Professional Development
Supporting Program Quality
MAP helps support program quality of afterschool and summer programs through professional development opportunities and other quality supports. From professional learning communities to individualized coaching, there are opportunities to help your program thrive. Explore opportunities below!
“Coaching with Jen has been such a huge help with running our program. She is a wealth of knowledge and I continue to learn with her guidance. Jen is so supportive and is always looking for new tools and ways to help our program grow, her coaching has been such an asset to Delvante and me.”
Click the button below for a brief one-pager about our Professional Development Services.
Professional Development Trainings with MAP!
MAP’s Professional Development Team includes a database of trainers with various levels of diversity and expertise on subject matter that reflects the MA Department of Early Education and Care’s Core Competencies and National Afterschool Association’s Core Knowledge, Skills and Competencies.
MAP’s professional development sessions can be offered in several formats: 2, 3, 4 or 5-hour training sessions during the day or evening or in a Professional Learning Communities (PLC) format. A PLC is usually offered in a two- or three-part series, each session in the series is 2 hours and there is a job-embedded activity between sessions.
All training can be done virtually or in person. Trainings can be adapted and created based on an After School and Out of School Time (ASOST) program or organization’s needs and staff’s experience. MAP will provide a training certificate to all participants upon completion. Some professional development sessions can be offered in Portuguese and Spanish.
PD Newsletter: May & June
Highlight: CAMP Training Sessions
No, We Are Not Playing Kickball
Are your students tired of Kickball, Dodgeball, and Pac-Man Tag? Are you looking for some new activities to reinvigorate your gym time? This workshop will introduce a multitude of innovative games that have a proven track record with kindergarten through middle school such as Share The Wealth, Hog Caller, Tunnel Ball, and Hot Feet. Participants should come dressed for active play and engagement. Appropriate for All Staff Geared towards students in Kindergarten - Middle School
And No, We Are Not Playing Dodgeball
For those programs that are looking for additional unique games to keep students engaged, this workshop will introduce a group of novel games such as Dragon’s Gold, Beanie Baby Golf, and Battleship that have been well-received by students in kindergarten through middle school. Participants should come dressed for active play and engagement. Appropriate for All Staff Geared towards students in Kindergarten - Middle School
NOTE – The possibilities for additional Innovative Gym Games workshops are limitless and can be implemented by request.
Office Hours with Jen Reth
Interested in learning more about Professional Development services and resources? Email jreth@massafterschool.org to schedule a 15-minute information session with MAP’s Program Support Specialist, Jennifer Reth.
May 4 at 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM | May 21 at 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
June 1 at 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | June 11 at 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Thinking Summer?
Schedule your professional development now!
Check out MAP’s Summer Camp Brochure and reach out to Lisa Demoulias at ldemoulias@massafterschool.org to get started.
Building Executive Functioning Skills In Youth
Executive functioning refers to a set of cognitive skills managed by the prefrontal cortex—often described as the brain's "air traffic control"—that regulate attention, emotion, and behavior to achieve goals. Key components include working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control. These skills are essential for planning, organizing, multitasking, and problem-solving in daily life.
A MAP trainer will come to your afterschool/camp program and work directly with the youth modeling how these skills can be developed using board games. This professional development opportunity would include one hour of direct instruction with the youth and a one follow up session with the trainer.
Please contact Lisa Demoulias, Director of Professional Development to learn more about how your program can benefit from this professional development.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month!
Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 1949 by Mental Health America to raise awareness about mental health issues and promote resources to promote well-being. For kids, this month is an opportunity to explore feelings, stress management, and the importance of seeking support when they need it. Afterschool programs can play a crucial role in fostering these conversations about mental health.
Key Goals for Kids:
Understanding Emotions: Children learn to identify and express feelings in healthy ways
Developing Coping Skills: Activities like journaling, breathing exercises, physical activity, and creative outlets help kids manage stress
Promoting Open Communication: Creating safe spaces encourages children to share their thoughts without fear of judgement
Reducing Stigma: Teaching kids that mental health is as important as physical health normalizes seeking help when needed
Summer Activity Guide
Planning for Summer just got a whole lot easier! The Summer Activity Guide by the Alaska Afterschool Network is a suite of fun and engaging activities and challenges.
The Crash Course: Youth Mental Health
This MAP course will provide a brief overview of the current children's mental health crisis (statistics and key information on how it shows up in all settings across the school day).
The course will address how to identify warning signs of children struggling with common mental health concerns like depression and anxiety. It will inform how children's depressive symptoms may differ from adults symptoms (ie. tantrums, acting out). It will support staff in how to approach a child, how to respond and when. This course also includes resources that can be shared with caregivers and families and general information on how to create a safety plan.
Facilitator: Amy Marchesano, LMHC
Amy Marchesano is a licensed mental health counselor in Massachusetts who has worked with families across the life span for over 20 years. Her expertise includes working as a school counselor, therapist and providing crisis evaluations to children and adults in the emergency department setting as well as private practice. Amy presently is completing a doctorate in Organizational Psychology at William James College outside of Boston. In her free time, she enjoys time with her family and going to the beach.
