1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:08,080 Welcome back to the forgotten ECE with Miss Jamie. 2 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:12,200 I'm so excited that you're in and tuning in and listening. 3 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:18,200 And I'm super excited to tell you about today's episode in this episode titled Beyond the 4 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:21,120 Bell the hidden impact of afterschool professionals. 5 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:25,680 We're turning the spotlight on the crucial yet often overlooked role of before and afterschool 6 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:26,680 programs. 7 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:31,680 If you're not new here today, you definitely understand that we talk a lot about the forgotten 8 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:35,720 ECE in the sense of before and afterschool educators and school age educators. 9 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:37,600 And today is no different. 10 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:43,240 Our guest star today is Erica Sikoccio from the childcare director's chair podcast. 11 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:44,240 Welcome Erica. 12 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:45,240 Hi guys. 13 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:48,680 Hi, I'm so happy to be here for so many reasons. 14 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:54,560 One, which one of my favorite podcast is Miss Jamie and two talking about one of my favorite 15 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:56,560 topics. 16 00:00:56,560 --> 00:00:57,560 Oh, I'm so great. 17 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:02,000 You're here when we first met and you said that you started before and afterschool programming. 18 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:05,000 I was so excited. 19 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:08,640 Together we're going to explore the significant impact these programs and their dedicated 20 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:13,760 professionals have on children despite frequently being overshadowed in discussions about quality 21 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:15,160 education and care. 22 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:18,960 We'll dive into the challenges they face, including issues with funding, recognition 23 00:01:18,960 --> 00:01:24,920 and quality rating systems and discuss how we can advocate for more equitable support 24 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:27,040 and opportunities for this vital sector. 25 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:30,760 Erica, again, I'm so happy to have you here. 26 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:35,080 Could you start by describing the typical structure and objectives of the before and 27 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:36,920 afterschool programs? 28 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:42,320 I would say, well, all programs are a little bit different, but for us, the structure really 29 00:01:42,320 --> 00:01:45,880 focuses on academic supports. 30 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:51,440 And in addition to that, social and emotional supports, I think that it's a nice balance 31 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:56,280 of the two, right, because it's great to have academic supports and being a good student 32 00:01:56,280 --> 00:02:01,120 is important, but being a good person who's well adjusted is equally important. 33 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:05,440 And I would say, not to sound cliche, but more now than ever, because, you know, we're 34 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:10,280 still dealing with impacts of just the changing world that has happened in the last five or 35 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:11,280 six years. 36 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:15,960 I have to say, too, I think that some of us who have been in the field a long time have 37 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:20,480 noticed a difference in the children, have noticed a difference in the parents. 38 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:26,960 And so we have to kind of adapt to that too and decide on what is best for our programs 39 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:30,360 and how do we navigate that? 40 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:34,400 You know, and sometimes it's new additional trainings that you might have to take. 41 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:38,960 Maybe it's, you know, re-looking at your program to see is the program you're working on meeting 42 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:39,960 the needs of families. 43 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:40,960 Absolutely. 44 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:42,440 I love how you said that. 45 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:44,160 And you're so right. 46 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:49,280 There has to be that balance between academic help and also emotional support. 47 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:54,040 And there's so much asked of them nowadays in school, like looking at the kids' homework 48 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:58,720 and stuff from even grade three, from when I was in grade three, I know times have changed, 49 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:04,720 but they're learning so much more and more intense things in those grades and that they 50 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:09,280 need that downtime and they need that time to be themselves for sure. 51 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:14,320 Yeah, I think too, children are, and I'm always very positive, but I think there are things 52 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:18,320 that we need to consider when we're looking at the students that we're serving now as 53 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:20,520 opposed to 10 years ago, right? 54 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:23,040 So children are dealing with social media. 55 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:27,040 They're worried about what people are saying about them and all of those influences that 56 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:28,040 come in. 57 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:32,340 Before when you had a bully at school, it was usually just that small network of people 58 00:03:32,340 --> 00:03:33,340 who knew about that. 59 00:03:33,340 --> 00:03:35,600 Now it's like everyone knows, right? 60 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:37,280 So children are dealing with that. 61 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:42,120 You're also worried about going to school and having harm done to you from either somebody 62 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:45,160 who breaks into your school or a classmate. 63 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:50,680 So they have these additional stressors that we didn't have 10 years ago. 64 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:55,960 And even if the kids aren't articulating it, it's a real stressor that they are surrounded 65 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:56,960 with every day. 66 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:01,560 They see it every day on media, on the TV, on the radio, you know, what the parents are 67 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:02,560 talking about. 68 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:08,000 There's just a lot of changes for them that create this additional support center needed. 