Team members from the Center for Afterschool, Summer and Enrichment for Kids (CASE for Kids) and Research & Evaluation Institute recently shared best practices and new ideas with professionals in their respective sectors at two different conferences.  

The Beyond School Hours Conference in New Orleans welcomed CASE for Kids coordinators Brandi Nichols and Michael Wilson to the stage to lead out-of-school time professionals in a discussion about social mobility. With Wilson’s assistance, Nichols illustrated the value of community partners in exposing underprivileged students to cultural experiences in a presentation entitled “No Financial Capitol? Try Leveraging Cultural Capital.”  

“We are encouraging afterschool professionals to recognize the internal capital in their students and help them leverage it,” Nichols said. “The social skills our students gain through afterschool programming will help them see new career opportunities, prepare them to navigate society and ensure they are prepared to walk in any room.”  

The two-day, standing-room-only presentation drew interest from professionals as far as Alaska, Hawaii and Canada. Nichols and Wilson have been instrumental in helping CASE for Kids find community partners who can provide students with athletic, performing arts and STEM activities.  

On Feb. 16, Research & Evaluation Institute Manager Dr. Akua Obeng and Coordinator Dr. Jesus Campos attended the Southwest Education Research Association (SERA) Annual Conference in Arlington. The two presented conclusions from their individual research papers focusing on data from CASE for Kids.  

Dr. Obeng’s research entitled “K-12 Teachers’ Perceptions of Afterschool Programs” compared teacher observations of classroom etiquette skills and academic achievement between students enrolled in afterschool programs versus those who are not enrolled. Dr. Campos utilized similar data for his paper, “Examining the Impact Between the Number of Children Enrolled in an Afterschool Program and Parental Perception.”  

“We know students are the primary stakeholders in this programming, but we also need to ensure that teachers and parents are seeing a difference in student performance,” Campos said. “Our research allows CASE for Kids to examine the effectiveness of their initiatives and see where they can improve.” 

Harris County Department of Education’s presence at regional and national conferences is a demonstration that #TeamHCDE remains a standard-bearer in developing impactful initiatives that enhance students’ lives and educational experiences nationwide.