Download the Agenda - 21st Century Community Learning Centers

2013 Extra Learning Opportunities Conference 

Promising Practices – Proven Strategies 

Building Bridges 

to New Possibilities 

March 5-7, 2013 State College, Pa.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 

Tom Corbett, Governor 

Department of Education 

Ronald J. Tomalis, Secretary 

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education 

Dr. Carolyn Dumaresq, Deputy Secretary 

Bureau of Teaching and Learning 

Rita D. Perez, Director 

Division of Student Services 

Carmen M. Medina, Chief 

The Pennsylvania Department of Education does 

not discriminate in its educational programs, 

activities or employment practices based on race, 

color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, 

disability, age, religion, ancestry, union 

membership, or any other legally protected 

category. This policy is in accordance with state 

law, including the Pennsylvania Human Relations 

Act, and with federal law, including Title VI and 

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX 

of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 

504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age 

Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 and 

the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. 

The following persons have been 

designated to handle inquiries regarding 

the Pennsylvania Department of 

Education’s nondiscrimination policies: 

For Inquiries Concerning Nondiscrimination 

in Employment: 

Pennsylvania Department of Education 

Equal Employment Opportunity Representative 

Bureau of Human Resources 

333 Market Street, 11th Floor 

Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333 

Voice Telephone: (717) 787-4417 

Text Telephone: (717) 783-8445 

Fax: (717) 783-9348 

For Inquiries Concerning Nondiscrimination 

in All Other Pennsylvania Department of 

Education Programs and Activities: 

Pennsylvania Department of Education 

School Services Unit Director 

333 Market Street, 5th Floor 

Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333 

Voice Telephone: (717) 783-3750 

Text Telephone: (717) 783-8445 

Fax: (717) 783-6802 

2 2013 Extra Learning Opportunities Conference 

Photography and Videotaping Note 

Please be aware that participants may be photographed or videotaped during the conference. Some of these 

photographs or videos may be displayed in publications and materials connected with the event or by news 

media. If you do not want to be photographed and/or videotaped, please position yourself away from the 

cameras or inform event staff.

Promising Practices – Proven Strategies 

Building Bridges to New Possibilities 

The conference will focus on advancing the systems that support and promote 

collaboration and youth success, and on key elements of high quality extra learning 

opportunities: academic achievement; child well-being and resiliency; community and 

family involvement; financing and sustainability; global learning; management and 

administration; policy and advocacy; quality programming; research, evaluation and 

knowledge base; and staffing and training. These key elements will provide the 

backdrop for participants to learn about the development, implementation and 

sustainability of a vision of learning that is shared and supported by schools, youth, 

parents and the community at-large. 

Agenda at a Glance 

Tuesday 

March 5, 2013 

8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. 

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 

9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. 

11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. 

1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. 

Registration Area Open 

Continental Breakfast 

Exhibitor Area Open 

21st Century Community Learning Centers Grantees’ Meeting 

Lunch, Remarks and Keynote Speaker 

Pre-Conference Institutes 

Wednesday 

March 6, 2013 

7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. 

8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. 

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. 

10:30 a.m. – Noon 

12:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. 

2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

4:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. 



Breakfast Buffet 

Opening Remarks and Keynote Speaker 

Exhibit Exploration 

Workshop Session I 


Workshop Session II 

PSAYDN Annual Meeting and Reception 

Thursday 

March 7, 2013 

7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 

7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 

7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. 

8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. 

9:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. 

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 




Remarks 

Workshop Session 

Keynote Speaker, Lunch and Closing Remarks 

2013 Extra Learning Opportunities Conference 3

Workshop, Keynotes and Events 

Tuesday, March 5, 2013 

8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 

Conference Registration 

Desk, Main Level 


8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. 

Pre-Function Area 

Presidents Hall 

Main Level 


10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 

Lobby, Main Level 


9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. 


Main Level 

21st Century Community Learning Centers Grantees’ Meeting 

11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. 


Main Level 


Remarks 

Shileste Overton-Morris, Senior Program 

Development and Organizational Manager – 

Center for Schools and Communities, 

Camp Hill, Pa. 

Keynote Speaker 

Expanded Learning Opportunities 

Ron Fairchild, President and Chief Executive 

Officer – Smarter Learning Group, 

Hampstead, Md. 

Ron Fairchild is the founder of the Smarter 

Learning Group, a national education consulting 

firm. Prior to starting the firm, he served as the 

founding chief executive officer of the National 

Summer Learning Association. He was also 

executive director of its predecessor organization, 

the National Center for Summer Learning at 

Johns Hopkins University from 2002 through 

2009. Fairchild is widely recognized as a national 

authority on increasing learning opportunities for 

young people and in his keynote presentation, 

he will emphasize how to expand time for 

learning in order to improve educational and 

developmental outcomes. Fairchild has authored 

numerous publications and speaks regularly 

on topics related to public policy, community 

engagement, research, and models of effective 

learning interventions and programs. He is 

a former classroom teacher with experience 

educating both middle and high school students. 

He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science 

and history, as well as a master of education 

degree from Vanderbilt University. 

1:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. 

Break 

4 2013 Extra Learning Opportunities Conference


1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. 


A 15-minute break will occur at the presenter’s 

discretion between 2:45 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. in the 

Main and Second Level Refreshment Areas. 