69 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:09,000 You're so right. 70 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:12,720 There's things that happened now that I would have never even imagined happening when I 71 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:14,040 was in school. 72 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:19,080 And kind of going off of that, like how do you think, what do you think is the best way 73 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:22,920 to address these concerns within your program? 74 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:25,560 I think a team approach is always good. 75 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:28,160 Sitting down, kind of talk about what you're seeing. 76 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:33,240 I would say meeting with parents as well and getting some of their ideas and feedback and 77 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:34,760 then coming up with a plan. 78 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:40,120 And because when you work with school leads kids, the nice thing is they are so vocal. 79 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:43,000 And so, you know, involve them in the conversation. 80 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:46,800 I think, you know, if everybody talks about it and then says, okay, here's going to be 81 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:47,800 our plan. 82 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:52,480 And then also not even just having a safety plan, but also what are the rules in your 83 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:53,480 center? 84 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:58,160 You know, maybe it's no technology, maybe it's no bullying, you know, maybe it's a combination, 85 00:04:58,160 --> 00:04:59,560 but you have to have the conversation. 86 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:02,680 You can't just ignore it as though it doesn't exist. 87 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:03,680 Right. 88 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:06,520 And then also building off the positives too, right? 89 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:09,440 Not just focusing on those negatives, but what are the positive things? 90 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:15,000 What are the positive things that we can learn and how can we use social media in a positive 91 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:16,000 way? 92 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:17,000 Right. 93 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:18,000 So like you're a podcaster, right? 94 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:24,440 Maybe it looks like you guys create a show, a podcast show run by kids talking about great 95 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:26,280 things that are going on in the community. 96 00:05:26,280 --> 00:05:27,280 Right. 97 00:05:27,280 --> 00:05:31,600 So focusing on the positive, I think also gives kids a chance to connect, feel good 98 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:37,160 about themselves because it's really easy to get sucked into this world of fake social 99 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:41,240 and not feeling good enough, pretty enough, smart enough, or all the comparisons that 100 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:42,240 we make. 101 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:43,240 Right. 102 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:47,400 And we do it as adults, nevermind a 10 year old child who's just starting puberty, right? 103 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:50,960 And they're comparing themselves to all these folks that that idolize. 104 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:51,960 Right. 105 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:56,800 So I think that we could use these things in a positive way and have the conversations 106 00:05:56,800 --> 00:05:57,800 about it. 107 00:05:57,800 --> 00:05:58,800 You're absolutely right. 108 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:03,200 I agree 100% especially because the technology is not going anywhere. 109 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:05,040 The media is not going anywhere. 110 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:11,880 So being able to sew into arm, quote unquote arm, or teach children the benefits of it 111 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:16,280 and how they can use it in a positive way, that's a great idea. 112 00:06:16,280 --> 00:06:20,560 Kind of on the same line of challenges, what are some of the key challenges that after 113 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:25,120 school professionals face in terms of funding and resources when compared to the traditional 114 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:26,120 educators? 115 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:27,120 Oh, okay. 116 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:30,280 So let me start with an example. 117 00:06:30,280 --> 00:06:35,440 So in our state we had, and I'm from, for those of you who don't know me, I'm from Rhode 118 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:38,600 Island, which is the smallest state in the US. 119 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:45,200 So when they opened up the quality rating systems in our, in our suits, before it even 120 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:48,280 was implemented, they had all these focus groups. 121 00:06:48,280 --> 00:06:53,720 And I can remember being in a room with, I don't know, probably 200 educators at all 122 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:57,480 different levels and we were putting together the framework. 123 00:06:57,480 --> 00:07:02,800 And of the 200 professionals, I think there was three of us that represented school age, 124 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:03,800 three. 125 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:06,120 And I'm not even sure that we were invited to the table. 126 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:09,640 We might've been, we might've strong-holded ourselves in the table. 127 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:12,240 We might've said, hey, where's our invite? 128 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:13,240 To be honest. 129 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:17,080 And the other two that went to the table were really big organizations. 130 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:22,440 It was like a YMCA and a Boys and Girls Club, and then me, like this little small private 131 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:23,440 program. 132 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:26,000 But a lot of times we don't get invited to the conversation. 133 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:27,160 So that's number one. 134 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:28,840 You have to advocate for yourself. 135 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:31,520 You can't just always wait for that invitation. 136 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:37,280 The other thing is if you look at here in the US, like NAZI, like what is early childhood 137 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:38,280 education? 138 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:39,280 What are the ages? 139 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:40,280 Right? 140 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:41,280 It doesn't stop at five. 141 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:47,440 And my biggest like screening from the rooftop is quality education doesn't stop at five. 142 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:51,540 Kids don't now not need a good teacher and not need good environments. 