We are expanding and improving our offerings—and students are responding positively. This semester, we enrolled more than 600 students. In the spring, we will add even more providers that will combine fun, life skills and learning. Girls Inc. will introduce girls to personal finance and economic literacy concepts through interactive group workshops at Kelly Miller; A Greater Washington/Field of Dreams will teach baseball skills and character development using Jackie Robinson’s nine principles of achievement at Hart and Jefferson; and Step Afrika will teach the art of creating step dance routines to introduce youth to performance skills, college information and teamwork at Kelly Miller and Lincoln.

It’s been an exciting year and we are even more excited to continue shifting to meet students’ needs and expanding to serve more students for next year. Happy holidays and here’s to 2008!

Three New Staff Members Bring Experience, Passion to Project My Time

We are excited to introduce three valuable new additions to our Project My Time team. Each of our new staff members brings a blend of experience and passion, and we are proud to welcome them on board.

Shanita Burney is the new associate project director for Project My Time. With more than a decade of experience working with youth and families, Burney most recently was director of prevention services for Covenant House Washington, where she coordinated the Peer-Supported Pregnancy Prevention Program. She has worked as a counselor for Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland, Beyond Behaviors, Inc., in Annandale, and Family Trauma Services, Inc., in Alexandria. She holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Bowie State University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Winthrop University.

Denise Temple joins Project My Time as the new site director for Kelly Miller Middle School, where she is overseeing the initiative, coordinating providers, serving as a liaison to the school and engaging students in Project My Time activities. Temple has years of experience in volunteering and managing youth programs. Prior to joining Project My Time, Temple served as a neighborhood center coordinator for Tree of Life Community Public Charter School, directing a summer school and after school program for 200 District youth. She also managed the Healthy Kids program for the Joy of Sports Foundation at Friendship Public Charter Schools. Temple’s other previous experience includes serving as program director for Associates for Ideal Education and as community outreach specialist for Project WISH of the D.C. Department of Health. She holds a master’s degree in Community Economic Development with focus in non-profit management from Southern New Hampshire University.

Jennifer Koroma

Also new to Project My Time is Jennifer Koroma, who as project assistant contributes to the daily operations and management of Project My Time. Previously, Koroma served as a staffing specialist for Contemporary Nursing Solutions and an administrative assistant for Parkinson’s Action Network. Prior to that, she was a development assistant for Walk On Executive Management. In addition to her work with the Trust, Koroma is a part-time nursing student at the College of Southern Maryland.

Introducing... Principals of Project My Time Schools

Principals are important partners in ensuring Project My Time’s success. Thanks to their leadership and support, we are able to work seamlessly with school staff and faculty, students and parents. In this issue, we are pleased to introduce one of our outstanding principals, Dr. Antonia Peters at MacFarland Middle School. Stay tuned for future issues featuring more of our principals.

Principals Play Six Key Roles in After-School Success, Study Says

As school leaders who directly supervise teachers and have special access to students, families and communities, principals play an important role in ensuring the success of after-school programs. After interviewing principals and after-school coordinators in San Francisco and surveying after-school workers across California, researcher Lanya Samuelson devised a model of six roles that principals can fulfill to increase the after-school programs’ effectiveness:

• Communicator – With access to both school staff and families, principals can facilitate communication between these groups and after-school programs, such as including after-school updates in school newsletters and faculty meetings.

• Resource provider – Principals who understand the needs of after-school programs can help program coordinators access school resources, such as computers and office space.

• Liaison – Principals are the key to integrating work during the school day with after-school and ensuring that teachers and after-school providers complement each other’s goals.

• Visionary – Principals must understand how after-school fits into the larger picture of the school and share that vision with the broader school community.

• Decision maker – Principals should be involved in decision making, but also should support the decision-making power of after-school coordinators as “principals of after school."

• Supporter – With principals’ support, after-school programs have a greater chance of succeeding.

The Washington Post Features DC Carrera Trust Program, Highlights Benefits

Word is spreading about the new DC Carrera Trust program, with two stories in The Washington Post this month. The DC Carrera Trust program is a partnership of the Trust and the Children’s Aid Society that has brought comprehensive pregnancy prevention to the Arts and Technology Academy Public Charter School in Northeast. Since August, the program has provided the entire fifth-grade class with sports instruction, academic enrichment, job exploration, financial education and goal-setting guidance—and will continue through high school graduation.

The Washington Post’s Courtland Milloy shares inspiring facts about the program in his Dec. 12 column. To read the column, “One School Shows Prevention Requires More Than a Health Class,” click here.

The program also is highlighted in a front-page story with photos in the Post’s Dec. 6 District Extra. To read the story, “Teaching Kids Whole-Life Skills,” click here.

Project My Time is an initiative of the DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation. For more information, visit www.projectmytime.org.