Room 207 

Second Level 

Achieving Academic Success through the 

Creative Process 

This institute will focus on the concept of 

arts integration, which is an approach to 

teaching that uses the fine and performing arts 

as primary pathways to learning. The goal 

of arts integration is to increase knowledge 

of traditional subject areas while fostering a 

greater understanding and appreciation of the 

fine and performing arts. 

Participants will learn how to develop daily 

lessons in math, science, reading and writing 

that use the arts to engage students fully. 

Enrique Feldman, Arts Integration Solutions 

Facilitator – Arts Integration Solutions, 

Tucson, Ariz. 

Alison Marshall, Arts Integration Solutions 


Tucson, Ariz. 

Room 108 

Main Level 

Developing Quality Summer Learning 

Programs 

This institute will help participants create 

positive summer learning opportunities for 

students. Participants will exchange ideas with 

peers, learn about best practices, and explore 

various tools and resources for programs that 

engage students in pursuing their interests and 

developing the skills and knowledge necessary 

for success in college and career. 

Ron Fairchild, President and Chief Executive 

Officer – Smarter Learning Group, 

Hampstead, Md. 

Room 208 

Second Level 

Explore STEM: Enhancing Math and 

Science in Afterschool Programs 

In this institute, the presenter will share how 

math and science can enhance afterschool 

programs. Participants will learn how to design 

science, technology, engineering and math 

(STEM) activities for different age levels; where 

to access STEM resources for out-of-school time 

programs; and engage in sample STEM activities. 

The institute is presented by the Philadelphia 

Math + Science Coalition, a partnership of 

corporations, universities, nonprofit organizations 

and the School District of Philadelphia. 

Donald McKinney, Program Coordinator 

– Philadelphia Math + Science Coalition, 

Philadelphia, Pa. 

Online Conference Evaluation 

Please watch your email for an online evaluation of this year’s conference sent from 

21stCCLC@csc.csiu.org. 

Your comments and suggestions regarding the quality of speakers, presenters and resources, 

as well as your overall experience at this conference are valuable in planning future 

professional development programs. Your time and thoughtful insights are appreciated. 



Room 205 

Second Level 

A Tutoring Lesson Plan for Improving 

Reading Comprehension 

Recent research points to specific strategies for 

improving student reading comprehension. In 

this institute, participants will receive a brief 

overview of this research and see how it can be 

put into action with a tutoring lesson plan and 

use the plan to prepare for a session. 

Participants will learn about selecting 

appropriate reading texts to use with students 

and how to work with assigned texts that are 

above a student’s reading level. 

Elizabeth Powers, Education Consultant – 

Narberth, Pa. 

Room 107 

Main Level 

Inspiring Students to Dream Big 

This institute begins with a viewing of “First 

Generation,” a documentary film that tells the 

story of four high school students aspiring to beat 

the odds and be the first in their families to 

pursue a college education. At the conclusion of 

the film, Dr. Keith Frome, co-founder of College 

Summit, will give an overview of the factors and 

obstacles that inhibit postsecondary success 

among low-income and first generation students. 

Frome will facilitate discussion and encourage 

participants to examine how the challenges 

discussed in the film are applicable to their own 

students. Using a strategic action-planning rubric, 

participants will break into small groups and 

share ideas and recommendations on how to 

inspire and encourage youth to break the cycle of 

poverty, and bring hope to their families and 

communities. Each small group will share its 

strategic recommendations and as a result, 

participants will leave this session with many 

practical suggestions designed to impact the 

trajectory of students’ educational lives. 

Keith Frome, Co-Founder – College Summit, 

Inc., Washington, D.C.; Headmaster – King 

Center Charter School, Buffalo, N.Y. 

Room 105 

Main Level 

Weather permitting, 

some activities will take 

place outdoors. It is 

important that you dress 

accordingly, including 

appropriate footwear. 

No Child Left Inside 

This institute will provide participants with handson 

lessons with meaningful outdoor experiences 

for youth, whether their afterschool program is 

based in a rural, urban or suburban community. 

Representatives from multiple state agencies will 

demonstrate no-cost programs that are available 

to all 21st Century Community Learning Centers 

in Pennsylvania. Participants will discover 

everything from learning to track animals in 

the woods and recognizing animal skins, to 

casting a fishing rod. “One Bird Two Habitats,” 

a global education curriculum that identifies the 

connectedness between people, birds and forests 

in different parts of the world will be shared. 

Teachers will experience the exciting world of 

geocaching – an outdoor treasure hunt activity 

utilizing GPS units – that is available throughout 

the world and right in your own schoolyards. 

David Carlini, Information and Education 

Supervisor – Pennsylvania Game Commission, 

Jersey Shore, Pa. 

Amidea Daniel, Regional Education Specialist – 

Bureau of Boating and Outreach, Bellefonte, Pa. 

Linda Ingram, Manager – Nolde Forest 

Environmental Education Center, Mohnton, Pa. 

Eric Rensel, Natural Resource Specialist at 

Pennsylvania Wilds – Pennsylvania Department 

of Conservation and Natural Resources, 

Harrisburg, Pa. 

Estelle Ruppert, Program Specialist at 

Pennsylvania State Parks – Pennsylvania 

Department of Conservation and Natural 

Resources, Harrisburg, Pa. 