143 00:07:51,540 --> 00:07:52,540 Of course they do. 144 00:07:52,540 --> 00:07:53,540 Right? 145 00:07:53,540 --> 00:07:58,320 I feel like some of the struggles would be not being invited to the table. 146 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:03,760 When the quality rating system was put in place and money was tied to it, we were not 147 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:04,960 allowed to get that money. 148 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:10,440 So if you ran a sole school-age program, you were not able to access those funds because 149 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:16,280 the funds came from the federal government and it was earmarked for early childhood education, 150 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:20,600 which they said ended when children went to kindergarten. 151 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:22,480 So obviously that's not true. 152 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:23,480 Right? 153 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:27,280 Because I feel like early childhood education goes up to at least the age of eight. 154 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:31,160 So why are we not supporting educators all the way around? 155 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:34,720 So you and I and all of those listening know that this is already a problem. 156 00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:39,160 What I'm going to say to you though, I want to ask you to be reflective for a minute. 157 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:43,600 And I don't know if in Canada you probably don't have NAZI there, but you may have some 158 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:45,360 type of agency like that. 159 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:51,440 Who is your leading body in your country for early childhood education? 160 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:53,080 And are you a member of that group? 161 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:54,640 And are you an active member of that group? 162 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:58,800 Because it's one thing to buy the t-shirt, get the card and do nothing. 163 00:08:58,800 --> 00:08:59,800 Right? 164 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:03,560 So you have to be part of that conversation because as they say, the squeaky wheel gets 165 00:09:03,560 --> 00:09:04,560 the grease. 166 00:09:04,560 --> 00:09:06,240 You got to write the letters. 167 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:08,440 You got to talk to your community. 168 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:09,440 You know what? 169 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:10,440 You don't even have to wait for anybody. 170 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:11,960 Just exactly what you're doing right now, Jamie. 171 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:15,920 You created a podcast to say, these are the issues that we're facing. 172 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:17,240 You're very much an advocate. 173 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:18,240 Right? 174 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:19,240 But we need everybody to do that. 175 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:25,080 And the more of us that stand up, the more that we'll get some action to take place. 176 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:28,040 And that's what happens with these larger groups. 177 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:31,800 Whether it's public school teachers, because they have a union that fights for them really 178 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:38,400 hard or early childhood education in the sense of infant to five-year-olds, they have here 179 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:46,300 in the US NAZI, which and many other organizations, but really fight for early childhood education. 180 00:09:46,300 --> 00:09:47,760 We fall through the cracks. 181 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:51,360 So we have to fill those cracks and you got to get involved. 182 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:57,120 I joined the group of NAZI and my Rhode Island affiliate, and I am an active board member. 183 00:09:57,120 --> 00:10:01,440 I'm on the board because I needed to make sure that we had a voice in my state, but 184 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:02,600 I'm just one girl. 185 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:07,520 So if we all just said, hey, I'm going to take this state or this section or sector. 186 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:10,360 I know you guys break up your places a little bit differently. 187 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:11,360 Yeah. 188 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:16,440 I think if everybody says, I'm going to do it because if not you, who's going to do it? 189 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:17,440 Stop complaining. 190 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:18,840 I'm going to take action. 191 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:21,420 You are speaking my language. 192 00:10:21,420 --> 00:10:24,360 You just got me so excited, but absolutely. 193 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:27,100 There's so many people, especially right now. 194 00:10:27,100 --> 00:10:32,040 So we actually have the College of ECEs, which we have to pay into in Ontario. 195 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:33,600 It's like a regulating body. 196 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:35,680 So really they're not really for educators. 197 00:10:35,680 --> 00:10:41,440 They're for people to see early childhood education as professionals, but everyone complains 198 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:45,140 about how much they cost and how much we have to pay into that and what they're actually 199 00:10:45,140 --> 00:10:49,860 doing for educators, even though the whole part of it is to show our profession as professional. 200 00:10:49,860 --> 00:10:53,000 And I'm not saying this is not, I'm not saying whether I agree with it or not. 201 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:57,880 What I'm saying is that people complain and everyone goes on social media and they talk 202 00:10:57,880 --> 00:10:58,880 about how awful it is. 203 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:03,040 But when it comes down to reaching out to this college or comes down to reaching out 204 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:05,560 to the government, no one wants to do anything about it. 205 00:11:05,560 --> 00:11:06,840 And that's what's frustrating. 206 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:09,400 And it goes right down to before and after school programs. 207 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:13,260 For years, I was an educator in before and after school programs and I'd go to these 208 00:11:13,260 --> 00:11:18,080 professional developments and they talk about infants and preschool and kinder or infants 209 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:23,120 and preschool or toddlers and never ever, ever touch on before and after school. 210 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:26,560 And I would ask, I'd be like, okay, how does this relevant to before and after school? 211 00:11:26,560 --> 00:11:29,680 And oh, well, and I'm like, this is pathetic. 212 00:11:29,680 --> 00:11:34,800 Like we need people that are experts in this field for professional development. 213 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:37,740 And overall, we need people advocating for it, but people have to do that. 214 00:11:37,740 --> 00:11:40,400 They have to get up and advocate for it. 215 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:45,680 So let's get real specific, Jamie, for those of you listening, you're the people we're 216 00:11:45,680 --> 00:11:46,680 talking about. 