores big questions like “Why is Earth so special?” and “How can we protect endangered animals?”—all in five minutes or less. These lessons are engaging and there is no prep needed. Spark curiosity, start conversations, and inspire environmental action this Earth Day!
In today’s tech-driven world, helping young people become responsible digital citizens is more important than ever. This Edutopia article offers practical, age-appropriate strategies for weaving digital citizenship into everyday learning—whether you’re working in a classroom, afterschool program or other youth setting. From modeling positive online behavior to creating space for thoughtful conversations, these tips make it easy to start where you are and grow from there.
Nominate a parent for Parent and Family Leaders Council
Nomination deadline: May 15
Nominate a parent with unique leadership experiences or insights who could make a meaningful impact on the National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement (NAFSCE) community. If you know a parent leader who has launched a leadership initiative to empower families, or if this describes you, submit a nomination for an open position on the Parent and Family Leaders Council (PFLC). As a standing committee of the Board of Directors, the PFLC plays a vital role in ensuring that parent voices shape the direction of NAFSCE’s work. The current PFLC consists of nine exceptional members from across the country who regularly advise the Board, helping to guide strategies and advance their mission.
Why school districts need AI policies to support STEM education
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping STEM education, but most school districts are not yet prepared to manage its benefits and risks. Without clear policies, students may miss out on critical future-ready skills, while unstructured AI use could worsen equity gaps and raise concerns about ethics, academic integrity, and data privacy. To support successful AI integration, Child Trends’ education team highlights three key reasons why school districts must proactively develop and refine AI policies.
Trump administration threatens federal school funding in new anti-DEI push
The Trump administration has issued a directive requiring state education agencies to certify within 10 days that their schools do not engage in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices deemed unlawful under the administration's interpretation of civil rights law. Failure to comply could result in the loss of federal funding, including critical Title I funds for high-poverty districts. This move has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that it undermines local control and could negatively impact support for marginalized students. Legal challenges are anticipated as states and school districts navigate the implications of this directive.
Pennsylvania Afterschool Youth Development Network (PSAYDN) is an initiative of Center for Schools and Communities, division of Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit
275 Grandview Avenue, Suite 200, Camp Hill,PA,17011