Resource Table 

Resources and handouts from presenters and community 

partners are available at the resource table located in the 

exhibit area. Materials from this year’s conference will also be 

posted on the www.21stCCLC.org website following the event. 



Deans Hall 

Main Level 

Achieving High Quality Out-of-School Time 

Programs: Critical for Student Success – 

PSAYDN Quality Forum 

The Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool/ 

Youth Development Network (PSAYDN) 

Quality Forum will feature rotating interactive 

sessions on the four core areas of the 

PSAYDN Statement of Quality: Structure and 

Management, Positive Connections, Safety and 

Health, and Engaging Activities. Learn from 

national and state experts about cutting edge 

research and practical resources and join 

out-of-school time colleagues for rotating 

roundtable discussions about implementation of 

quality programs. 

A number of expert panelists will be providing 

presentations during this institute including: 

Shawn Stelow, The Finance Project; Wayne 

Jones, The Heinz Endowments; Jamie Dunlap, 

Pennsylvania Council on the Arts; and Kate 

Hynes, Penn State University. The institute 

will be moderated by Kacy Conley, PSAYDN 

Director, and Kasey Thompson, Chair of the 

PSAYDN Quality Committee. 

Room 106 

Main Level 

Participants are 

encouraged to bring their 

own laptop, iPad or tablet 

to the session to explore 

the Y4Y site in real time. 

WiFi will be provided. 

You for Youth (Y4Y): Improving Program 

Quality 

You for Youth (Y4Y) is the United States 

Department of Education’s online professional 

development portal for 21st Century Community 

Learning Centers programs. An overview of the 

website will highlight the resources available and 

navigation of the newly redesigned layout. After 

the overview, Y4Y’s trainers will guide 

participants in using the portal to incorporate 

project-based learning into programs, with a 

special focus on civic learning and engagement 

projects for youth of all ages. 

Jennifer Kobrin, Senior Director of the Center for 

Afterschool and Expanded Learning – 

Foundations, Inc., Mount Laurel, N.J. 

Tania Pawluk, Assistant Director of the Center 

for Afterschool and Expanded Learning – 

Foundations, Inc., Mount Laurel, N.J. 

Continuing Education 

Credits – Act 48 

The Center for Schools and Communities, as 

a division of the Central Susquehanna 

Intermediate Unit, offers Act 48 professional 

development credit for those with 

Pennsylvania teaching or administrative 

certificates. To receive credit, participants 

must attend sessions from beginning to end 

and provide their professional ID number on 

appropriate paperwork to be submitted before 

leaving the conference. 

Continuing Education 

Credits – NASW 

The Pennsylvania Chapter of the National 

Association of Social Workers (NASW) will be 

awarding continuing education credits for 

completion of approved workshops. 

A certificate fee of $15 for NASW Members 

and $25 for nonmembers will be charged and 

can be paid directly to the NASW 

representative who will be located in the 

exhibit area for the duration of the conference. 


Wednesday, March 6, 2013 

7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

Conference Registration 

Desk, Main Level 


7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 



7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. 


Pre-Function Area 

Main Level 


8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. 


Main Level 


Opening Remarks 

Susan D’Annunzio, Student Services Supervisor 

– Pennsylvania Department of Education, 







A Message of Hope: The Manny Scott Story 

Manuel Scott, Founder of INK and Original 

Freedom Writer – Atlanta, Ga. 

An original Freedom Writer whose story is 

told in the Hollywood film “Freedom Writers,” 

Manuel Scott has devoted his life to equipping 

others with proven tools to succeed. A dynamic 

speaker and facilitator whose experiences have 

helped him inspire people of all ages and life 

stages, Scott travels the world empowering 

leaders, educators and youth through powerful 

programs and presentations taken from his own 

life experiences. 

At fourteen, Scott dropped out of school and 

began to fulfill his teacher’s awful prediction 

that he would be either dead or in jail by 

the age of 18. His use of drugs and alcohol 

eventually led to involvement in criminal 

activities. He says, “When I look back, I 

now see that I was heading down a path that 

would have destroyed me.” However, due to 

an amazing transformation, he has defied the 

odds. “I was dismissed as ‘unreachable’ and 

‘unteachable,’ and classified as an ‘English 

as a Second Language’ student,” he says. 

“But something special happened and I love 

sharing that message with others.” The former 

high school dropout now holds degrees from 

the University of California at Berkeley and 

Trinity International University. He is currently 

working on his doctorate in Chicago and is the 

author of “Take Matters Into Your Own Hands: 

Dream Now!”. 

Scott now speaks at universities, civic 

organizations, schools, retreats, seminars and 

religious institutions. In his keynote address, 

Scott will share his story, and several eyeopening 

insights to inspire people to become 

change agents called Page Turners, those who 

help others write new, more fulfilling chapters in 

their lives. “I do not share my story to impress 

people,” Scott explains, “but to impress upon 

them some invaluable lessons that literally 

changed my life.” 



10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. 