Course can be delivered virtually or in person. In 2, 3 or 4 hour increments.
Please contact Lisa, Director of Professional Development at MAP to arrange a training session for your program. Ldemoulias@massafterschool.org
MAP Trainer Highlight
Kendra M. Hoyt is an independent facilitator and trainer providing services to non-profit organizations and educational institutions with a focus on issues of social justice and leadership development, cultural responsiveness, communication skills, implementing a restorative justice approach in schools and out of school time programs, strategic planning, life skills and coaching. She dedicates herself to enhancing the power of organizations to better meet the needs of adults, youth and communities of all racial heritages, gender identities and economic backgrounds. Kendra believes deeply in the capacity of young people to be change agents in their community. She is a student of Stephen Covey’s “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” and Don Miguel Ruiz’s “the Four Agreements.”
From Kendra’s participants:
“Thank you for another class! It is so refreshing and inspiring to have this time with positive and inspiring teachers. I really like how you make everyone feel so valued and encourage so much conversation….”
“Today I intentionally listened more to each child and learned how much they are needing this one-on-one attention with no distractions, just pure focus of them.”
Kendra facilitates workshops through ZOOM on SEL, Restorative Justice, Cultural Responsiveness, Communication, and many others. Please contact Lisa, Director of Professional Development at ldemoulias@massafterschool.org to arrange a virtual training session for your program.
Free Curriculum: Life Skills Lessons, Activities, and More
CAMP MAP Trainer: Melissa Mercon Smith
After four years as a preschool and kindergarten teacher, Melissa Mercon Smith found her true calling with the Ashland Extended Day Program, which she created and subsequently directed for 33 years. A licensed teacher, Melissa holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Worcester State University and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a Concentration in Creative Arts from Lesley University.
She has presented workshops for numerous ASOST programs throughout Massachusetts and worked as a consultant for a number of school systems looking to enhance and develop their programs. She also consults on a regular basis for Buildwave®, an enrichment program that expands creativity and resilience. Most recently, she is the Co-Founder of Foster Care Essentials, a non-profit serving families that care for children in foster care and kinship care. In all her endeavors, Melissa recognizes the truth behind the phrase, “It takes a village”, and is happy to have been a part of so many villages.
Resource Lab
MAP has a library of resources and curriculum available to afterschool and summer programs. From resources on social-emotional learning to webinars on sustaining the OST workforce, there are plenty of resources that will be useful to educators and administrators of programs.
Program Improvement Plans
MAP has a library of resources and curriculum available to afterschool and summer programs. From resources on social-emotional learning to webinars on sustaining the OST workforce, there are plenty of resources that will be useful to educators and administrators of programs.
Meet MAP’s Professional Development Team!
Lisa DeCaro Demoulias (she/her) began her career as a kindergarten teacher and has held many positions in the field of education. She holds a Professional Massachusetts Teacher License as well as a certification as a Principal N-8. She graduated from Boston College with a Master Degree in Educational Administration and currently works for Lesley University leading aspiring teachers to an initial licensure. Lisa was the Chief Operating Officer of an International Educational Consultancy group and was the Senior Child Care Director of the YMCA of the Greater Boston Association. She managed all aspects of the school-age programs and was the leader of the Eastern Mass Cluster group of the YMCA developing best practices for the school-age sites. Lisa is a passionate educator and enjoys sharing her knowledge and learning from others.
"Lisa was a fantastic coach for me this past year. Having this coaching support from her and the entire team at MAP has been a wonderful help for me and our program. Whether someone is relatively new to this field, like myself, or someone who may just be looking for additional support throughout the year, this has been a great way to help answer any of my random questions, help find areas to improve on, and to have someone who is there to help that AS/OST employee in all areas of our programs."
Jen Reth (she/her) has been in the Afterschool and Out-Of-School Time field since 1993 working in various positions. She is currently the Director of Youthworks, the Soft Skills Career Readiness Program for youth in Winthrop with Winthrop Public Schools and CASA. She serves on the Community Action for Safe Alternatives board and is a Massachusetts Ambassador for the National Afterschool Alliance.
“I cannot put in to words how much Jen’s support as a coach has helped me to grow. Her guidance has helped me to make difficult decisions regarding my business and staffing and to move forward personally and professionally."
"I have grown so much professionally and personally with Jenn. I feel I would continue to grow,change and pivot with her guidance."
Professional Development Request Form
Ready to get started?
Click here to download our Professional Development Request form!
After you’ve filled it out, please email to ldemoulias@massafterschool.org and jreth@massafterschool.org.
EEC Professional Development Requirements
EEC Requires Large Group and School Age Child Care [See 606 CMR 7.09(19)(b)]
1. Educators working fewer than ten hours per week shall complete a minimum of five hours of professional development activities per year;
2. Educators working at least ten but fewer than 20 hours per week shall complete a minimum of 12 hours of professional development activities per year;
3. Educators working 20 or more hours per week shall complete a minimum of 20 hours of professional development activities per year.
