PSAYDN is excited to launch our 2025–2026 Education and Awareness Campaign to elevate the importance of afterschool and summer learning opportunities across the Commonwealth. Through this campaign, we will host monthly virtual sessions focused on building knowledge, capacity and collective voice in support of out-of-school time (OST) programs statewide.
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2025–2026 Education and Awareness Campaign Launch
Presenter: Chris Neitzey, Director of State Policy, Afterschool Alliance
(Recorded Aug. 21, 2025) We are honored to welcome Chris Neitzey, senior director of policy at the Afterschool Alliance, as our featured presenter for this kickoff session. Chris shared timely updates on recent federal and national advocacy efforts that have advanced policies and funding priorities benefiting out-of-school time programs across the country.
Session 2: Lights on Afterschool: Amplifying Our Movement
Presenter: Laura Saccente, Assistant Director, Center for Schools and Communities
(Recorded Sept. 18, 2025) Join PSAYDN for a dynamic webinar designed to strengthen the visibility and impact of OST programs across Pennsylvania. As part of the national Lights On Afterschool celebration, this session will focus on practical strategies for preparing and leveraging OST awareness campaigns to amplify our collective voice and elevate statewide recognition.
Session 3: Building Local Champions
Presenter: Ashley Wallace, Associate Director, National Conference of State Legislatures
(Recorded Oct. 16) Ashley Wallace, associate director, National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), will share ways you can build connections with state legislators and legislative staff. She will also give an overview of some hot education topics legislatures may be tackling in 2026 legislative sessions and what that might mean for the afterschool field.
Session 4: Workforce Development and OST
Presenter: Scott Mann, Director of Education, VentureLab
(Recorded Nov. 20, 2025) Scott Mann, Director of Education at VentureLab, will share how out-of-school-time (OST) programs are uniquely equipped to prepare youth for their future careers. He will highlight how starting entrepreneurship education early within OST settings fosters creativity, problem-solving, and other key employability skills. Participants will explore how K12 OST programs can strengthen Pennsylvania’s workforce pipeline by starting early to cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets and discuss ways to partner with community and industry to expand opportunities for youth to develop workforce readiness.
Session 5: STEM in OST: Connecting to Pennsylvania’s STEM Ecosystems
Presenters:
Alexandra Konsur-Grushinski, Director, Pennsylvania Statewide STEM Ecosystem
Kathleen Lodl, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Nebraska Extension 4-H Program, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Ann O’Connor, J.D., Project Manager, Nebraska 4-H, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
(Recorded Dec. 18, 2025) This webinar highlights how out-of-school time (OST) programs support STEM learning aligned with PA STEELS standards and future skill-building. Participants explore Pennsylvania’s STEM Ecosystems, including regional partnerships, resources, and supports that strengthen STEM learning, community connections, and career-connected opportunities for youth. The session also introduces Click2Science, a professional development tool for OST professionals, featuring strategies such as purposeful questioning, fostering a STEM mindset, workshops, train-the-trainer institutes, online tools, and ongoing coaching to enhance high-quality STEM experiences.
Session 6: Civic Engagement in OST
(Recorded Jan. 15, 2026) This interactive session is designed to inspire out-of-school time practitioners to intentionally integrate civic engagement into their afterschool and summer programs. Explore why civic engagement is a critical component of positive youth development and how it benefits young people while strengthening their communities. Participate in a guided review of practical tools and resources available on the Alliance’s website, with concrete strategies that practitioners can immediately apply in their own programs. By the end of the session, you will be equipped with actionable ideas and resources to design meaningful, youth-centered civic engagement experiences that elevate youth voice and leadership.
Presenter: Leah Silverberg, Senior Manager, Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM and Society (CYESS) initiative, Afterschool Alliance
Session 7: STEM Next Career-Connected Learning (CCL) Framework for OST Providers
Feb. 5, 2026, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
For many youth, afterschool and summer programs are where sparks of interest in science, technology, engineering, and math begin. To help programs turn that interest into career pathways, STEM Next created the Career-Connected Learning Framework for Out-of-School Time Providers. The Framework helps programs explicitly embed career connections into their activities in ways that are practical, age-appropriate, and grounded in both research and real-world relevance.
In this training, attendees will practice developing career-connected STEM activities, exchange feedback with peers, and leave with three ready-to-use activities. Please bring one STEM activity to the workshop during the training.
Presenter: Sheila James, Manager TSCN, STEM Next Opportunity Fund
Sheila is a transformative leader with over 25 years of experience in youth development, known for elevating the quality of programs that serve children and youth. Her expertise in coaching, training, and mentoring equips educators and program staff with innovative strategies and practical tools. With a keen eye on trends in afterschool and early childhood education, Sheila stays ahead of the curve to ensure excellence in the field. Her dedication to equity and empowering others has been the cornerstone of her impactful and purpose-driven leadership.
Session 8: From Curiosity to Change: Youth Advocacy Through Storytelling and Student Voice
Feb. 19, 2026, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Explore how youth advocacy can take root when curiosity, media literacy, and authentic storytelling come together. Drawing on programs such as Chatter News and Curiosity Curators, participants will learn how student-driven curiosity is transformed into meaningful digital production, empowering young people to identify issues that matter to them and share their stories with real audiences.
Caley will highlight practical strategies for creating spaces where youth voices are centered, not scripted, and where students learn to question media, collaborate with peers, and engage with their communities. Attendees will leave with concrete ideas for fostering youth-led advocacy projects that build confidence, critical thinking, and civic engagement across grade levels.
Presenter: Caley McGuigan, Education Program Coordinator, Pennon Education
Caley McGuigan is an educator and youth advocacy leader dedicated to amplifying student voice through inquiry, media, and community-centered learning. A graduate of Shippensburg University with a degree in elementary education, Caley began her career as a classroom teacher, designing project-based learning experiences that empowered students to explore issues they care about and share their perspectives beyond the classroom.
Now serving as secondary education program coordinator, Caley develops STEM and inquiry-driven programming for grades 4–8 and leads initiatives that connect students with families, educators, and local partners. Her work centers on helping young people identify their strengths, engage critically with the world around them, and see themselves as active contributors to their communities. She believes meaningful youth advocacy begins when adults create space, trust young voices, and provide students with the tools to tell their own stories.
Session 11: Action Day at Harrisburg State Capitol
May 6, 2026, time TBA
Registrants will be notified of the livestream link to watch the rally at the State Capitol if they are unable to attend in person.