217 00:11:46,680 --> 00:11:47,680 Yes. 218 00:11:47,680 --> 00:11:48,680 We need you. 219 00:11:48,680 --> 00:11:53,480 So maybe Jamie, maybe it isn't they don't want to because obviously they're just up 220 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:55,860 with the writing about social media. 221 00:11:55,860 --> 00:11:59,280 Maybe you'll do an episode on how to advocate. 222 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:00,960 Where are the places that we can go? 223 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:01,960 And I will too. 224 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:02,960 I will too. 225 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:03,960 Yes, that's a great idea. 226 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:06,400 You can cover Canada. 227 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:07,760 Let's talk about it. 228 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:13,720 Let's see how we can help people understand because it can seem overwhelming. 229 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:15,760 You and I, we're very extrovert. 230 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:19,040 We have big personalities and voices and we just don't care. 231 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:21,000 We're going to say what we want to say. 232 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:23,680 But not everybody has that personality. 233 00:12:23,680 --> 00:12:24,720 So that's okay. 234 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:28,160 You can craft a letter and you don't even have to worry about it being perfect because 235 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:29,880 now there's this thing called chat. 236 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:30,880 There's granola. 237 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:34,360 There's all these things that can help you. 238 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:40,480 You put your ideas in, you put your concerns in, you put your suggestions in and not only 239 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:41,480 just complain. 240 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:42,840 That's the other thing. 241 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:44,100 People like to complain. 242 00:12:44,100 --> 00:12:46,000 Come to the table with some solutions. 243 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:49,840 That is the worst when you're like, oh, this isn't right. 244 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:52,120 Come to the table with some solutions. 245 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:56,400 Now they may not take everybody's solutions, but I promise they're going to take some, 246 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:57,400 right? 247 00:12:57,400 --> 00:13:02,000 Because we're not going to move forward if we don't take some action. 248 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:04,240 So sorry, we're off on a tangent here. 249 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:05,240 I know. 250 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:06,240 We'll wrap it back. 251 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:07,240 Yeah, we'll wrap it back up. 252 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:13,520 I'm sorry, but I just really love school aides and I would love to see them, the programs 253 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:14,680 continue to thrive. 254 00:13:14,680 --> 00:13:15,680 That's all. 255 00:13:15,680 --> 00:13:20,560 But it's people like you that this passion that is igniting in you as we talk, like this 256 00:13:20,560 --> 00:13:22,080 is exactly why I do what I do. 257 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:26,960 It's like this, there are people like this that like us in before and after school education, 258 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:30,860 they just don't know how to make it work because of some of the pushbacks. 259 00:13:30,860 --> 00:13:34,440 But that's why I asked you here today so that we can talk about some of the pushbacks and 260 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:37,720 but also just just advocate for before and after school education. 261 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:40,560 Oh, I love you. 262 00:13:40,560 --> 00:13:43,320 All right. 263 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:44,320 Bringing it back a little bit. 264 00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:48,800 How are after school professionals currently represented in national discussions about 265 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:49,800 education and childcare? 266 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:54,200 And could you provide some examples where they have been overlooked and undervalued? 267 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:58,400 Well, I just think they're just not part of the conversation. 268 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:04,440 There we have in the US, we have the national, we have like three, but we have the National 269 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:05,920 After School Association. 270 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:07,600 Oh, yeah. 271 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:13,320 So if you don't know who they are, go on their website because they have lots of resources 272 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:16,120 that can go across, you know, countries. 273 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:22,120 So they do represent us in a great way at other places that matter. 274 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:24,360 And they do have a pretty good membership. 275 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:31,200 So I think, you know, many of the other age groups that are service, they have lots of 276 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:32,960 groups that represent them. 277 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:34,120 We may have one or two. 278 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:40,280 So again, it just kind of goes back to, you know, not being part of the conversation or, 279 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:44,120 you know, it's funny because I feel like because I've had the opportunity to work in two of 280 00:14:44,120 --> 00:14:45,120 the three. 281 00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:49,080 But if you're a teacher in a public school, you're considered a real teacher. 282 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:53,480 If you work in early childhood education, some people are starting to get, oh, you're 283 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:56,760 an early educator, you're an early childhood educator. 284 00:14:56,760 --> 00:15:00,560 After school, we're still like, oh, you're the people who watch the kids after school, 285 00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:02,120 you know, when they run around in the play yard. 286 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:06,320 Oh, or you know, you're the homework helper, right? 287 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:08,060 And we do so much more than that. 288 00:15:08,060 --> 00:15:14,320 So I hate to keep saying, but it really, it really takes us to showcase what we do. 289 00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:17,920 So maybe it's, you know, maybe it's just that we all have social media. 290 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:19,420 Social media is very powerful. 291 00:15:19,420 --> 00:15:21,680 Show what you're doing in your programs. 292 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:26,280 Show what, you know, I don't know what qualifications you all have to have there to work in after 293 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:27,320 school program. 