The Rutherford County After-School Network is wrapping up a great year of professional development, programming, and opportunities for our youth and Hub! We hold bi-monthly professional development meetings for the programs in our hub. Everyone is invited to bring their staff and volunteers in an effort to better educate those working with our youth. We […]

By Kelly D. Drummond, Tennessee’s Afterschool Ambassador High quality afterschool programs increased positive youth development outcomes of the youth we served. High quality programs delivered safe and structured organizational programs with positive social interactions between youth and staff, provided relevant staff training with ongoing professional development, have a clear and defined purpose or mission, offer […]

By Kelly D. Drummond, Tennessee’s Afterschool Ambassador There is an adage, “All politics are local.” I remembered this saying as I recently voted on Super Tuesday. This commentary is not about political parties or voting, but about building relationships and sharing our afterschool perspectives on a local landscape. As I voted on Tuesday, I sincerely […]

By Kelly D. Drummond, Tennessee’s Afterschool Ambassador It has been nearly 14 years since Congress last updated federal education policy. Late 2015, Congress passed and the President signed into law the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and, with it, some important new policies affecting afterschool programs in Tennessee and across the nation.  Afterschool programs are […]