The BOOST Breakfast Club Blog is a curated space where bloggers from around the world contribute content on a continual basis about a variety of topics relevant to in and out-of-school time. The BOOST Breakfast Club blog is at the heart of an ongoing dialogue where expanded learning and education professionals share their personal thoughts and stories from the in and out-of-school time field. They also tell us what they ate for breakfast!
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It was a celebratory summer for TEAMBOOST! We are proud to announce that BOOST received two awards recognizing our leadership in Professional Development and Training for educators. The BOOST Conference received the 2018 CEO World Awards Best Live Event – Training or Technical Event and BOOST Collaborative was recognized with the Global Business Insight Award for Excellence in Professional Develop...
Stefanie Lawson Assistant Director, Early Education, Conejo Valley Unified School District, Thousand Oaks, CA Who or what inspires you? The children and families that I serve in my community inspire me every day. What is one characteristic that you believe every leader should possess? Integrity. You will never go wrong with quality of character. Can you name a person who has had a tremendous impac...
Melissa Perez ASES Programs Supervisor, Child Development Services, Fullerton School District, Fullerton, CA Who or what inspires you? My family, my faith, and my culture inspire me. My homegirl Frida Kahlo inspires me to be the best woman I can be for all women and little girls… to fight and advocate for and live passionately. This picture is one of my favorites. Is there a quote or saying ...
Lissa Tsu Consultant, San Diego, CA Who or what inspires you? I am inspired by art and artists. The world would be a much less desirable and beautiful place if artists didn’t risk sharing themselves with the world. I admire both their capability to let us see into their soul and their artistic ability to create. I am always seeking out art and artist friends to ground myself. Is there a quot...
Dylan Hockley would flap his arms up and down whenever he was excited or happy. “It was truly joyful to watch because he was such a happy little boy. I asked him once why he flapped, and he told me, ‘because I’m a beautiful butterfly’,” recalled his mother, Nicole, in an interview before the first anniversary of the day Dylan was killed at Sandy Hook Elementary. At Dylan’s memorial service, Nicole...
Marissa Serna Child Care Coordinator, Alta Loma School District, Alta Loma, CA Who or what inspires you? My family inspires me. I want to be the driving force for my children to do more than I ever have, as they have been my force to do more. Is there a quote or saying that you live your life by? “Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for you’ll be criticized anyway.” -Elea...
Jeanaah Sampson Regional Manager, EduCare Foundation, Van Nuys, CA Who or what inspires you? My mom inspires me. She’s shown me how to be a strong, independent woman with focus. All I am today is a reflection of what I have been taught over the years. What would students be surprised to find out about you? That I can be shy and socially awkward at times. Whenever they see me I’m always so loud and...
Frances Vasquez Vice President of Programs, arc, Torrance, CA Who or what inspires you? Young people! They are incredible, resilient humans. I want to make the world better for them. I had a lot of opportunities growing up, and I want to be able to give them as many opportunities as I can. I had some incredible people in my life who poured so much love into me. I want to do the same for others. Ho...
ElizaBeth Phillips Senior Program Development Director, Child Development Centers, Sacramento, CA Who or what inspires you? My Grandma inspires me. She was a teacher for many years and believed in John Dewey’s learning theories. I would spend my school breaks, afternoons, and sometimes my mornings with her before school and she always had fun things for me to do. And lo and behold I always learned...
Why does advocacy matter? Did you know that 1 out of 3 students in California can’t identify a single caring adult at school? [1] Research shows that access to caring adults is critical for the development and success of youth, and expanded learning programs often provide these relationships that students depend on. [2] Advocating for these programs increases access to caring adults and safe space...
Heather Williams Strategic Initiatives Coordinator, California Department of Education, Expanded Learning Division, Sacramento, CA Who or what inspires you? I’m inspired by many things, but if I’m particularly seeking inspiration there are a few places I go look. One is reading. Whether fiction, non-fiction, books, articles, research, in the information age and particularly with the in...
Amira Resnick Healthy Communities/Strategic Partnerships Manager, California, Alliance for a Healthier Generation, Los Angeles, CA Who or what inspires you? Last year I visited OST sites to share and demonstrate physical activity games that get youth and staff moving (literally and figuratively!) toward a healthier OST site. All I brought with me was a small tote bag of supplies and a big grin on ...