294 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:33,400 But if you do have folks that are completing degrees or have degrees, showcase that, you 295 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:38,240 know, on your platforms and say, you know, congratulations, like this teacher who runs 296 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:43,320 our program has our master's degree in youth development, you know. 297 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:46,560 So I think it takes us to shine a spotlight on it. 298 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:47,640 I agree completely. 299 00:15:47,640 --> 00:15:52,200 One of the things we do here at the childcare center that I run is for all our programs, 300 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:56,240 when you walk into our front hall, we have this like a bookshelf type thing, and it has 301 00:15:56,240 --> 00:16:00,320 a picture of the educator and it has their diploma from whatever diploma they have to 302 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:05,260 show because I want the families coming into our center to know that these are professionals. 303 00:16:05,260 --> 00:16:07,880 Everyone that works here at my center is a professional. 304 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:09,360 They're an educator. 305 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:10,360 Yeah. 306 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:12,240 So Jamie, and that's awesome. 307 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:14,640 But how do people outside of your program? 308 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:15,640 Well, exactly. 309 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:16,640 Yeah. 310 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:20,080 I think that's one step for sure when you're doing the tours and say, like, this is what 311 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:22,520 we do, like this is serious business for us. 312 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:27,400 But you know, how about a picture in the local paper of all of your staff, right? 313 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:29,920 So that's what I mean, like just making that bigger impact. 314 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:31,680 Jamie, you're such a great leader. 315 00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:35,840 I think everybody, everybody just thought about their leadership style, because there's 316 00:16:35,840 --> 00:16:38,040 lots of different leadership styles, right? 317 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:40,320 Ours is similar, but there's other leadership styles. 318 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:41,760 Think about what your leadership style. 319 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:45,080 When I say leadership style, again, I'm not talking about a title. 320 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:49,360 I'm not, yeah, I can be talking to the school van bus driver, right? 321 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:54,680 Because you're the face of my program when you go to the schools and pick up the children, 322 00:16:54,680 --> 00:16:55,680 right? 323 00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:58,680 You're the face of my school, my company, my brand, right? 324 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:03,600 So you're probably more impactful than the person who's in the building because nobody 325 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:06,480 sees them, except for the people who come to that school, right? 326 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:08,480 But everybody sees you in the community. 327 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:10,220 So you know, what can you do? 328 00:17:10,220 --> 00:17:16,560 Think about what can you do at every level in your program and how can we work together 329 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:19,040 to help amplify the message? 330 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:20,680 Yes, that's a great point. 331 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:26,440 And I agree, like it doesn't matter what your role is within the center or within the school. 332 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:27,440 You are a leader. 333 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:29,280 You have the ability to be a leader. 334 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:33,640 You had talked a little about earlier the rating qualities in the states. 335 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:39,960 Do you want to touch on like afterschool programs and how they differ or how they're used to 336 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:42,080 for traditional educational settings? 337 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:43,080 Sure. 338 00:17:43,080 --> 00:17:46,320 So here in our state, in every state is different. 339 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:52,040 Here in our state, it's the same agency that gives you your Bright Stars rating, but we 340 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:54,200 just use a different book. 341 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:55,200 It's called the CACERS. 342 00:17:55,200 --> 00:18:00,680 I don't know if you guys use it because that is a global tool, the CACERS rating scale. 343 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:04,320 So we use that, which is a little bit different than ECHRs and ITERs. 344 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:05,320 Oh, yes. 345 00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:06,320 Yes, okay. 346 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:07,320 Yes, yes, yes, yes. 347 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:12,520 We use that in our state and we use that to assess quality. 348 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:18,280 Also I think too, and I don't think NAA is doing it anymore, but they used to do afterschool 349 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:19,280 accreditation. 350 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:23,160 And again, that was such a great process. 351 00:18:23,160 --> 00:18:24,160 I loved it. 352 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:30,080 We did it with our team probably about, I'm dating myself, 17 years ago, 18 years ago. 353 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:34,880 We were the first in our state to earn that credential for our program. 354 00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:38,680 But the process of it was amazing. 355 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:43,520 It wasn't really about getting that certificate to hang on the wall at the end of the day. 356 00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:50,280 It was the work that we had put in as a group that just said, look, we really not only reached 357 00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:54,040 the standards, but in some cases, you set the standard. 358 00:18:54,040 --> 00:18:59,120 And for us, we were setting the standard saying, hey, in our state, afterschool matters. 359 00:18:59,120 --> 00:19:01,440 And this is what a high quality program looks like. 360 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:07,880 And not for ego, it was to set the example and say to everyone else who ran an afterschool 361 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:10,440 program, let's do this. 362 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:15,360 Let's showcase and show people that this is what we do. 363 00:19:15,360 --> 00:19:18,440 This is our passion, our livelihood. 364 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:21,360 I worked in afterschool all day long. 365 00:19:21,360 --> 00:19:24,320 I did beforeschool, mid-J kindergarten, afterschool. 366 00:19:24,320 --> 00:19:28,840 It wasn't like I worked there for two hours because that's the other misconception. 