The OST Professional
Prime Time Resources Help Long-time Afterschool Professional Reach Her Educational Goals
Prime Time would like to take this opportunity to recognize Jamora Matthews, director at Sacred Heart Afterschool Program, for her educational achievements. An 11-year out-of-school time professional, Jamora Matthews uses opportunities provided by Prime Time Palm Beach County to reach her educational goals. Jamora started taking classes in the college credit pathway through Prime Time’s…
Read MoreAfterschool Practitioners Learn, Share and Grow Through Communities of Practice
Written by: Jennifer Jones, Professional Development Manager, Prime Time Palm Beach County Large smiles appear on the faces of training attendees as they see their colleagues and discuss excitedly about how the last few weeks have gone personally and professionally. Showing up to the second training session of three in the series, they have already…
Read MoreThrough Career Advising and Scholarships, Afterschool Professional Makes Advances in Her Career and Education
In the spring of 2021, Delmi Mauricio, an eight-year afterschool professional currently working at My First Steps Preschool, successfully completed the coursework for a Director Credential to allow her to move into a leadership role when working at any afterschool program. “The benefits in obtaining my education is a better position at work, but most importantly I have better knowledge to help…
Read MorePrime Time Training Offers Practitioners the Tools to Help Youth Spark Deeper Connections
The Power of Circles in Out-of-School Time (OST) Prime Time Palm Beach County empowers out-of-school time (OST) practitioners to create safe, supportive and welcoming environments, encourage positive social interactions and engage youth through many offerings, one being professional development trainings. In a recent training offering, entitled The Power of Circles in OST, Prime Time’s training facilitators showed attendees, how to facilitate meaningful circles with youth…
Read MoreOut-of-School Time Practitioner Turns Her Love for Children into Purposeful Career
Ashley Pierce has always had a love for children. In August 2017, she was working in the school cafeteria at the Conservatory of North Palm Beach where she knew everyone by name and would use her break time between meals to entertain the children because she enjoyed seeing them smile. It was easy to see the impact Pierce was making the lives of the youth attending. Ashley…
Read MoreAfterschool Director Says Opportunities Offered Through Prime Time Has Changed Her Forever
In 2013, Derricka Williamson began working in the out-of-school time (OST) field when she began taking advantage of scholarships and using the College Credit Pathway offered through Prime Time to give her the direction she needed to begin reaching goals that allowed her to move from certificate achievements to degrees. “This experience has changed me forever and I will continue to share with my peers the…
Read MorePrime Time Palm Beach County Invites Afterschool Professionals to Science Museum to Help Them to Lead STEAM Sessions for Children and Youth
Prime Time Palm Beach County invited afterschool professionals who were previously part of its STEAM Cohort to a free field trip to the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Discovery & Science on May 17, 2021. Attendees had the opportunity to participate in a three-hour STEAM and art workshop that includes six different interactive hands-on learning projects…
Read MoreAfterschool Director at For the Children Teen Center Used Prime Time’s Career Pathway and Scholarships to Jumpstart a Higher Education
Professional development is vital to the success of afterschool programs. Effective professional development enhances afterschool program quality by facilitating staff performance and knowledge; in addition, professional development is vital for improving student learning outcomes (Bouffard & Little, 2004; Hall & Surr, 2005; Joyce & Showers, 2002). Afterschool director at For the Children Teen Center Latoya Taylor has worked…
Read MoreProfessional Development Trainings Offers Stage for Shared Experiences
Prime Time offers a wide variety of trainings to empower out-of-school time (OST) practitioners to create safe, supportive and welcoming environments and encourage positive social interactions among youth. In a recent training entitled Cooperative Learning, Prime Time’s training gave practitioners the tools they need to give youth in their program the opportunities to work together…
Read MoreAfterschool Director Takes Advantage of Prime Time Scholarships to Reach Her Dreams
Northmore Elementary Afterschool Director Kanishia Mortin always dreamed of the day that she would be the first in her immediate family to go to college and graduate. Her dream was temporarily put on hold as she writes, “of course, life happens!” After working for the School District of Palm Beach County for the past 17 years, Kanishia’s dream has…
Read More