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Leadership, Exploration, and Development (L.E.A.D.)

L.E.A.D. 1.0

Leadership and quality in afterschool programs are inseparable; for programs to succeed and become sustainable, they need strong leadership at all levels. L.E.A.D. is a 4-part series (and 16 hours of professional development) for leaders in the afterschool field in Vermont. This FREE program (for licensed program staff) will provide afterschool professionals with the tools to hone their strengths and develop new skills to take on more advanced leadership roles in the future. Participants will develop and improve their leadership skills, while enhancing their confidence in their abilities. L.E.A.D. is specifically designed for experienced Directors and Site Coordinators who are looking for that next level of growth and development. Each session will include a training session, a guest speaker, lunch, and time to network.

2025-2026 Meeting Dates:

  • November 3, 2025 (10:00 AM–1:00 PM at Vermont Afterschool’s South Burlington office) – Leadership Development and Staff Culture with Tricia Pawlik and Ross Gibson
  • January 7, 2026 (10:00 AM–1:00 PM at Vermont Afterschool’s South Burlington office) – Relationships in Leadership with Beth Martell
  • March 4, 2026 (10:00 AM–1:00 PM at Vermont Afterschool’s South Burlington office) – Leadership Through Collaborations with Tricia Pawlik
  • May 13, 2026 (9:00 AM–1:00 PM) Location TBD – LEAD 2.0 Presentations / Q & A

L.E.A.D. 2.0

This program is designed for those who have completed LEAD 1.0 and who are interested in continuing to further develop their skills and collaborations with other like-minded leaders in the afterschool field. Participants will participate in 5 in-person meetings, and virtual coaching sessions with a designated Vermont Afterschool coach as needed. As part of this program, participants will create and implement a project that will improve the quality of their program and support their growing leadership skills. Each participant will present their project and working portfolio at the end of the course.

2025-2026 Meeting Dates:

  • November 3, 2025 (10:00 AM–1:00 PM at Vermont Afterschool’s South Burlington office) – Introduction to L.E.A.D. 2.0, Review of Expectations, Networking Lunch with Tricia Pawlik and Ben Ardel
  • January 7, 2026 (10:00 AM–1:00 PM at Vermont Afterschool’s South Burlington office) – Working Session, Title and Description of Project, Networking Lunch with Tricia Pawlik and Ben Ardel
  • March 4, 2026 (10:00 AM-1:00 PM at Vermont Afterschool’s South Burlington office) – Working Session, Workplan Development, Networking Lunch with Ben Ardel
  • April 15, 2026 (9:00 AM–11:00 AM at Vermont Afterschool’s South Burlington office) – Working Session, Presentation Drafts with Tricia Pawlik and Ben Ardel
  • May 13, 2026 (9:00 AM–1:00 PM) Location TBD – Lead 2.0 Presentations / Q & A

Participants who successfully complete LEAD 1.0 and 2.0 can earn a Leadership Micro-credential and ARE ELIGIBLE TO receive a $1,600 bonus (if they qualify).

We are now accepting applications for L.E.A.D. 1 and L.E.A.D. 2!

Register for L.E.A.D. +
Congratulations to these afterschool professionals who most recently successfully completed L.E.A.D. 2.0 by presenting their project to improve the quality of their program and support their growing leadership skills:
 
Logan Radde
Project: “Cultivating Community Through the Lens of Events”
 
Suzanna Marshall
Project: “The Curriculum Catalogue”
 
Kristi Bedard
Project: “Building Strong Collaborative Relationships with Families”
 
Katy Emond
Project: “Creating Community Connections”