Families want to know their children are safe, engaged, and growing in meaningful ways when they attend after school programs. That is why program quality is the center of everything we do at Right At School. Quality is not a metric. It is our most important job. We build programs that reflect each district’s highest standards for safety, engagement, and measurable student growth.
I support programs across California as the Executive Director of California Operations, and that gives me a front row seat to what quality looks like in action every day. But this work is not unique to my state. What I see here is what happens across all our programs. There are leaders, coaches, and educators in every region who care deeply about creating safe, engaging, joyful experiences for kids. I am one piece of a much larger effort, and I am proud to be part of a team that treats program quality as a shared responsibility.
My own journey began as a school social worker and later as an assistant principal, special education coordinator, and director of special education. Those roles taught me how much the right environment can open possibilities for kids who might otherwise be overlooked. That insight shapes my work today.
I am one piece of a much larger effort, and I am proud to be part of a team that treats program quality as a shared responsibility.
One student changed my perspective forever. A young girl on the autism spectrum shared during her IEP meeting that her only goal was to be invited to a birthday party. She spent most of her school day in a self-contained classroom with limited opportunities to build friendships with girls her age. We enrolled her in our after school program to create more chances for connection. Months later her mother called in tears to tell me her daughter had been invited to a party by a friend she made in the program. That moment changed her life, and it reminded me why these programs matter so much.
My approach to quality is built around six pillars that guide all Right At School programs: safety, student engagement, staff engagement, connection to academics, student outcomes, and relationships. These pillars influence how we greet students, how activities are planned, how we build classroom culture, and how we make sure every child feels they belong.
We measure these pillars through a monthly Safety and Joy assessment used across the organization. Field leaders observe research-based quality components, and our education support specialists provide coaching based on what they see. This job embedded support helps staff grow in real time and keeps program quality strong in every region we serve.
Quality is also something we build side by side with our district partners. I regularly invite ELO P coordinators to walk programs with us, and leaders in other states do the same. These visits strengthen trust and help us align after school learning with school day goals.
Program quality is the foundation that transforms children’s lives. When we deliver on it every day, students feel seen, families feel supported, and schools gain a partner they can count on.
This job embedded support helps staff grow in real time and keeps program quality strong in every region we serve.
