After-school programming is where I got my start. My first job in education was in an after-school program while I was in college, and it’s where my passion for this work began. I went on to earn my master’s degree in school counseling, so I haven’t been exclusively in after-school since then, but I’ve never left it behind. Today I run an Expanded Learning program serving seventeen schools, and I’ve built and led extended day and summer programming as well. I understand this field from the inside.
One aspect of ELOP that sometimes gets overlooked, is its power to build genuine connection with kids outside the school day. A student who hasn’t connected with anyone during instructional hours can find that person after school, or add another trusted adult to their corner. ELOP creates safe spaces, room to be creative, and real practice ground for social emotional learning skills. That’s exactly why staff need training in SEL. They have a special kind of access to kids, and they can teach in ways that the regular school day rarely allows.
