BOOST Conference 2025 is in a few short weeks, and TEAMBOOST is here to help you plan for your best conference experience EVER! Today, we are spotlighting BOOST 2025 Workshops with content from a Mid-Level Administrator context.
Mid-Level Administrator content offers discussion opportunities centered in program and people development as well as spotlights on important advocacy opportunities that impact educational personnel. All registered attendees are welcome to attend these workshops. Those who are interested in organizational sustainability, continuous quality improvement, or staff support are encouraged to add these workshops to their BOOST Conference schedule!
Interested in attending these workshops and would like more information? Visit boostconference.org/workshops for descriptions!
#iAmImpact Healing Circles (It Starts with Me)
Nathan Houston, Founder/CEO, #iAmImpact, Sacramento, CA
Amplify, Engage, Inspire: Social Media in Afterschool
Edgar Guzman, Field Supervisor of Expanded Learning Programs; Gladis Lopez, Program Specialist of Expanded Learning, Santa Ana Unified School District, Santa Ana, CA
Amplifying Employee Engagement: People-Centered Approaches to Boost Retention and Performance
Taylor Mayer, MA, Talent Development & Learning Manager; Lindsey Bynum, MA, Learning & Development Facilitator, Think Together, Santa Ana, CA
Answering the CALL: How a Federal Survey & Community Partnership Supports Student Achievement
Susie Estrada, M.Ed., MPA, Family and Community Engagement Specialist, Utah State Board of Education, West Valley, UT
Building Organizational Culture through a Positive Youth Development Lens
Marc Fernandes, MS, Director, Youth INC, New York, NY; Kim Flores, Ph.D., Co-Founder and CEO, Hello Insight, Plantation, FL
Co-Creating Authentic & Resilient Intergenerational Leadership: Smartest Practices for Collective Growth and Belonging
Elliot A. Rivera, Resilient Leadership & Belonging Consultant, Providence, RI
Coaching with Empathy
Marti Reed, Director of National Partnerships & DEI Programming Manager, Positive Coaching Alliance, Pasadena, CA

Connecting STEM to Career Pathways: Integrating Afterschool Programs with Workforce Development
Jamecca Marshall, MA, Deputy Executive Director; William Rochester, MA, Director of Programs, Los Angeles STEM Collaborative, Los Angeles, CA
Diagnosing Situations, Not Students: A Strengths-Based Approach to Support Needs Assessment
Robert Illingworth, Director of Inclusion, Woodcraft Rangers, Los Angeles, CA
Discovering Your Leadership Voice
Juan Alvarado, Founder and CEO, Raize The Bar LLC, Visalia, CA
Distributed Collective Leadership: Four Processes for Harnessing Disruption to Enable Collaborative Leadership
Jeff Poulin, Ma, MSc, Managing Director, Creative Generation, South Portland, ME
Embodied Healing: Lessons on Cultivating Resilient Teams through Clean Pain
Kendrick Dial, MSW, BRM, Consultant, Creative Engagement, San Diego, CA; Brian Westpoint, Co-Founder, Movement Matters Collective, San Diego, CA
Empathy in Education: Lessons from Life and Loss
Sheila James, STEM Consultant, Ohio Afterschool Network, Conway, SC

Empowering Educators: Building Confidence to Inspire Lifelong Learners
Joshua Faden, M.A.T., President/Founder, Community of Teachers, Kensington, MD
Empowering Tomorrow: Supporting Our Young Workforce
Cori Ove, MS, Project Specialist I, Expanded Learning, Sacramento County Office of Education, Sacramento, CA
The Essential Components of a Highly-Effective OST Program
Marie Pinto, Ed.D., CEO; Judy Gibson, Director of Human Resources; Juan Valencia, Operations Manager; Brooke Carman, Program Director, MBA, ProYouth, Visalia, CA
EXL Pathways to Teaching and Education Careers
Moderator: Guillermo Castillo, MA, Senior Director Future Educator Support, Butte County Office of Education, Oroville, CA Panelists: Eduardo Caballero, Executive Director, EDMO, Berkeley, CA; Jaqueline Garcia Pelayo, M.A., Lead Instructor, Butte County Office of Education, Oroville, CA; Sera Hernandez, Ph.D., Department Chair, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
Evolution of Out-of-School Programs: How to Tailor Your Programming to Fit the Needs of Your Students and Community
Theresa Maeves, Sr. Director of Education Programs, Champions® Before- and After-School Programs, Portland, OR; Nicole Kooiker, Superintendent of Schools, Glenwood Community School District, Glenwood, IA
From Teens to Leaders: Empowering the Next Generation to Inspire and Lead
Tobie Pace, M.Ed., Senior Director of Extended Learning, San Diego Unified School District, San Diego, CA; Laurie Brooks, Client Partner, FranklinCovey Education, Vista, CA
Game Plan for Success: Building Connections and Community
Felix Bobo, MA, Coach, Unlimited University, Perris, CA