10:30 a.m. – Noon 


Room 108 

Main Level 

Using Science as a Way to Engage and 

Inspire Students 

In this lively workshop, proven techniques for 

engaging all types of learners in the science 

processes will be demonstrated. The presenter’s 

belief is that the best science teaching starts 

with active, engaging learning. How-to tips on 

everything from safety, to managing materials, 

to how to set up cooperative groups will be 

given. By using differentiated instruction, 

alternative assessment, cooperative learning, 

the learning cycle, discrepant events and 

other established strategies, participants will 

explore myriad ways to use science as a natural 

springboard for re-engaging and challenging 

all types of afterschool learners. Many helpful 

ideas and technology resources will be shared. 

Debbie Silver, Consultant – Debbie Silver 

Presents, Melissa, Texas 

Room 104 

Main Level 

Evaluation Resources for 21st CCLC 

Grantees 

In this workshop, the state evaluators for 

Pennsylvania’s 21st Century Community 

Learning Centers program will review and 

demonstrate the evaluation resources available 

to grantees to use for their local evaluation. 

Leslie McConnell, Grants and Evaluation 

Specialist – Allegheny Intermediate Unit, 

Homestead, Pa. 

Yolanda Yugar, Evaluation Specialist – 

Allegheny Intermediate Unit, Homestead, Pa. 

Room 206 

Second Level 

How to Reach Youth Today 

In this workshop, proven practices and 

principles that engage, equip and empower 

people everywhere to reach youth will be 

shared. Based on the presenter’s doctoral 

research and own life experiences, he explains 

how to develop real relationships with students 

and persuade them to make the most of their 

lives. These are tools that others used to reach 

Scott, and tools that out-of-school time leaders 

everywhere can use right now to begin affecting 

the lives of youth with incredible success. 

Manuel Scott, Founder of INK and Original 

Freedom Writer – Atlanta, Ga. 

Room 105 

Main Level 

This workshop will be 

repeated in Workshop 

Session II. 

Writing as Discovery 

Writing is a tool of discovery, a practice that can 

help youth, and those who work with youth, find 

their voice and develop their thinking. In this 

workshop participants will learn an approach 

to writing that focuses on informal, expressive 

writing as a way to strengthen language skills 

and thinking and includes an easy-to-use set 

of process tools that are appropriate for the 

afterschool environment. The skills and ideas 

learned in this session will prepare participants 

to use writing as a way to help young people 

tell their stories, express their feelings and build 

community. It will also provide a foundation to 

develop afterschool program activities, such as 

creating a literary journal or blog that can be 

used with students of all ages. 

Nancy Linnon, Writer, Teacher and Editor – 

The Moving Pen, Portland, Ore. 



Room 208 

Second Level 



Session II. 

Celebrating Multicultural Scientists and 

Inventors Through Hands-On Science 

This empowering workshop is designed to 

introduce, highlight and reinforce the important 

contributions made to science and technology by 

scientists and inventors from diverse backgrounds. 

Hands-on science demonstrations, with historical 

perspectives on the scientists and inventors that 

influenced the science behind these experiments 

will be presented. The workshop will provide staff 

with resources, strategies and best practices for 

integrating multicultural perspectives into their 

afterschool science projects. 

Martino Fleming, Multimedia Specialist – 

Grand Hank Productions, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa. 

Tyraine Ragsdale, Founder and President – 


Room 207 

Second Level 

Using the Arts to Engage Learners 

This workshop will focus on the concept of arts 

integration, which is an approach to teaching 

that uses the fine and performing arts as primary 

pathways to learning. The goal of arts integration 

is to increase knowledge of traditional subject 

areas while concurrently fostering a greater 

understanding and appreciation of the fine and 

performing arts. Participants will learn how to 

develop daily lessons in math, science, reading 

and writing that use the arts to fully engage 

students. 

Enrique Feldman, Arts Integration Solutions 


Tucson, Ariz. 

Alison Marshall, Arts Integration Solutions 


Tucson, Ariz. 

Room 106 

Main Level 



Session II. 

How to Involve Language Minority Parents 

Increasing parent communication creates bridges 

in afterschool-parent relationships. One of the 

key factors in a student’s success in academics 

is parental involvement. This workshop will 

provide teachers with clear research on the 

influence of parent involvement and reasons why 

many parents, especially the language minority, 

seem to be disconnected from school life. Most 

importantly, participants will explore practical 

ways to involve all parents and work to build 

cultural bridges in the community. 

Rebekah Goode, Program Coordinator – 

In Goode Company, Charlotte, N.C. 

Room 205 

Second Level 

Special Needs and Inclusion of Diverse 

Abilities 

This workshop will provide intervention 

strategies for working with special needs students 

in out-of-school time. Participants will learn how 

to select and adapt activities so all students can 

participate as fully as possible. The presenter 

will focus on providing educational principles 

that enhance learning for a variety of disabilities 

so participants can gain an awareness of the 

challenges faced by these unique students and 

methods for accommodating their individual 

needs. 

Gale Gorke, Speaker, Trainer and Author – 

Calimesa, Calif. 

Continuing Education Credits – PQAS 

This conference is Pennsylvania Quality Assurance System (PQAS) certified. To receive credit, 

participants must attend sessions from beginning to end and submit the appropriate 

paperwork before leaving the conference. 



Room 107 

Main Level 



Session II. 

Design Squad: Engaging Kids in Hands-On 

Engineering 

WQED Multimedia is proud to offer “Design 

Lives Here,” an innovative project that provides 

engineering, architectural and design activities 

to middle school educators and afterschool 

program teachers. “Design Lives Here” is based 

on the PBS television program “Design Squad 

Nation,” a reality show created to inspire the 

next generation of engineers. In this workshop, 

participants will enjoy a “Design Lives Here” 

orientation and training about the show’s 

approaches to engineering in the classroom. 

