By Amy Wallot
amy.wallot@education.ky.gov

The 2014 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) Multi-State Conference brought together directors from Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Ohio and Indiana to share best practices and innovations in after-school and summer programming.

Conference chair Brigette Stacy said more than 750 educators, afterschool and summer learning leaders gathered to inspire, connect and learn from one another.

The conference featured more than 75 workshops, an evening reception at Churchill Downs and networking over three days. Ron Clark, “America’s Educator,” author of The Essential 55 and featured on Oprah, NBC’s Today show and CNN, was the conference’s keynote speaker.

I stopped by the conference to listen to a panel discussion on College and Career Readiness featuring Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson, Commissioner Terry Holliday and Betsy Brand, executive director of the American Youth Policy Forum.

Before the panel started, I had the truly fun opportunity to peek into a session presented by Jason Lindsey with Hooked on Science. Through a handful of demonstrations, Lindsey wanted the group to understand that students can learn while having fun and to get a better understanding of the components of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).

Executive Director of Hooked on Science balances a giant spoon and fork on the head of Melissa Owens, the 21st CCLC site coordinator for Casey County Middle and High Schools, during the 21st CCLC multi-state conference. The experiment can be used to demonstrate center of gravity. Photo by Amy Wallot, Sept. 24, 2014

Jason Lindsey of Hooked on Science balances a giant spoon and fork on the head of Melissa Owens, the 21st CCLC site coordinator for Casey County middle and high schools, during the 21st CCLC multi-state conference. The experiment can be used to demonstrate center of gravity.
Photo by Amy Wallot, Sept. 24, 2014

Melisa Fuhrmeister, a school health coordinator in Tennessee, Beverly Marcum, a family resource center coordinator in Owen County and Laura Shultz, a a 21st Century Community Learning Center director in Cloverport Independent, see how high an inflated diaper genie bag will bounce during the the 21st CCLC multi-state conference. Photo by Amy Wallot, Sept. 24, 2014

Melissa Fuhrmeister, a school health coordinator in Tennessee; Beverly Marcum, a family resource center coordinator in Owen County; and Laura Shultz, a 21st Century Community Learning Center director at Cloverport Independent, see how high an inflated diaper genie bag will bounce.
Photo by Amy Wallot, Sept. 24, 2014

Southside Elementary School (Lee County) 21st CCLC site coordinator Carol Napier wraps Nashville area 21st CCLC coordinator Terri Lawson in shrink wrap during an experiment to demonstrate force. Lindsey recommended the experiment for grades K-3. Photo by Amy Wallot, Sept. 24, 2014

Southside Elementary School (Lee County) 21st CCLC site coordinator Carol Napier wraps Nashville-area 21st CCLC coordinator Terri Lawson in shrink wrap during an experiment to demonstrate force. Lindsey recommended the experiment for grades K-3.
Photo by Amy Wallot, Sept. 24, 2014

Conference chair Brigette Stacy, Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson and Commissioner Terry Holliday talk before lunch. Photo by Amy Wallot, Sept. 24, 2014

Conference chair Brigette Stacy, Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson and Commissioner Terry Holliday talk before lunch.
Photo by Amy Wallot, Sept. 24, 2014

Terry Peterson, right, moderated a college and career readiness panel discussion featuring the Executive Director of the American Youth Policy Forum Betsy Brand, Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson and Commissioner Terry Holliday. Photo by Amy Wallot, Sept. 24, 2014

Terry Peterson, right, moderated a college and career readiness panel discussion featuring the Executive Director of the American Youth Policy Forum Betsy Brand, Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson and Commissioner Terry Holliday.
Photo by Amy Wallot, Sept. 24, 2014

Betsey Brand, Executive Director of the American Youth Policy Forum, speaks about the importance of after-school programs, calling them "an opportunity to give students a voice and a choice." Photo by Amy Wallot, Sept. 24, 2014

Brand speaks about the importance of after-school programs, calling them “an opportunity to give students a voice and a choice.”
Photo by Amy Wallot, Sept. 24, 2014