By Maya Rahman-Rios, Elevo, Manager, Communications
On November 20, 2024, we held our first-ever Expanded Learning Community of Practice. California educators, expanded learning leaders, and Elevo staff and advisors gathered to discuss challenges and share best practices they’ve learned. Here’s a recap of this incredible event full of sharing successes, problem-solving, and learning.
The day was hosted by our Senior Vice President of Marketing, Karin Wu, and began with opening remarks from our CEOs and Founders, Nick Telford and Chris Murphy to set the stage for the day. Then, we learned about the power of advocacy and funding for expanded learning from Jessica Gunderson, Co-CEO of Partnership for Children & Youth, and Kevin Gordon, President of Capitol Advisors Group. They led us through the history of expanded learning in California and the importance of understanding political dynamics in the education sector.
To get educators talking and sharing their experiences, Manny Avina, Elevo’s Lead Training Manager in LA County, and Dr. Katie McNamara, former Superintendent for South Bay USD, hosted The Glows & Grows of the Expanded Learning Leader. The attendees talked through successes and challenges they’d faced during the school year. Avina and McNamara then facilitated a fishbowl-style discussion method to help the educators find solutions to space-related difficulties.
Next, our Vice President of Curriculum & Training, Dr. Kristen Henry, and Inclusive Leadership Center Director at Chapman University – Thompson Policy Institute, Kari Adams, led a session about Universal Design for Learning. They touched on the many ways it can be used to craft spaces filled with belonging and inclusivity for all students.
After a lunch break filled with networking opportunities, Elevo’s Manager of Marketing Operations, Allie Meegan, and Director of Operations in SoCal, Dee Ford, gave us insight into the importance of family engagement. From landing pages and email communications to tournaments, we’re all about helping our educators keep their school community in the loop.
Our Director of RFP and Data Operations, Kelly McCollum, then shared about her Continuous Quality Improvement process. We’re proud of the way that we continue to improve our programming to make an even bigger impact.
Our final session of the day was once again hosted by Dr. Henry and Kari Adams. This workshop outlined all of the ways educators can flip the compliance mindset on its head, while using street data to drive equity and tell a strong story.
To round out the day, we asked our attendees to share their takeaways, as well as what they hope to see from future events.
“This event [was] much more in depth than I thought it would [be], and I have enjoyed the comprehensive approach it’s given me,” said Stephanie Ceminsky, Director of Expanded Learning at Westminster School District. “I’ve already written down several ideas that I’m going to take back to my district.”
When asked what part of the event resonated the most with him, Rob Lurkins, ELO Administrator for Murrieta Unified School District, shared about the connections he made. “The best thing is networking and collaborating with friends and seeing everybody. Learning what they’re doing and what we’re doing and being able to see what we can do [that is] best for kids.”
Next Steps
Based on the feedback received, we are already planning our next convening sometime in the Spring. We will continue to bring expanded learning practitioners and experts together to ensure that the vision set by California’s Department of Education’s Expanded Learning Division is achieved and that communities are transformed through this movement.
To learn more about this CoP, watch the recap video here and contact Karin Wu at [email protected] if you’d like information about our next convening.
We are incredibly grateful for the experts and thought partners from districts and expanded learning advocacy organizations who attended and shared their experience and insights:
- Thomas Carroll, Coordinator of Student Services, Berryessa Union School District
- Joseph M. McCreary, Assistant Superintendent of Education Services, Berryessa Union School District
- Rob Lurkins, ELOP Administrator, Murrieta Unified School District
- Jorge Maldonado, ELOP Coordinator, Palmdale School District
- Alan Pantanini, Director Expanded Learning Programs, Pomona Unified School District
- Esther Garcia, Coordinator of Special Projects, Rowland Unified School District
- John Staggs, ELOP Coordinator, Westminster School District
- Stephanie Ceminsky, Director of Expanded Learning, Westminster School District
- Erica Williams, Director of Educational Services and ELOP, Nuview Union School District
- Jorge Cerna, Athletics and Clubs Supervisor, South Bay Union School District
- Denisse Frenes-Gomez, ELOP Director, Los Nietos School District
- Chloe Johnson, Director of Extended Learning, Salinas City Elementary School District
- Janelle Merry, Program Coordinator, Cajon Valley Union School District
- Norberto Perez, Lead Agent ELOP, Rialto Unified School District
- Catherine Cobb-von Husen, Expanded Learning Coordinator, Vallejo City Unified School District
- Katie McNamara, Former Superintendent, South Bay Union School District
- Jessica Gunderson, Partners for Children & Youth/California Afterschool Alliance (CA3)
- Kevin Gordon, Capitol, Advisors Group
- Kari Adams, Inclusive Leadership Center Director, Chapman University – Thompson Policy Institute