The group will explore a few engineering 

experiments and corresponding curriculum 

assignments with materials provided. 

Participants will learn how kids can design and 

build working solutions for real-world clients— 

people who are hungry for clever ideas from a 

new generation of innovators. 

Jennifer Stancil, Executive Director of 

Educational Partnerships – WQED Multimedia, 

Pittsburgh, Pa. 

Room 203 

Second Level 

Well Kids: Safety, Nutrition and Wellness 

Lessons 

In this workshop, WQED Media's adjunct faculty 

from the Allegheny Intermediate Unit will share 

a safety, nutrition and wellness curriculum 

that explores diverse topics—such as trying 

new foods, practicing fire safety and learning 

the importance of hygiene—through Sesame 

Street and other PBS shows. The curriculum, 

based on Common Core standards for K-1-2, 

gives primary teachers and K-1-2 afterschool 

providers access to PBS assets, video links 

videos, print resources and games, using the most 

recognizable and trusted PBS character friends. 

Participants will learn how to use “My Street,” 

which is “Sesame Workshop’s” social network, to 

share videos with afterschool programs, teachers 

and parents. Each participant will receive CDs, 

booklets, postcards, bookmarks, a “Let’s Get 

Ready: Planning for Emergencies” DVD, song 

and activity pack, and comprehensive “Food for 

Thought” kit. 

Cathy Cook, Head Start Teacher – 


Gina Masciola, Head Start Teacher – 


Room 204 

Second Level 

Teaching the Food System During 

Afterschool 

This free, downloadable curriculum for high 

school educators spans the health, ecological 

and social implications of getting food from 

“field to plate.” It exposes learners to a breadth 

of subject areas, ranging from history to soil 

science to nutrition, and reveals where these 

topics intersect. Most importantly, it encourages 

learners to consider the outcomes several degrees 

removed from their actions. In the presenter’s 

view, thoughtful consideration of downstream 

consequences is a key ingredient for a livable 

future. Attendees should come prepared to be 

engaged in discussion. 

Brent Kim, Project Officer – Johns Hopkins 

Center for a Livable Future, Baltimore, Md. 

Noon – 12:15 p.m. 

Break 



12:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. 


Main Hall 


Remarks 

Charles Goulding Jr., 21st CCLC Program 

Officer – Pennsylvania Department of Education, 



The Art and Heart of Education 



Dr. Debbie Silver is an award-winning educator 

with 30 years of experience as a classroom 

teacher, staff development instructor and 

university professor. Her recognitions include 

being named the 1990 Louisiana State Teacher of 

the Year and the 2007 Distinguished Alumnus 

from the College of Education at Louisiana Tech 

University. Along the way, she has taught almost 

every grade level and every kind of student. 

Silver has been an invited author for several 

educational journals and given keynotes at state, 

national and international conferences in 49 

states, Canada, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. 

She was a featured teacher for the “PBS Online 

Teacher Chat” and several online teacher courses. 

Silver is the author of the bestselling book, 

“Drumming to the Beat of Different Marchers: 

Finding the Rhythm for Differentiated 

Instruction.” She is co-author of “Because You 

Teach” and “Middle School Matters.” 

In this keynote address, Silver will use humor 

and sensitivity to remind audiences how 

important teachers are in the lives of students. 

She will demonstrate how to engage all types of 

learners in the classroom. Her belief is that all 

children have gifts, and teachers hold the 

important key for getting students to “open 

them.” Participants will leave with new ideas for 

creative instructional and assessment strategies. 

2:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. 

Main and Second Level 

Refreshment Areas 

Break 

2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 


Room 206 

Second Level 

Local Evaluation of Your 21st CCLC 

Program 

In this workshop, a panel of local evaluators for 

21st Century Community Learning Centers 

program will participate in guided discussion 

regarding the implementation of program 

evaluation at the local level. Local evaluators will 

explain their evaluation approach, roles and 

responsibilities, challenges, and how evaluation is 

used to improve programs. Leslie McConnell and 

Yolanda Yugar, state evaluators from Allegheny 

Intermediate Unit, will moderate the session. 

Panelists: 

Rachel Saul, Evaluator and Private Consultant 

– Uniontown, Pa. 

Alex Schuh, Executive Director – Frontier21, 


Susan Voigt, Program Evaluation and Data 

Specialist – Capital Area Intermediate Unit, 

Enola, Pa. 



Room 108 

Main Level 

Drumming to the Beat of Different Marchers 

– Engaging All Learners 

Based on her best-selling book, “Drumming to 

the Beat of Different Marchers: Finding the 

Rhythm for Differentiated Instruction,” the 

presenter offers her wisdom and humor to 

answer the question, “How do we engage 

students from all backgrounds and 

experiences” She believes that by capitalizing 

on student strengths rather than emphasizing 

their weaknesses, teachers can elicit greater 

achievement gains and higher motivation among 

students. How to give students multiple 

opportunities to demonstrate what they know 

and understand will be discussed. By designing 

responsive student-centered assignments and 

assessments, teachers can provide multiple 

avenues through which students can master. 