367 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:32,480 Oh, it's three to five, it's beyond the bell. 368 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:37,760 Yes, beyond the bell, but it takes a whole lot of preparation before that bell rings. 369 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:40,080 So yeah, there's that. 370 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:41,080 Yes. 371 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:46,620 And that preparation goes into how amazing the programs end up being for the children. 372 00:19:46,620 --> 00:19:50,760 Can you talk about the impact on children and how before and afterschool programs contribute 373 00:19:50,760 --> 00:19:53,280 to children's development and well-being? 374 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:54,280 I can. 375 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:57,600 So let's start first with the friendships. 376 00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:02,720 The friendships that children make in before and afterschool programs last a lifetime in 377 00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:03,920 my experience. 378 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:08,480 I have also seen kids who, yesterday, here's a perfect example. 379 00:20:08,480 --> 00:20:10,320 Yesterday, my daughter wasn't feeling well. 380 00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:11,840 We went to the emergency room. 381 00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:12,840 She was okay. 382 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:15,760 But we saw a former student there. 383 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:18,060 And I said to the mom, I said, how's Jeff? 384 00:20:18,060 --> 00:20:19,060 She said, he's great. 385 00:20:19,060 --> 00:20:20,900 I said, is he still doing music? 386 00:20:20,900 --> 00:20:21,900 He loved music. 387 00:20:21,900 --> 00:20:24,440 She said, yeah, he moved to Atlanta. 388 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:31,840 He is with his friend that he met and they're producing music in a real sense. 389 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:37,320 To a point where he moved from one state to Atlanta because that's where music happened. 390 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:43,240 But that interest and that love for music really was cultivated at our afterschool program. 391 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:46,680 He is now a producer 10 years later. 392 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:49,060 So those are the impacts. 393 00:20:49,060 --> 00:20:51,280 We really went into music and art in our program. 394 00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:55,960 Every program has their special ooh la la, if you will, what they bring to the table. 395 00:20:55,960 --> 00:20:59,640 And a lot of that comes from the staff and the things that they like and they're excited 396 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:02,120 about and that they have the skill set to teach. 397 00:21:02,120 --> 00:21:04,400 So everybody's looks a little bit different. 398 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:06,920 Also your philosophy looks a little different. 399 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:08,860 Who you serve looks a little different. 400 00:21:08,860 --> 00:21:10,800 So at our school just happened to be that. 401 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:16,400 I also had these seven girls who liked to dance after school. 402 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:20,240 And so we had this little gym and they started to dance there. 403 00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:23,200 And then they would tell their friends and they were kind of older. 404 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:25,400 They were like middle school. 405 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:29,360 And some kids were like at their school, like, why do you go to a daycare? 406 00:21:29,360 --> 00:21:30,360 Like that's weird. 407 00:21:30,360 --> 00:21:31,360 You're old. 408 00:21:31,360 --> 00:21:32,860 And they're like, no, you're weird. 409 00:21:32,860 --> 00:21:36,440 So they started dancing at the afterschool program. 410 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:38,680 We gave them the space. 411 00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:41,800 After their friends learned that they were dancing and that they really loved it. 412 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:43,600 And then they started doing competitions. 413 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:50,960 We ended up with 90, I'm going to say again, 90 students who enrolled in our dance program. 414 00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:54,920 We had to get an entirely different building. 415 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:55,920 Oh my gosh. 416 00:21:55,920 --> 00:22:00,280 Four years, four years we ran a dance studio. 417 00:22:00,280 --> 00:22:04,680 That is the impact that you can have as an afterschool person. 418 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:05,680 That gave me goosebumps. 419 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:11,400 Like it's just, you foster this love of, of things that they might not, that children 420 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:16,160 might not have the opportunity to do in school or at home or that you foster this and it 421 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:19,520 grows so big and that's, that's such a great story. 422 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:21,560 Yeah, that's true. 423 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:22,560 Wow. 424 00:22:22,560 --> 00:22:24,040 So it's those things. 425 00:22:24,040 --> 00:22:29,080 It's things that you really can help a child determine what they want to do. 426 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:33,120 You know, that age old question, what do you want to be when you grow up? 427 00:22:33,120 --> 00:22:37,100 Like afterschool programs is really where a lot of that comes from. 428 00:22:37,100 --> 00:22:42,080 And if you haven't listened to some of the great speakers that speak, they talk about 429 00:22:42,080 --> 00:22:47,280 the impact of the Boys and Girls Club on their life or, you know, the YMCA or, you know, 430 00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:49,560 whatever afterschool program they went to. 431 00:22:49,560 --> 00:22:57,320 A lot of sports people will talk about, athletes talk about how they started playing basketball 432 00:22:57,320 --> 00:23:02,320 at the Boys and Girls Club or, you know, so we foster, we foster where these kids like 433 00:23:02,320 --> 00:23:04,880 that, that sport happens and we cultivate it. 434 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:05,880 We cultivate it. 435 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:08,000 Oh, I guess you're so right. 436 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:12,080 And it's so, it's heartwarming hearing the success stories. 437 00:23:12,080 --> 00:23:17,120 Children in our before and afterschool programs or they should really be able to try new things 438 00:23:17,120 --> 00:23:22,080 and attempt new skills that they might not have the opportunity to do elsewhere. 439 00:23:22,080 --> 00:23:27,440 I remember one of my first times at this in the school I run now, I was doing a supervisor 440 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:33,720 role and a before and afterschool role and I was able to get a small engine from a farmer 441 00:23:33,720 --> 00:23:36,800 and I brought it in for the one day and the kids got to take it apart and they could do 442 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:37,800 whatever they wanted to. 443 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:39,560 Obviously we had like the safety goggles and stuff. 444 00:23:39,560 --> 00:23:42,400 There was rules around it that they made, but it's just that they would never have the 445 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:44,840 opportunity to take apart an engine before. 