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
Presenter: Leah Silverberg, Senior Manager, Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM and Society (CYESS) initiative, Afterschool Alliance
(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.
Session 7: STEM Next Career-connected Learning (CCL) Framework for OST Providers
Presenter: Sheila James, Manager, Teen Science Cafe Network (TSCN), STEM Next Opportunity Fund
(Recorded Feb. 5, 2026) 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.
Session 8: From Curiosity to Change: Youth Advocacy Through Storytelling and Student Voice
Presenter: Caley McGuigan, Education Program Coordinator, Pennon Education
[Recorded Feb. 19, 2026] This recorded webinar explores how youth advocacy can flourish 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 can be transformed into meaningful digital production that empowers young people to identify issues that matter to them and share their stories with real audiences. The session highlights 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. Viewers will leave with concrete ideas for fostering youth-led advocacy projects that build confidence, critical thinking, and civic engagement across grade levels.
Session 9: Policy in Action: Advocating for the Future of OST
March 19, 2026, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Previewing upcoming state/federal legislative activity and mobilizing advocates ahead of spring sessions.
In this timely and practical session, Ron will share guidance on how out-of-school time (OST) advocates can effectively engage with policymakers at both the local level and at the State Capitol. Learn how to translate policy priorities into meaningful action through relationship-building, strategic communication, and coordinated outreach.
Learn practical strategies for scheduling and preparing for meetings with legislators, building productive relationships with elected officials, and clearly communicating the impact of OST programs in their communities.
Whether you are new to advocacy or looking to strengthen your outreach efforts, gain actionable steps to help you elevate your voice and champion policies that support before-school, afterschool, and summer learning programs. Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your advocacy efforts and help ensure OST remains a priority in the months ahead.
Meet Our Presenter
Ronald Cowell
Founder and Senior Fellow
The Education Policy and Leadership Center
Ron Cowell has been senior fellow at The Education Policy and Leadership Center (EPLC) since 2023. Ron started EPLC in 1998 and from 1999 to 2022 served as president or executive director. He is an experienced policy leader who also is a frequent speaker, writer and advisor concerning public policy and education policy issues.
Prior to starting EPLC, Ron served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for twenty-four years until 1998. While in the legislature, he served as the majority or minority chair of the House Committee on Education for 12 years. He also served for 12 years as a member of the Pennsylvania State Board of Education and for 20 years as a board member of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA).
Since leaving the legislature, Ron served as a member of the Board of Visitors for the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education, the boards of directors of the Pennsylvania Humanities Council and Communities in Schools – Pennsylvania, the Education Committee of the Institute of Politics (University of Pittsburgh), and the advisory board for the Office of Child Development at the University of Pittsburgh.
Ron previously was a trustee of Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, Community College of Allegheny County, and the University of Pittsburgh. He also was a member of the Governor’s Commission for Children and Families and the Governor’s Commission on Preparing America’s Teachers. He was a board member of many organizations including the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum, Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, Gateway to the Arts, NEED, and the Family Support Policy Board in Allegheny County.
At the national level, Ron served as a member of the National Education Goals Panel, and held leadership positions with the Education Commission of the States, the National Conference of State Legislatures, and the National Association of State Boards of Education. He also served as a board member of the Association of Governing Boards of Trustees of Colleges and Universities (AGB) for nine years and was a member and chair of the Recognition Committee of the Council on Higher Accreditation (CHEA) for several years.
Session 11: Action Day at Harrisburg State Capitol
May 6, 2026, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Join us to educate and advocate for the importance of out-of-school time opportunities in Pennsylvania! Parents, program providers, youth, educators, faith-based leaders, and community and business leaders from across the state will unite at The Pennsylvania Capitol to engage with legislators.