Room 107 

Main Level 

This workshop was 

offered in Workshop 

Session I. 

Design Squad: Engaging Kids in Hands-On 

Engineering 

WQED Multimedia is proud to offer “Design 

Lives Here,” an innovative project that provides 

engineering, architectural and design activities to 

middle school educators and afterschool program 

teachers. “Design Lives Here” is based on the 

PBS television program “Design Squad Nation,” 

a reality show created to inspire the next 

generation of engineers. In this workshop, 

participants will enjoy a “Design Lives Here” 

orientation and training about the show’s 

approaches to engineering in the classroom. 

The group will explore a few engineering 

experiments and corresponding curriculum 

assignments with materials provided. 

Participants will learn how kids can design and 

build working solutions for real-world clients— 

people who are hungry for clever ideas from a 

new generation of innovators. 

Jennifer Stancil, Executive Director of 

Educational Partnerships – WQED Multimedia, 

Pittsburgh, Pa. 

Room 104 

Main Level 

Survival is an Attitude: Preparing Your 

Afterschool Program for Emergencies 

A crisis or emergency cannot be predicted, but 

the outcomes can vary greatly due to the level 

of preparedness. Afterschool programs are 

located in a variety of places such as schools, 

community centers and faith-based buildings. 

Programs should not rely solely on the building’s 

emergency plan for their out-of-school time 

hours, but develop a safety plan specific to their 

program. An off-site plan for field trips is also 

recommended. When an emergency happens, 

parents expect that providers will take care of 

their children; and sometimes a long-term crisis 

means that school staff is responsible for the 

children for several hours or overnight. Safety 

experts will present strategies for ensuring 

afterschool programs are well prepared for the 

unexpected. 

Michael Guido, Owner and Co-Founder – MG 

Tactical Advantage, LLC, Carlisle, Pa. 

Michael Hurley, Director of School Safety 

Services – MG Tactical Advantage, LLC, 

Carlisle, Pa. 

Room 204 

Second Level 


repeated on Thursday 

morning. 

Attendance Matters: Improving Attendance 

in School and Afterschool Programs 

Chronic absenteeism, missing 10 percent of the 

school year for any reason, is one of the 

earliest indicators that a student may be off 

track for graduation. Chronic absenteeism 

increases achievement gaps at the elementary, 

middle and high school levels. In this 

workshop, the presenter will define the 

problem, review the impact of chronic 

absenteeism and examine reasons why students 

do not attend school or participate in 

afterschool programs. Participants will 

examine the benefits of afterschool programs 

and their impact on student performance in 

schools; as well as explore strategies and 

activities to promote a good working 

partnership between schools and afterschool 

programs. 

Gail Heinemeyer, Director of Support Services 

– Ridley School District, Ridley, Pa. 



Room 208 

Second Level 



Session I. 

Celebrating Multicultural Scientists and 

Inventors Through Hands-On Science 

This empowering workshop will introduce, 

highlight and reinforce the important 

contributions made to science and technology 

by scientists and inventors from diverse 

backgrounds. Hands-on science demonstrations, 

with historical perspectives on the scientists and 

inventors that influenced the science behind 

these experiments, will be presented. 

The session will provide teachers with 

resources, strategies and best practices for 

integrating multicultural perspectives into their 

afterschool science projects. 

Martino Fleming, Multimedia Specialist – 


Tyraine Ragsdale, Founder and President – 

Grand Hank Productions, Inc., 


Room 105 

Main Level 



Session I. 

Writing as Discovery 

Writing is a tool of discovery, a practice that can 

help youth—and those who work with youth— 

find their voice and develop their thinking. In 

this session participants will learn an approach 

to writing that focuses on informal, expressive 

writing as a way to strengthen language skills 

and thinking and includes an easy-to-use set of 

process tools that are appropriate for the 

afterschool environment. 

The skills developed in this session will prepare 

participants to use writing as a way to help 

young people tell their stories, express their 

feelings and build community. It will also 

provide a foundation to develop afterschool 

program activities, such as creating a literary 

journal or blog that can be used with students of 

all ages. 

Nancy Linnon, Writer, Teacher and Editor – 

The Moving Pen, Portland, Ore. 

Room 205 

Second Level 

Community/Collaborative Building for 

Afterschool Programs 

Finding and connecting with community 

organizations, both for-profit and nonprofit, 

ensures success in any program. This workshop 

will introduce strategies for identifying, securing, 

supporting and fostering longevity in community, 

and collaborative connections to benefit 

afterschool programming. 

Gale Gorke, Speaker, Trainer and Author – 

Calimesa, Calif. 

Room 106 

Main Level 



Session I. 

How to Involve Language Minority Parents 

Increasing parent communication creates bridges 

in afterschool-parent relationships. One of the 

key factors in a student’s success in academics is 

parental involvement. This workshop will 

provide teachers with clear research on the 

influence of parent involvement and the reasons 

many parents, especially the language minority, 

seem to be disconnected from school life. Most 

importantly, participants will explore practical 

ways to involve all parents and work to build 

cultural bridges in the community. 

Rebekah Goode, Program Coordinator – 

In Goode Company, Charlotte, N.C. 

Room 207 

Second Level 



morning. 