446 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:46,080 And I was like, why not? 447 00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:47,200 Like they love getting messy. 448 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:48,620 They love working with their hands. 449 00:23:48,620 --> 00:23:50,720 They should be able to try these things. 450 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:54,680 We talked a little bit about advocacy, but what steps can be taken to better recognize 451 00:23:54,680 --> 00:23:57,160 and support afterschool professionals in your opinion? 452 00:23:57,160 --> 00:24:01,800 And are there any current initiatives and or movements aimed in addressing these disparities? 453 00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:08,040 Okay, any steps, any one step, pick any one step that you feel comfortable with and do 454 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:09,040 it, right? 455 00:24:09,040 --> 00:24:12,240 And if there's nothing you feel comfortable with, get outside of your comfort zone and 456 00:24:12,240 --> 00:24:16,000 try the least restrictive, easiest thing to do. 457 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:20,040 I can't really say that there's any initiatives per se here. 458 00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:22,160 I don't know if there is where you are. 459 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:23,800 There's not really a lot. 460 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:30,540 I will say though, I find it interesting that the not real teachers during the pandemic 461 00:24:30,540 --> 00:24:34,440 turned their entire afterschool programs into makeshift schools. 462 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:35,440 Yes. 463 00:24:35,440 --> 00:24:36,440 Right. 464 00:24:36,440 --> 00:24:41,960 So I want to say that to all of you out there who worked during the pandemic and did distance 465 00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:48,320 learning at your programs and stepped up when traditional schools were not able to open. 466 00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:49,320 Thank you. 467 00:24:49,320 --> 00:24:50,320 I want to say that. 468 00:24:50,320 --> 00:24:51,320 I have to echo that. 469 00:24:51,320 --> 00:24:52,640 There are so many people, thank you. 470 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:58,680 There's so many people really flipped on a dime on how they executed their programs 471 00:24:58,680 --> 00:25:03,520 and just became the be all and end all for educators and for those families support. 472 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:06,360 And they definitely don't have the recognition that they deserve. 473 00:25:06,360 --> 00:25:10,360 I mean, you never saw that story anywhere in the pandemic. 474 00:25:10,360 --> 00:25:14,040 All you heard was schools were closed, schools are closed, kids had to DDL. 475 00:25:14,040 --> 00:25:15,920 There was no conversation. 476 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:22,240 There was no big news press release about the impact that that had and the role that 477 00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:27,280 afterschool programs played in stepping up for families so they could continue to work. 478 00:25:27,280 --> 00:25:32,320 So I guess I would say back to your question, that could have been a place to start. 479 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:36,920 Pay attention to what's going on in the industry right now and then see what you can do about 480 00:25:36,920 --> 00:25:38,480 blog about it. 481 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:41,760 Write a letter to your local newspaper about it. 482 00:25:41,760 --> 00:25:46,160 Whatever it is that you can do to like showcase because they're not really coming and saying, 483 00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:49,000 hey, you know, they're not knocking on your door and say, Jamie, tell me the great things 484 00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:50,520 that are going on in your program. 485 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:54,640 But I promise you if one of your teachers gave a kid melatonin, you would be on the 486 00:25:54,640 --> 00:25:55,640 news. 487 00:25:55,640 --> 00:25:56,640 Oh, yes. 488 00:25:56,640 --> 00:25:57,640 Of course. 489 00:25:57,640 --> 00:26:01,320 So the only thing that they show on the news is these horror stories. 490 00:26:01,320 --> 00:26:03,080 And of course, obviously, those are important. 491 00:26:03,080 --> 00:26:05,240 We all need to be transparent in our industry. 492 00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:11,960 But at the same time, should we also be sharing the successes of what's going on here? 493 00:26:11,960 --> 00:26:12,960 Absolutely. 494 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:13,960 Absolutely. 495 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:17,120 Looking ahead, what changes would you like to see in the future regarding the support 496 00:26:17,120 --> 00:26:19,320 and recognition of afterschool programs? 497 00:26:19,320 --> 00:26:21,960 I would like it to happen. 498 00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:23,800 I would like it to happen. 499 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:28,240 So, you know, maybe maybe it comes to we all talk about it. 500 00:26:28,240 --> 00:26:33,680 You know, that's the great thing about podcasters and bloggers and bloggers and social media 501 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:34,680 influences. 502 00:26:34,680 --> 00:26:37,680 If you have a following of, you know, I don't even care. 503 00:26:37,680 --> 00:26:38,680 It doesn't matter. 504 00:26:38,680 --> 00:26:40,800 Micro influencer, mega influencer. 505 00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:45,280 If you're in this space and education, because we do need to stick together, you should be 506 00:26:45,280 --> 00:26:50,080 talking about all of the different types of educators. 507 00:26:50,080 --> 00:26:51,080 Right. 508 00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:55,000 So I know that goes against everything they tell us because they love to divide and conquer 509 00:26:55,000 --> 00:26:56,000 people. 510 00:26:56,000 --> 00:26:59,880 So, you know, they'll tell you even even with you, they tell you to niche it down, only 511 00:26:59,880 --> 00:27:00,880 talk about one thing. 512 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:03,400 And this is, you know, like really fine tune it. 513 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:04,400 OK, that's great. 514 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:06,480 You can be a specialist in an area. 515 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:11,640 But at the same time, I have as much respect for a family child care provider, a center 516 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:16,480 owner, school teacher, an afterschool person, teacher. 517 00:27:16,480 --> 00:27:18,440 I have the same respect for all of them. 518 00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:20,160 I have respect for the janitor. 519 00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:21,360 I respect for the landscape. 520 00:27:21,360 --> 00:27:23,480 They can't run our schools without them. 521 00:27:23,480 --> 00:27:26,960 They're an integral part of health and safety of our schools. 522 00:27:26,960 --> 00:27:28,200 Right. 523 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:32,960 So I think we all should be on our platform supporting each other. 524 00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:34,960 I think that's some important thing. 525 00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:38,000 And we all have a circle of influence, some of us bigger than others. 