Principal Matters, 101 Tips for Creating Collaborative Relationships Between After-School Programs and School Leaders

Despite the day-to-day accomplishments that every after-school program director and staff member enjoy, there often can be an equal number of challenges that after-school professionals face. One key to clearing these daily hurdles is by building bridges between your after-school program and the school principal. Paul Young, director of an after-school program and a former elementary school principal, provides suggestions in 10 areas, including tips that enhance student learning, tips that support principal/program director collaboration, tips that develop advocacy for after-school programming and tips that support parent and community engagement. Whether you are new to the after-school field or a veteran, these 101 tips provide positive ideas that will lead to quality programs and positive relationships between after-school programs and school leaders.

Paul Young, PhD, a retired elementary principal, is the executive director of the West After School Center in Lancaster, Ohio. He began his career as a high-school band director and then retrained to become a fourth-grade teacher before advancing to an elementary principalship in 1986. He served as President of the Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators in 1997 and was elected to the National Association of Elementary School Principals Board of Directors in 1998 (the only person elected by write-in ballot). He became president-elect in 2001-2002 and served as the national president during the 2002-2003 school year. He retired from the principalship in December 2004. Since then he has served as an advocate for the advancement of equitable and affordable after school programming for all children. In March 2008, he was selected to become a member of the board of directors of the National AfterSchool Association.