High Quality Facilitation: Staff Practices for Program Success
Nathaniel Hilliard, Director, Training & Program Implementation; Crystal Smith, Director, Teen Connection Project, Wyman Center, Inc., Eureka, MO
Lead, Listen to, and Love Your People: 3 Guiding Principles for Great Leadership
Anne Laguzza, M.A., CEO, The Works Consulting, Long Beach, CA
Leading with Impact: Elevating School Leadership through Vision, Collaboration, and Innovation
Joshua De Weerd, Principal, Sonoran Schools, Tucson, AZ
Leading with Purpose: How Empowered Staff Drive Student Success
Ayodele Coker, M.Ed., Training and Development Specialists III, Think Together, Santa Ana, CA
Passion to Possibilities: Strategies for Successful Programs
Danny Martinez, MS, Senior Consultant, SCRI, Austin, TX
Pathways to Powerful Partnerships
LeAnn Binford, MM, MA, MBA, Senior Director, Consulting Services, Big Thought, Dallas, TX
Resources for Quality, A 360° Conversation for Staffing and Programs
Tiffany Gipson, Director, Equity & Quality; Lupita Perez, Senior Specialist, Equity & Quality; Troy Selvey, Manager, Equity & Quality, California AfterSchool Network, Sacramento, CA
Roots & Reflections: Exploring Identity Through Personal History Projects
Kimberly Robare, MSEd, Director of Programs; Jazmine Dowdley, Program Manager, Open Doors Academy, Cleveland, OH

Safeguarding the Rights of Undocumented Students and Educators
Aleah Rosario, Co-CEO, Partnership for Children and Youth, Sacramento, CA
School-Based Medical and Mental Health Care Partnerships… Who, What, Where, When, and How?
Linda Long, LMFT, School-Based Health Clinic Coordinator; Angela Windham, School-Based Health Clinic Assistant, USD #261, Haysville, KS
SEL Starts with the Staff: Fostering Emotional Wellness Among Out-of- School Time Facilitators and Leaders
Dr. Robin Elliott, Associate Dean, School of Education and Director, Social, Emotional, and Academic Development, Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY; Annie Middlemist, Leadership and Development Consultant/Social-Emotional Learning Implementation Specialist, Phoenix, AZ
Set Up for Your Step Up: Executive Coaching for Youth
Ruth Mercado-Zizzo, MFA, Vice-President, Programs and Equity; LaVonia Montoute, M.Ed., Senior Director, Career Pathways, EdVestors, Boston, MA; Muadi Dibinga, Life Coach, Muadi Dibinga Unlimited, Washington, DC
A Step-by-Step Guide to Running Student-Led Expanded Learning Classes
Eddie Barragan, After School Coordinator, Vallejo City Unified School District, Vallejo, CA
Strength and Restore
Bill Michener, MAC, CEO; Brandon McWilliams, MAC, Clifton StrengthFinders Coach, Lighthouse, Lincoln, NE
A Step-by-Step Guide to Running Student-Led Expanded Learning Classes
Eddie Barragan, After School Coordinator, Vallejo City Unified School District, Vallejo, CA

Storytelling for Advocacy
Mike de la Rocha, Co-Founder, Revolve Impact, Los Angeles, CA
Take on Tough Challenges with Data-informed Confidence
Sarah Cusey, MBA, Nexus Project Manager and Lead Trainer; Vicki Wodarczyk, Ed.D., Senior Director of Research and Evaluation, Monarch School Project, San Diego, CA
Teaching is a Work of Heart – Supporting Your Talent to Support Your Students
Anastasia Rivas, Regional Director, Southern CA, Champions® Before- and After-School Programs, Mission Viejo, CA
Transforming Academics with AI: Creating Interest-Driven, Real-World Learning Experiences for K-12 Students
Kenyatta Funderburk, MS, Executive Director, Community Change, Inc., Bronx, NY
Transforming Leadership: Elevate Team Performance and Foster Growth
Tennille Woodward, Ed.D., Lead Learner, GrowLeadEmpower, Muskegon, MI
Uncover Your Purpose: Discovering and Defining Your Way
Dwayne Wiggins, Jr., Thought Leader & Motivational Coach, A Human. Being!, Philadelphia, PA
Unsilenced Spirits: Fostering Strength in Mental Health Journeys
Kaden Mattinson, Executive Director/Motivational Speaker, Mending Minds Village, Springville, UT
Visioning Together: Build Program Buy-in From the Beginning
Brooklyn Joseph, MA, Lead Program Facilitator, Lead by Learning, Oakland, CA
WE>ME: How to Get Students, Caregivers, and Staff to Work as a Team
Lance Loya, MS, CEO, The Good Teammate Factory, Windermere, FL
Youth Development: The Anchor AND the Sail for the Future of the Workforce
Lupita Perez, Senior Specialist, Equity & Quality; Leslye Lugo, Senior Specialist, Equity & Quality; Bill Fennessy, Senior Specialist, Equity & Quality, California AfterSchool Network, Sacramento, CA
Get ready for this one-of-a-kind professional development experience, where local, national, and global leaders gather to grow together, build community, and co-create a great world for kids. Together we INSPIRE YOUTH, INSPIRE LEARNING, and INSPIRE CHANGE.
Still need to register for BOOST 2025? Visit boostconference.org/registration for more information.
BOOSTers, we can’t wait to learn with you April 29 – May 2, 2025, in sunny Palm Springs!
Start planning your conference experience TODAY!