Youth in Action: Expanding Opportunities 

for Youth to be in Leadership Roles 

Young people have amazing skills, abilities and 

passion for issues that affect them in their local 

communities. In this session, participants will 

learn about strategies for engaging more young 

people, creating stronger youth-adult partnerships 

and finding resources for supporting youth in 

leadership roles. Youth across the state are 

already actively involved as advocates, peer 

tutors, youth council members, philanthropists, 

facilitators for youth-led workshops and many 

other roles. This workshop will provide 

leadership opportunity ideas to make available to 

afterschool youth. 

Deborah Stewart, Director – Youth Development 

Training and Resource Center, 

New Haven, Conn. 



Room 203 

Second Level 



morning. 

Linking Literacy and Science: Engaging 

Ways to Enhance Questioning, Reasoning 

and Analytical Skills in Informal 

Environments 

Children’s books are a great resource for 

science learning, as well as a strategic method 

for reaching children and parents in local 

communities. The skills necessary for learning 

to read are aligned with skills that are critical 

to scientific thinking. This workshop will 

demonstrate the integration of science and 

literacy with activities from The Franklin 

Institute Science Museum’s National Science 

Foundation funded “LEAP into Science” 

afterschool program and highlight the role 

of books as an access point for working with 

children and families. 

Dale McCreedy, Director of the Gender and 

Family Learning Programs – The Franklin 

Institute Science Museum, Philadelphia, Pa. 

Anna Padget, Program Associate of the Gender 

and Family Learning Programs – The Franklin 


4:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. 

Deans Hall 

Main Level 


The Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool/Youth 

Development Network Annual Meeting and 

Reception will celebrate the network’s 

accomplishments over the past year, share goals 

for the future and honor statewide afterschool 

champions. 

Kacy Conley, Director – Pennsylvania Statewide 

Afterschool/Youth Development Network, 


Thursday, March 7, 2013 

7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 

Conference 

Registration Desk 

Main Level 


7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 



7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. 


Main Level 


8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. 


Main Level 

Remarks 







9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. 

Break 

9:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. 


Room 207 

Second Level 



Session II on Wednesday. 

Youth in Action: Expanding Opportunities 

for Youth to be in Leadership Roles 

Young people have amazing skills, abilities and 

passion for issues that affect them in their local 

communities. Participants will learn about 

strategies for engaging more young people, 

creating stronger youth-adult partnerships and 

finding resources for supporting youth in 

leadership roles. Youth across the state are 

already actively involved as advocates, peer 

tutors, youth council members, philanthropists, 

facilitators for youth-led workshops and many 

other roles. This workshop will provide 

leadership opportunity ideas to make available 

to afterschool youth. 

Deborah Stewart, Director – Youth 

Development Training and Resource Center, 

New Haven, Conn. 

Room 104 

Main Level 

Funding to Serve Healthy Meals and Offer 

Nutrition Education in Afterschool 

Participants will learn how to contribute to 

student wellness by offering reimbursable, 

healthy meals to children in need. Participants 

will hear firsthand from the United States 

Department of Agriculture about how these 

nutrition programs work and will also learn about 

strategies and resources that support healthy 

nutrition in afterschool programs. 

Signe Anderson, Child Nutrition Program 

Analyst – Food Research Action Center, 

Washington, D.C. 

Room 106 

Main Level 

Getting Every Family Involved: Tips for 

Engaging Busy Families 

Engaging parents and families in out-of-school 

time programs is a challenging task for a variety 

of reasons, one of which is fast-paced lives. 

Family engagement in young people’s daily lives 

and school is invaluable for educational 

achievement, healthy development and strength 

in the community. Building and sustaining 

positive relationships is the key. This workshop 

will explore a variety of ways for programs to 

connect with and encourage parent and family 

involvement in mutually meaningful ways 

including forming partnerships; helping parents 

feel welcome, accepted and valued; giving 

families opportunities to help shape the program; 

and effective and positive communication. 

Denise Madzik, STARS TA Lead Consultant – 

Northampton Community College, 

Bethlehem, Pa. 

Room 107 

Main Level 

Credit Recovery: Afterschool as a Stepping 

Stone to Graduation 

Getting behind in earning credits for high school 

graduation is one of the top reasons students 

decide to drop out of school. Even students with 

the motivation to complete high school face 

what they perceive as an insurmountable 

problem. One key feature of many turn-around 

schools and afterschool programs, especially 

those that are successful in impoverished 

communities, is a credit recovery program. This 

allows students to earn graduation credits on an 

accelerated basis. This session will examine 

research and best practices in credit recovery 

curriculum and instruction; technology-based 

and instructor-driven programs; and the 

organization and administration of successful 

programs in both rural and urban environments. 

Howard Johnston, Professor of Secondary 

Education – University of South Florida, 

Tampa, Fla. 



Room 108 

Main Level 

Supporting All Students: Best Practices in 

Afterschool Programs 

Helping all students grow and learn is 

fulfilling, rewarding and, at times, frustrating. 

This is true in school as well as afterschool 

programs. This session will explore how best 

to serve special education students and 

children with unique needs in the classroom 

and afterschool programs. Participants will 

leave with a refreshed perspective and practical 

strategies. 

