Amieris Lavender
Chief Program Officer, YWCA
Nélida López
Buncombe County Schools Teacher, ACS Parent
Amanda Pattanayak
Nurse Practitioner Asheville Pulmonary and Critical Care,
ACS Parent
Jen Rhodes Ward
UNC Asheville Biology Professor,
ACS Parent
Sherman Williams
Executive Director Upfront Management Sports,
IRL After-School Provider
Porsha Carter
SILSA Student, 12th grade
Landon Ward
UNC Asheville Lecturer of Environmental Studies, ACS Parent
Sara Metzger
CEO of Vista Coaching,
Parent of ACS Alumni
Irene (Jenny) Pickens
Artist, Noir Collective AVL, TAPAAS Artist, IRL After-School Provider
James Carter
Asheville City Schools Board of Education Chair
Debbie Elliott
Publix Pharmacist,
ACS Parent and ACS Alumna
Juvae Mullings
AHS Student, 11th grade
Paiden Castelblanco
AHS Student, 10th grade
As the Asheville City Schools Foundation continues to grow and expand the supports that we provide to our education community, we have several exciting updates to our staff roles and responsibilities. Please click here to learn more about these ACSF staff members!
BRANDON WHITESIDE
SCHOLARSHIP & ALUMNI CENTER COORDINATOR
REBECCA ABIDE
DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
NIEVA ARANA
RACIAL EQUITY AMBASSADOR AND DREAM INTERNSHIP PROGRAM COORDINATOR
GREGORY HALL II
IN REAL LIFE AFTER-SCHOOL TEAM MEMBER LEAD
MARILEE WOODARD
IRL TEAM MEMBER & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
WELCOME SOPHEA!
Sophea Tep is joining IRL After-School as the Project Power AmeriCorps Member for the 2021-2022 school year!

"My name is Sophea Tep and I am IRL’s AmeriCorps Member. I graduated from the University of South Carolina this past May with a BA in Psychology and Criminal Justice. Working in the education sector is important to me because I am able to support diverse students through their academic journey and lead them towards a positive future. I am excited to build connections with students through IRL in a fun, safe, and supportive environment. A fun fact about myself is that my first time on a plane was when I went skydiving!"
We are not saying 'goodbye' but 'see you later!' to a cherished member of our team, Tiffany Flunory De'Bellott, who has served ACSF and In Real Life After-school for over 10 years! Tiffany started in 2011 when IRL began and has served at every level of programming from coordinating logistics, to advocating for students, to writing and reporting on grants for IRL funding. Tiffany's leadership style centers youth voice and emphasizes connecting to the community. In addition to working in our schools, Tiffany has served our city on the Asheville Parks and Rec Advisory Board, the board of Asheville Writers in the Schools and Community (AWITSC), and is currently serving on the Human Relations Commission, the YMI Board of Directors, as well as being a member of CoThinkk. ACSF is so excited to see what the future holds for Tiffany and know that we will continue to build community together.
IN REAL LIFE AFTER-SCHOOL
After a successful summer of IRL programming we are excited to gear up for our fall session. This eight week session will run from September 20th to November 11th.
Registration opens on September 7th.

Click the videos below to check out some of the fun field trips we went on this summer!
JOIN OUR TEAM!

IRL is hiring a Team Member! If you or someone you know may be interested, please visit our website and click 'Career Opportunities' for more information.
RACIAL EQUITY AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
The Racial Equity Ambassador Program (REAP) is currently accepting applications for the 2021-2022 school year now through September 6th! REAP is comprised of 25-30 diverse student leaders from Asheville High School and SILSA who engage and educate their teachers on cultural competence strategies for the classroom. Nominees must be 9th-12th graders and exhibit leadership skills, a willingness to learn, and an ability to push themselves outside of their comfort zones. 

Students can be nominated by a teacher, community member, employer, parent, or self-nominated. Nominated students will receive a REAP application. Once a student submits their application, it will be reviewed by all senior REAP members and two other adults from the equity team at Asheville High and SILSA. 
Questions about the nomination process? Please contact Nieva Arana, Racial Equity Ambassador and DREAM Intern Program Coordinator at [email protected].
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
MRS. PATRICIA ANN GRIFFIN
JUNE 8, 1941 - JULY 28, 2021
Asheville’s education community owes a great debt to Mrs. Pat Griffin and her unwavering vision of educational equity. What a gift she was to our students and educators. Please click the button above or visit our website at www.acsf.org to make a contribution in memory of Mrs. Griffin. Every dollar gifted will continue her legacy of fostering a love of education in students by funding a college scholarship for a graduating senior. ACSF is deeply honored and humbled to remember Mrs. Griffin's dedicated, kind, and loving spirit through our work.
THANK YOU TO THESE GENEROUS SPONSORS
Click here to view a full list of community businesses supporting our students.