Upcoming Trainings
To learn more about a training and to register, click on the flyer.
Out of School Time Job Quality Standards
The National AfterSchool Association’s OST Job Quality Standards provide a standard structure for defining and discussing “good jobs.” The Standards ground the conversation in the available empirical evidence demonstrating how job quality relates to worker outcomes and outline effective practices that support workforce development — including recruitment and retention — and workforce stability by promoting high-quality, equitable jobs.
The Standards are based on the Job Quality Framework and include:
4 Pillars: Overarching categories representing key job quality areas
16 Elements: Critical pieces of each pillar
67 Indicators: Observable practices that support each job quality element
An annotated bibliography of supporting evidence
The JQS Usage Guide & Assessment tool provides audiences with a roadmap for effectively using the OST Job Quality Standards, including concrete steps for those in advocacy, funding, policy, and out-of-school time leadership to improve job quality in their respective roles.
18 Degrees
21st CCLC Warren Elementary
21st CCLC @ OSV
21st CCLC ASOST STEAM
ABACUS
A.R.T.S Foundation Inc
After the Bell
Angier After School Program
BBTE
Beyond the Bell - Holyoke Public Schools
Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center
Boys & Girls Club of Metro South
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell
Boys & Girls Club of Stoneham
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Holyoke
Build A Robot
Building Audacity
Building Bridges through Music, Inc
Cabot Manor After School Program and summer camp
Camp Fire North Shore
CAPIC After School Program
CARE
CCLC Afterschool
Central MA Professional Development Center
Child Care of the Berkshires - Monument Square
CLEO (21st Century Learning)
Clyde Brown Elementary Extended Day
Programs We’ve Worked With:
Communities Together, Inc.
Community Kids Place
Connected Beginnings
CS4Youth, Inc.
Curiosity Club at the John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club
Da Vinci exploration program
Dartmouth YMCA - School Age Childcare
East Boston Social Center
East End House
Elizabeth's Daycare
Enrichment
Eureka! MetroWest
Eureka! Stem and Leadership
Extended Learning Time
Flying Cloud Institute
For Kids Only Afterschool
Girls Inc.
Greenwood Childcare Center
Guild Of St Agnes
Hill House Boston
Holyoke Community College
Hoops and Homework
Imagine Nation Academy
In Our Hands Learning and Preschool
In Our Hands Learning and Preschool Center
J.T Hood School
Jamaica Plain Head Start
Jewish Community of Amherst Shemesh Summer Program
JMB Boys and Girls Club of Newton
Kid Care
Kid Care of Andover Rec
Kids in Tech
Kids LAHF
Kwong Kow Chinese School
Leap for Education
LEAP for Education Teen Centers, Summer Work Program
Little Treasures Schoolhouse (TAS After school program)
Lowell Community Charter Public School
Mason-Rice Afterschool
Mass Mentoring Partnership
McLean Child Care Center
Medfield Afterschool Program Inc.
Methuen Public Schools - Community Programs
Metrowest YMCA
Millis Public Schools' Extended Day
Monomoy Community Services
Mystic Valley YMCA
NEDP
NIOST
Parkway YMCA -Early Focus Program
Playful Minds @ Western
PVD Young Makers
Reading With Your Kids
Regional Environmental Council
Rise Extended Day
Robbins Children’s program
School on Wheels of MA
Science Club for Girls
Somerville YMCA Pre-K/K OST Program
South Shore Community Action Council
Sunny Sky and Rainbows
Tenderhearts Preschool
TERC
TERC-Zoombinis Club
The Community Group - Community Kids Place
The Cottage Children's Center
The Institute for Education & Professional Development, Inc.
Tutoring Plus
US Tae Kwon Do Center Agawam
Walpole Extended Day
Waverley Square Daycare
West Bridgewater Surround Care
West End House Boys and Girls Club
West Springfield Boys and Girls Club
Whitman Hanson Regional School District
YMCA Boston
YMCA Cape Cod School Age Child Care Harwich
YMCA Cape Cod School Age Child Care LPL
YMCA of Greater Springfield
Youth Center Inc.
YWCA Roosevelt After School Program
EEC Training Opportunities
EEC offers this list of training opportunities for your program staff, and other resources to support program quality. From PD trainings to an Early Childhood Educator Scholarship, there are many resources that can help your program! Click below to download more information!
National Afterschool Association
The NAA has a new membership structure. Click below to learn more!
The Massachusetts Afterschool Partnership is the Massachusetts Affiliate of the National AfterSchool Association. NAA and its State Affiliates share a mutual purpose and agreement to support, develop, and advocate for Out-of-School Time professionals and the profession. NAA and its State Affiliates build connectivity among stakeholders and create opportunities for engagement to ensure a vibrant future for the Out-of-School Time profession.
For OST professionals who are not paid NAA members and live in Massachusetts, our affiliation and conference registration make you eligible for a free NAA membership. If you prefer, NAA membership may be purchased directly from NAA on a sliding scale from $25 to $150.