This piece is by Jamie Dansereau, who is the big boss of afterschool and summer stuff for West River Education District. If you know me, you know I’m a big dreamer. I’ve never been one to say, “We can’t do that.” Instead, I find myself asking, “How can we make it happen?” And when it comes to after-school stuff, that question drives me every single day.
After-school programs are where so many young people find what they love, whether it’s coding, building forts in the woods, exploring nature, or just chilling with a cool adult. These hours after school ends are full of possibilities. We’re not just wasting time, we’re building skills, growing passions, and making futures bigger and better.
But guess what? In Vermont and all over, not everyone can get to after-school programs. Even though I’m lucky to have a great crew of educators and partners, we still have some real challenges: not enough staff, not enough money, and people thinking after-school is just fancy babysitting. Lots of places don’t even have programs at all.
But hey, here’s the good news: things are getting better. Governor Phil Scott is all about after-school, and groups like Vermont Afterschool are leading the charge with big ideas and big hearts. We all get it now more than ever that after-school is important and that every kid should have a shot, not just some.
So, what’s next? We dream even bigger. We picture a Vermont where after-school isn’t seen as an “extra,” but as a must-have part of school. We make it a regular thing, in our plans, in our budgets, and in how we think about supporting kids all the time.
Think about it: after-school programs give kids room to try new stuff, make real connections, and learn skills they’ll use forever. From cool science projects to artsy stuff, from being a leader to just chilling out, these programs help kids in every way. Every kid should have the chance to grow, try new things, and think about their future in ways that regular school time doesn’t always allow.
Imagine a Vermont where every kid gets that chance every day. Learning doesn’t end at 3 p.m., so why should our support? Let’s team up to make a system that shows the whole picture of learning, growing, and dreaming big. Let’s make Vermont a place where after-school isn’t a random mix of programs, but a promise we keep to every kid and family.
Let’s keep dreaming and building a brighter future for Vermont’s kids.