Dru Tomlin, Director of Middle Level Services 

– Association for Middle Level Education, 

Westerville, Ohio 

Room 204 

Second Level 




Attendance Matters: Improving Attendance 

in School and Afterschool Programs 

Chronic absenteeism, missing 10 percent of the 

school year for any reason, is one of the 

earliest indicators that a student may be off 

track for graduation. Chronic absenteeism 

increases achievement gaps at the elementary, 

middle and high school levels. In this 

workshop, the presenter will define the 

problem, review the impact of chronic 

absenteeism and examine reasons why students 

do not attend school or participate in 

afterschool programs. Participants will 

examine the benefits of afterschool programs 

and their impact on student performance in 

schools; as well as explore strategies and 

activities to promote a good working 

partnership between schools and afterschool 

programs. 

Gail Heinemeyer, Director of Support Services 

– Ridley School District, Ridley, Pa. 

Room 208 

Second Level 

Promoting Reading, Writing, Science and 

Math in Afterschool Programs 

“Project Learning Tree” is an award-winning 

environmental education program designed for 

teachers and other educators, parents and 

community leaders working with youth from 

preschool through grade 12. The lesson plans 

include “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax” for primary 

grades, while high school students are given the 

opportunity to research invasive species in the 

Biodiversity Unit. The educational materials are 

designed to meet the common components of 

national education reform by using the 

constructivist approach to learning, whole 

language teaching, cooperative learning, problem 

solving and authentic assessments. The primary 

and secondary modules have been correlated to 

state learning standards and will be provided to 

workshop participants. 

Ruth Roperti, President – Pennsylvania 

Association of Environmental Educators, 

Beaver Falls, Pa. 

Room 206 

Second Level 




Linking Literacy and Science: Engaging 

Ways to Enhance Questioning, Reasoning 

and Analytical Skills in Informal 

Environments 

Children’s books are a great resource for 

science learning, as well as a strategic method 

for reaching children and parents in local 

communities. The skills necessary for learning 

to read are aligned with skills that are critical 

to scientific thinking. This workshop will 

demonstrate the integration of science and 

literacy with activities from The Franklin 

Institute Science Museum’s National Science 

Foundation funded “LEAP into Science” 

afterschool program and highlight the role 

of books as an access point for working with 

children and families. 

Dale McCreedy, Director of the Gender and 

Family Learning Programs – The Franklin 


Anna Padget, Program Associate of the Gender 

and Family Learning Programs – The Franklin 




Room 105 

Main Level 

Change over Time: Supporting Growth, 

Development and Transitions in Afterschool 

Programs 

In this interactive workshop, participants will 

explore ideas of change over time in afterschool 

programs, with an eye toward youth-adult 

relationships and activities. The presenter will 

discuss strategies for welcoming new students; 

examine how their roles grow, and how 

gradually to increase responsibilities and 

leadership opportunities for youth. Finally, 

participants will consider youth transitions – 

both within and beyond a program. 

Thomas Akiva, Assistant Professor of Applied 

Developmental Psychology – University of 

Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa. 

10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 

Main and Second Level 

Refreshment Areas 

Break 

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 


Main Level 

Welcome, Keynote Speaker, Lunch 

and Closing Remarks 

Contrell Armor, Youth Development Program 

Coordinator – Center for Schools and 

Communities, Camp Hill, Pa. 


Youth-Adult Relationships in Afterschool 

Programs: The Power of Positive 

Connections 

Thomas Akiva, Assistant Professor of Applied 

Developmental Psychology – University of 

Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa. 

Dr. Thomas Akiva recently joined the University 

of Pittsburgh faculty in the Department of 

Psychology in Education. Prior to receiving his 

doctorate, Akiva spent nearly two decades 

working as a practitioner and consultant in the 

youth development field; including four years 

directing a summer camp for teens and over 10 

years with the Weikart Center for Youth Program 

Quality, now a division of the Forum for Youth 

Investment. At the Weikart Center, he helped 

design and build afterschool quality improvement 

systems in statewide and citywide networks, led 

numerous training workshops for youth workers 

and produced a youth worker curriculum, 

currently in use across the U.S. In 2011, he 

received the Emerging Scholar Award from the 

Out-of-School Time Special Interest Group of the 

American Educational Research Association. 

His research focuses on motivation and learning 

during out-of-school time. Current projects 

include a study of youth leadership and decisionmaking 

across multiple contexts and an 

investigation of late-adolescents’ motivation to 

attend youth programs. In his keynote 

presentation, he will focus on youth-adult 

relationships as the feature that matters most in 

out-of-school time programs. 

Closing Remarks 

Susan D’Annunzio, Student Services Supervisor 

– Pennsylvania Department of Education, 



Penn Stater Hotel 

Tuesday, March 5 

8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. 

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 

9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. 

11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. 

1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. 




21st CCLC Grantees’ Meeting 



Wednesday, March 6 

7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. 

8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. 

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. 

10:30 a.m. – Noon 

12:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. 

2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

4:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. 










Thursday, March 7 

7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 

7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 

7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. 

8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. 

9:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. 

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 




Remarks 


Keynote Speaker, Lunch 

and Closing Remarks 


The mission of the department is to 

academically prepare children and adults to 

succeed as productive citizens. The 

department seeks to ensure that the technical 

support, resources and opportunities are in 

place for all students, whether children or 

adults, to receive a high quality education. 

This conference was coordinated in 

conjunction with the Center for Schools 

and Communities.

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