Subject: It's Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week!

April 20-24, 2026, is Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week!


This is a week dedicated to recognizing, appreciating, and advocating for those who work with young people during out-of-school hours.


VPOST is showcasing the afterschool professionals that you want to appreciate! Fill out our submission form below to highlight a friend, coworker, or any other superstar in the OST field!


We'll be sharing the submissions all week!


Share Your Shoutout Today:

https://bit.ly/4vpAnLU

"This will be Gaby’s 11th year at Aspire (wow!), and she is constantly finding new ways to make students’ experience at Aspire fun and welcoming, from hiding little ducks for students to find to showing them the new trinkets on her desk. Students always feel comfortable talking with her and sharing what’s going on in their lives. Even former students come back just to tell her what they’ve been up to!" - Anna Faulkner

"Sara leads AHC’s Teen Programs and brings such a strong mix of data knowledge and passion for youth development. She is always there when the team needs support and consistently shows up with a willingness to help and problem-solve. Sara is our go-to “data guru,” and she has a great way of making data feel approachable and useful for everyone. She uses it to help strengthen our programs and support staff in meaningful ways. We’re so grateful for her dedication, her thoughtfulness, and the steady support she brings to the team every day!" - Milenka Samey

"I am honored to nominate Ms. Karen for this award in recognition of her outstanding dedication, leadership, and impact within the Brent Place Link Club program.


Ms. Karen consistently demonstrates an unwavering commitment to student success. She goes above and beyond her responsibilities, stepping up in countless ways to ensure that students are supported academically, socially, and emotionally. Her ability to build meaningful relationships with students creates a safe, engaging, and motivating environment that directly contributes to the effectiveness of our program.


What sets Ms. Karen apart is not only her work ethic, but her initiative. She identifies needs within the program and responds without hesitation whether that means providing additional academic support, assisting with program coordination, or encouraging students to reach their full potential. Her contributions have played a significant role in strengthening the overall quality and impact of Link Club.


It has truly been a pleasure to watch Ms. Karen grow in her role. Over time, she has developed into a confident and dependable leader who models professionalism, compassion, and consistency. She is a tremendous asset to our team and a positive force in the lives of the students and families we serve.


Without hesitation, I highly recommend Ms. Karen for this award. She is more than deserving of this recognition." - Dawud Rawlings

"Shout out to the incredible leadership team of the NCPS 21st CCLC After School Program for their unwavering commitment to building strong community connections! Our program continues to grow through meaningful partnerships with local organizations, businesses, and community leaders, such as the Old Dominion University Family MathFest.


Would like to nominate our entire leadership team as they have worked very hard in building a strong community partnership." - Subrina Parker

"Coach Abella has a warm presence at lunches, in the hallways, and after school offering a wide range of after school programming from academics, athletics, enrichment, and so much more well communicated on his Schoology and attended by a diverse range of students. He is the backbone of our middle school programming!" - Michelle Gabro

"Mr. Amato prioritizes student safety by effectively balancing large-group management with attention to individual needs. He fosters a secure, inclusive environment where students are held to high standards of accountability and respect.


A consistently reliable professional, he is known for being a supportive teammate both during and after school hours." - Shanice Roddey


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