Why Staff Development?

Regardless of program-content specifics, skilled afterschool educators—frontline, directors, coordinators—display certain skills. What is most important in your program? What do you look for in hiring?

Good professional development should build the knowledge and skills needed to make your programs work better. In addition to your specific content, this may include:

Understanding afterschool approaches and being an afterschool educator
Creating and leading engaging programs, projects, and activities
Understanding how to motivate and engage children and youth
Knowing how to support children’s success in school, from helping with homework, to social skills, to attitudes, leadership, communication, and critical thinking
Knowing how to connect with parents, families, and communities—and to tap local resources
Knowing how to communicate with school teachers and administrators

Directors and leaders also need skills in:

Creation and maintenance of safe environments
Program design, development, and implementation
Staff development and quality building
Assessment, evaluation, and showing of results
Management, compliance, and operations
Financial sustainability
Community relations
Connections with schools and stakeholders

How Can Our Staff Help Yours?

See trainings to learn more about the Center’s professional development. In addition to in-person trainings, the Center provides publications and tools to support directors, trainers, and coordinators in leading their own training sessions. Technical assistance and online training and coaching options are available for multi-site programs.

Up Next: Learn more about how you can use the Center's publications and resources to improve professional development and quality in your program.