A new school year has started and with that is a new year for YouthQuest. Now in its 12th year, the program will continue to provide a quality afterschool program to Flint students.
“We are excited to start the school year off strong with a great staff of site team leaders at our helm,” says Dr. Kimberly Leverette, executive director of Flint & Genesee Education & Talent which administers YouthQuest. “We have some longstanding staff members and some newcomers ready to take charge and provide great afterschool programming to our students.”
The team at Afterschool Download touched base with the site team leaders and got their perspectives on the upcoming school year. Here is what they had to say:
Korie Harden, Accelerated Learning Academy
What clubs are you looking forward to hosting this year?
We will be hosting esports, a makers club, various social and emotional learning clubs to support students, cooking club and many more. We also are excited to launch a communications club for students to manage school announcements, the school Facebook page and school newsletter.
Miranda Manns, Brownell Elementary
What experiences do you hope to share with students this year?
Coming up, students will be campaigning to be elected for Youth Advisory Council offices. They will make a speech in front of their peers and all students will cast their votes. Hopefully, the council will gain strong leadership skills from the experience and the guidance of their learning guides.
Keoshia Cook, Durant-Tuuri-Mott Elementary
What is one thing you hope students learn this year?
I hope students learn that they are important, their voices are heard, and that they expand their math and reading comprehension skills.
Brandon Nuby, Holmes STEM Academy
What is one thing you hope students learn this year?
The main thing I hope students learn from YouthQuest this year is how to be a productive citizen and manage their emotions in a positive manner.
Bridget Sims, Flint Cultural Center Academy Elementary
What clubs are you looking forward to hosting this year?
This year, we have game club, science exploration club, cartoon club, competitive teams, thoughts and drawing club and a paper plane club!
AlexaRay Youmans, Freeman Elementary
What experiences do you hope to share with your students this year?
I hope that all our scholars experience something new. I want them all to have a learning experience and leave this year with an expanded knowledge on something that they didn’t know before our program.
Michael Fortelka, International Academy of Flint Middle and High School
What is one thing you hope students learn this year?
The one thing I want the students to learn this year is more leadership traits. We’re going to have more opportunities for the students to lead clubs and activities.
Carlen Shoemaker, International Academy of Flint Elementary
What do you hope to inspire in your students this year?
I hope to inspire students to try new things and love learning this year. I also hope to inspire students to appreciate each other and the adults in their lives who support them. I’d like to build a supportive and caring community within YouthQuest at IAF this year.
Danielle Williams, Pierce Elementary
What do you hope to inspire in your students this year?
We hope to inspire their future career choices by building in career days during YAC time this year. Our staff has a rich network of working professionals who would love the opportunity to come in and talk with students about career pathways, higher education and what it means to create your future.
Alluna Calloway-Lang, Potter Elementary
What do you hope to inspire in your students this year?
I hope I inspire them to think learning is fun! I want our scholars to know there is nothing in this world they cannot do if they put their mind and their time to it!
Gloria Henley, Southwestern Classical Academy
What experiences do you hope to share with students this year?
I want to give students “behind-the-scenes” experiences! For example, we’re planning a trip to Exit 13 Haunted House where they tour the haunted house before they learn about the careers of the staff that work there.
YouthQuest is made possible through the generous support of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and 21st Century Community Learning Centers.