Join us on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 for our comprehensive Pre-conference Academy aimed at helping you create change- personally and professionally.  These intensive sessions are designed to give participants an in-depth learning experience in specific areas.  They are intended to rejuvenate your body, mind, and spirit as well as build capacity by inspiring you to become an agent for change. 

 

Retaining and Sustaining During Times of Crisis
Nathan Eklund, Senior Education Consultant, Search Institute, Minneapolis, MN
 
How can you increase your job satisfaction when you're surrounded by reductions? How do you retain and sustain yourself and your staff when everything around seems to be under attack? How can you be "all about the kids" when you're barely holding on yourself? These questions are ones we all face nearly everyday.

In this preconference session, participants will explore the following topics:

• Strategies for workplace climate improvement
• Strategies to retain and recruit engaged staff members
• strategies to increase your own personal and organizational wellness

Opening Doors to Inclusive Programs
Torrie Dunlap, Director, National Training Center on Inclusion; Alissa Lavelle, M.S., Program Coordinator; Nili Mathews, CTRS, Program Specialist, Kids Included Together (KIT), San Diego, CA
 
KIT's Opening Doors to Inclusive Programs pre-conference workshop includes information and hands-on activities that address attitudes of after-school professionals, establishing partnerships with families, and strategies for designing individualized supports and accommodations for children with and without disabilities in after-school programs.   

 

Ending the Cycle of Violence by Empowering Kids, Saving Lives and Teaching Peace
Jenifer Finkelstein, Program Coordinator; Robin Hart, Program
Director; and Special Guests TKF Founders, Azim Khamisa and Ples Felix, Tariq Khamisa Foundation, San Diego, CA
 
TKF's 12-week Ending the Cycle of Violence curriculum explores different topics that our young people are dealing with today such as health, drugs, violence, anger, and the possibility of forgiveness.  TKF also focuses on the power of choices and the resulting consequences.  Our curriculum incorporates video, hands on learning and discussion in order to engage students and empower them to make a positive choice.

 

Navigating the Waters of Staff Development with the Beyond the Bell Toolkit®
Tara Donahue, Senior Program Associate, Learning Point Associates; Jaime Stephanidis, Program Associate, Learning Point Associates, Chicago, IL
 
To have the best possible afterschool program, you have to have the highest quality staff. To have the highest quality staff, you have to provide staff with the best possible professional development, given limited amounts of time and money. Navigating the Waters of Staff Development with the Beyond the Bell Toolkit® pre-conference session will help you frame how to use the professional development time you have in an effective and efficient manner.