Gearing Up for Spring Semester

There's great progress to report at the end of the first semester in the Center's new initiative to help New York City after-school educators get on track toward better paying jobs and leadership positions in after-school.

The first cohort of after-school educators to begin their studies at the City of University of New York successfully completed the fall semester in the Center's professional certificate program. These pioneering students, who also work in after-school programs, have been taking classes at four CUNY colleges through a partnership between CUNY and The Center for After-School Excellence. They have one more semester to go before they earn professional certificates in after-school education.

This month, another 27 after-school educators enrolled in specially designed CUNY courses and began the process of earning their certificates. Once they finish, they'll enjoy preferred hiring status with many of New York's major after-school providers. They'll also make progress toward meeting New York State Department of Health child care training requirements.

The Center extends hearty congratulations to the first group of after-school educators to successfully complete a semester of studies. They are: Luisa Beltran, Charlene Calhoun, Nicole Casertano, Jeffrey Cooper, Elijah Davis, Isaac Deberry, Carmen Dingui, Michael Gilpin, Edwin Guzman, Mable Hagan, Maria Irizarry, Sharondria Jackson, De-Andre Jamerson, Marquice Jenkins, Nicole Johnson, Kay Kennedy, Erin Knapp-Vega, Alysha Lewis-Coleman, Kimyatta Madry, Thelma Mayo, Alfredo Miranda, Shaneeka Nicholson, Kathy Ortiz, Geraldine Phillip, Patrick Pinchinat, Cynthaly Pinckney, Makeba Price, Michelle Ramirez, Idalia Roldan, Nidja Smith, Travis Stanley, Nereida Torres, and Anwar Winston.

They work for the following organizations:

• Harlem Children's Zone
• New York City Parks and Recreation
• The Leadership Program
• Police Athletic League
• University Settlement
• New York City Housing Authority
• Center for Family Life
• Goodwill Youth Services
• Groundwork, Inc.
• The Educational Alliance, Inc.
• Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation
• Queens Community House
• Good Shepherd Services
• Church Avenue Merchants Block Association (CAMBA)
• Supportive Children's Advocacy Network (SCAN)
• Community League of the Heights (CLOTH)

Next Hunter Session This January

Introductory Course for After-School Staff, a two-day continuing education course offered by the Center at Hunter College, is an easy way to refresh and advance your knowledge of after-school while meeting some of the Department of Health's mandatory training requirements. For more, visit the Center's Web site.

You will get an overview of the after-school world, including insights into the relationship between community-based organizations and schools. The course also covers lesson planning, effective classroom management, creative ways to resolve conflicts and tools for identifying kids' learning styles and strategies.

The next session will be held on January 26 and February 2, 2008. Seating is limited.

Contact Damali Dublin at (646) 943-8848 / ddublin@afterschoolexcellence.org for registration information.

Best Wishes for 2008

The Center for After-School Excellence would like to wish all of our friends a very successful and prosperous New Year!

The Center for After-School Excellence at TASC
1440 Broadway, 16th Fl. New York, NY 10018
Tel. (646) 943-8840
Email info@afterschoolexcellence.org