Welcome to our ongoing Thought Leadership series! In these posts, AlphaBEST CEO Judy Nee shares key insights, lessons learned, and reflections from her journey of expanding AlphaBEST while staying true to high program quality.
When I visit an AlphaBEST program, I look for the moments that tell me children want to be there: a warm greeting when they arrive, easy conversation between staff and students, and the “aha” expression when a child builds something or discovers something new.
My favorite moment is when a parent arrives for pickup and a child asks to stay a little longer.
Those moments are hard to bottle. As AlphaBEST grew, I learned that creating the conditions for them across hundreds of programs takes both strong people and strong structure.
For us, the site leader is central. At one point, we removed some responsibilities from site leaders, hoping to make their jobs less stressful. In some cases, it had the opposite effect. Leaders need clear responsibility for their staff, staffing hours, the program schedule, and communication with parents. They also need the training, policies, and support to do that work well. Preparing more than 600 individuals for that role has become a major focus of ours.
Some expectations must be consistent at every site: a welcoming arrival, an organized start to the afternoon, a schedule designed with our exclusive enrichment curricula and a variety of other activities, and practices that protect children’s physical and social-emotional safety.
At the same time, a great site leader understands the particular school they serve. I often say that an AlphaBEST program is a “guest in the home” of the schools we serve. Our leaders should build comfortable relationships with office staff, teachers, and administrators; understand the school’s expectations; and represent the entire school community well to parents. Both school leaders and parents place their trust in us.
Coming out of the pandemic brought a lesson into focus. While some staff returned, most were new to us and to this work. We needed a better way to help instructors deliver the engaging, innovative enrichment families and districts expected as programs rebuilt and expanded. That challenge prompted us to create AB Studios, which brings a knowledgeable and engaging “digital assistant” into the room to support the in-person instructor.
If I could offer one piece of advice to a superintendent or CEO expanding programs, it would be this: put your focus and resources into strong site leaders. Give them responsibility for delivering the program design and quality aspects that make you who you are – and give them the tools to do it. Also be sure to provide a mechanism for site feedback and accountability. You’re only as strong as your weakest site.
People plus structure makes growth possible. The purpose behind both remains the same: giving children high-quality enrichment they are excited to experience after the school day ends.
Want to hear more about how AlphaBEST approaches extended-day programs? Contact us to start the conversation.