526 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:40,520 And if you have a big platform, shame on you. 527 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:43,040 If you're not supporting all shame on you. 528 00:27:43,040 --> 00:27:44,040 I'm going to say that. 529 00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:45,040 Yeah, absolutely. 530 00:27:45,040 --> 00:27:48,160 And how can our listeners become involved in advocating for these changes? 531 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:53,840 So number one is using your platforms to advocate for education, obviously. 532 00:27:53,840 --> 00:27:55,440 What else do you think? 533 00:27:55,440 --> 00:27:59,560 Become part of a membership group that works on advocacy because that'll make it easier 534 00:27:59,560 --> 00:28:00,560 for you. 535 00:28:00,560 --> 00:28:04,600 They will let you know what initiatives are coming out, when you can go, what the dates 536 00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:05,600 are. 537 00:28:05,600 --> 00:28:11,840 We have we're lucky here in Rhode Island, we have our state affiliate for NAACP. 538 00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:12,840 And so they let us know. 539 00:28:12,840 --> 00:28:17,080 They say they'll I mean, they'll write the letter for you and say, here, here's the legislator 540 00:28:17,080 --> 00:28:20,120 in your area, put your name on it and send it right. 541 00:28:20,120 --> 00:28:23,720 So just start I think just start somewhere. 542 00:28:23,720 --> 00:28:24,720 That's my best advice. 543 00:28:24,720 --> 00:28:30,040 Go online because obviously, we could be having listeners anywhere in the world. 544 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:36,400 So find who makes the decisions, who is leading the charge and connect with them. 545 00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:39,960 That would be the best advice because my answer is going to be different than yours because 546 00:28:39,960 --> 00:28:40,960 we're in different countries. 547 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:45,440 But yeah, I would say find out in your country who makes the decisions and how you can get 548 00:28:45,440 --> 00:28:46,440 involved. 549 00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:53,680 So start small or if you're like me and Jamie, rip the bandaid off and absolutely. 550 00:28:53,680 --> 00:28:54,880 Where's the tree to tie us to? 551 00:28:54,880 --> 00:28:55,880 I will be there. 552 00:28:55,880 --> 00:28:57,120 I'm just kidding. 553 00:28:57,120 --> 00:29:01,920 For those of you listening Ontario, it's the AECO is the big one for us. 554 00:29:01,920 --> 00:29:03,800 And they they do the exact same thing. 555 00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:07,400 Erica, they they write the letters, they tell you who's who you're sending these letters 556 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:08,400 to. 557 00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:09,400 All you have to do is sign your name. 558 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:11,360 Jamie, have they been on your show? 559 00:29:11,360 --> 00:29:12,360 They have not yet. 560 00:29:12,360 --> 00:29:13,360 No. 561 00:29:13,360 --> 00:29:14,360 Get them on your show. 562 00:29:14,360 --> 00:29:15,360 Tell them what you're trying to do. 563 00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:19,080 And you know, trying to say, hey, you know, I want to really help get the after school 564 00:29:19,080 --> 00:29:20,080 folks energized. 565 00:29:20,080 --> 00:29:21,080 Great idea. 566 00:29:21,080 --> 00:29:22,080 Motivated to help. 567 00:29:22,080 --> 00:29:24,120 And a lot of people don't know where to start. 568 00:29:24,120 --> 00:29:27,840 So if that's their specialty and that's what they do and that's what they have for should 569 00:29:27,840 --> 00:29:33,420 be very, very easy for them to get on the show and give step by step by step directions 570 00:29:33,420 --> 00:29:34,660 for your listeners. 571 00:29:34,660 --> 00:29:35,660 Great idea. 572 00:29:35,660 --> 00:29:36,660 Thanks, Erica. 573 00:29:36,660 --> 00:29:44,040 Is there any resources that you want our listeners to know that in Rhode Island or the USA that 574 00:29:44,040 --> 00:29:46,000 we haven't talked about for educators? 575 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:49,120 No, because there's so many I couldn't list them all. 576 00:29:49,120 --> 00:29:53,920 What I would say is go on to Google, type in the things that matter to you. 577 00:29:53,920 --> 00:29:55,800 Maybe because it could be not every after school. 578 00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:58,120 See, we even lumped in our after school folks. 579 00:29:58,120 --> 00:30:01,960 Some of our after school folks might be really into STEM. 580 00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:04,840 Others, they're really into something else. 581 00:30:04,840 --> 00:30:08,880 So what matters the most to you and connect with those agencies? 582 00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:09,880 Right. 583 00:30:09,880 --> 00:30:14,560 And the same thing going back to your questions like way at the beginning about funding and 584 00:30:14,560 --> 00:30:15,640 stuff like that. 585 00:30:15,640 --> 00:30:20,760 So if you're in STEM, there's lots of money available for STEM, not only through the public 586 00:30:20,760 --> 00:30:23,160 sectors but also the private sectors. 587 00:30:23,160 --> 00:30:28,600 Like I know Lego does a whole lot around Lego clubs and STEM initiatives, right? 588 00:30:28,600 --> 00:30:32,040 See what they have available for after school programs, for grants. 589 00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:33,040 It might not be money. 590 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:34,880 It might be materials. 591 00:30:34,880 --> 00:30:39,400 Maybe they ship you, you know, 18 boxes of Legos, whatever it is. 592 00:30:39,400 --> 00:30:43,100 Find the things that matter the most to you, your kids, your staff, and then go from there. 593 00:30:43,100 --> 00:30:44,100 That's my best advice. 594 00:30:44,100 --> 00:30:45,100 Amazing. 595 00:30:45,100 --> 00:30:46,100 Thank you, Erica. 596 00:30:46,100 --> 00:30:48,160 Erica, again, thank you so much for being here. 597 00:30:48,160 --> 00:30:51,900 I appreciate all the work you do for childcare sector and the professional development. 598 00:30:51,900 --> 00:30:54,600 How can the listeners find you? 599 00:30:54,600 --> 00:30:59,080 We are on all the major listening platforms, Apple, Spotify, all the places. 600 00:30:59,080 --> 00:31:02,640 It's the childcare director's chair podcast. 601 00:31:02,640 --> 00:31:06,120 We also have a YouTube channel, same name. 602 00:31:06,120 --> 00:31:10,040 And on Instagram, please give me some Instagram love because I'm not really that great with 603 00:31:10,040 --> 00:31:11,400 the social media things. 604 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:13,760 I'm too busy, you know, advocating in real life. 605 00:31:13,760 --> 00:31:21,920 But it is CCDC podcast, which is just abbreviated for childcare director chair podcast. 606 00:31:21,920 --> 00:31:23,200 So yeah, come find me. 607 00:31:23,200 --> 00:31:24,200 Come find me. 608 00:31:24,200 --> 00:31:26,840 And I was thinking about doing some lives pretty soon too. 609 00:31:26,840 --> 00:31:30,760 So yeah, that might be fun. 610 00:31:30,760 --> 00:31:34,080 So I'll be posting that up on my IG channel pretty soon. 611 00:31:34,080 --> 00:31:35,880 But I think we'll be doing some lives. 612 00:31:35,880 --> 00:31:36,880 I love talking to people. 613 00:31:36,880 --> 00:31:37,880 Obviously, Jamie. 614 00:31:37,880 --> 00:31:42,800 And your energy is so contagious. 615 00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:44,920 So people you need to go listen. 616 00:31:44,920 --> 00:31:48,920 If you have not listened, do yourself a favor. 617 00:31:48,920 --> 00:31:52,000 Leave here all excited and then go listen. 618 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:53,000 Thank you so much, Erica. 619 00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:54,000 Thank you. 620 00:31:54,000 --> 00:31:55,000 Have a great day, guys. 621 00:31:55,000 --> 00:32:06,120 Bye, everyone.