Afterschool Quality Standards Project

Quarterly Newsletter

Truman Pierce Institute

January - March 2025

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Spotlight on the Standards

Aligning Leadership Habits with Leadership Goals

School leaders can identify and adjust their habits to ensure their actions are creating the positive changes they want to see.

by Cathleen Beachboard

Read the full article

Imagine this: You’re an educational leader juggling meetings, emails, and observations. You believe you’re steering the people you lead with intention. But here’s the question: Are you really in control, or are your invisible habits quietly setting the course?


Invisible habits are the routines we fall into without realizing it. They’re efficient but can also misalign with what we say matters most. For leaders, these habits don’t just affect you—they ripple out to your staff, your schools, and ultimately your students.


Here’s the good news: Once you identify your invisible habits, you can realign them with your larger goals. The result? A more intentional, impactful leadership style that transforms your schools and district—and unlocks greater psychological hope.


Building Relationship and Behavioral Skills

Nurturing Patience in Young Children

by Cara Zelas


In today’s world, waiting can feel really hard—especially when so many things happen instantly. Toys light up and move with the press of a button, and favorite shows start the second you tap a screen. Learning to wait is an important skill. Patience helps kids handle big feelings, take turns with friends, and keep trying even when something feels tricky. It’s like a superpower that helps them grow stronger, kinder, and more confident.


Practical Strategies for Teaching Patience in the Classroom

  • Model patience.
  • Incorporate wait time.
  • Use games and activities.
  • Assign projects that require waiting.
  • incorporate mindfulness activities.
  • Highlight book characters who are practicing patience.
  • Role play activities that require waiting.
Read the full article

Health and Wellness

Family Fitness Night

Family fitness nights are about a lot more than fun and games. By holding a family fitness night, you can emphasize the importance of physical fitness, get kids interested in sports and active games, and help families connect with resources in their community.

If you are interested in hosting a Family Fitness Night for your program, check out the sites below for helpful tips!


Action for Healthy Kids


Skillastics


PTO Today



Staff Support

Top Ten Ways to Show Teacher and Staff Appreciation Year-Round

by Kellie Rascoe

Random acts of kindness, post-notes, and giving time back are just a few ways to express how much your staff means to you. Staff appreciation is significant and is linked to combating burnout and staff rollover. According to NEAToday, “Research shows that school leaders who protect teachers’ time, invite their input, and support their mental health and well-being through comprehensive programs see higher levels of satisfaction.” Let’s discover more ways you can support your staff from the first day of school to the last. 

  1. Small acts of kindness
  2. Gratitude exercises
  3. Offer support
  4. Words of affirmation
  5. Display a gratitude tree
  6. Small actions can make big differences
  7. Give time back (if you can)
  8. Provide year-round professional growth and development
  9. Weekly shoutouts
  10. Monthly get-togethers
Read the full article

STEM Activities

Spring-Themed STEM Challenges

Kerry Tracy: Feel-Good Teaching

Kerry Tracy's YouTube channel is full of great resources that include informational tutorials for getting started with STEM and numerous creative ideas for quality STEM challenges. Check out her playlist of spring-themed design challenges!

  • Nice Nest
  • Egg-hanced Egg Drop
  • Basket Bounce
  • Carrot Carriage
  • Bean Bind
View the playlist here
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Dollar General Youth Literacy Grant

  • Maximum Award Amount: $5,000
  • Application Deadline: April 3, 2025, at 10:00 PM CST
  • Eligibility Requirements:
  • Schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations who help K-12 students that are below grade level or having trouble reading
  • Organization address must be within 15 miles of a Dollar General store

Grant funding is provided to assist in the following areas:

  • Implementing new or expanding existing literacy programs
  • Purchasing new technology or equipment to support literacy initiatives
  • Purchasing books, materials or software for literacy programs
Grant Application Website

Free Professional Development Offerings

We would love to see you at one of our face-to-face or virtual training sessions!

Click the link below to access our calendar of scheduled professional development sessions and to register for the ones that interest you.

Online PD Calendar

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