This commentary is by Jamie Dansereau of Westminster, director of afterschool and summer programming for West River Education District.
If you know me, you know I’m a big dreamer. I’ve never been one to say, “We can’t do that.” Instead, I find myself asking, “How can we make it happen?” And when it comes to after-school programming, that question drives me every single day.
After-school programs are where so many young people discover what lights them up, whether it’s doing coding, building a fort in the woods, exploring nature or simply connecting with a caring adult. These hours after the school bell rings are full of possibility. We’re not just filling time, we’re building skills, nurturing passions and expanding futures.
And yet, in Vermont and across the country, access to after-school programs isn’t guaranteed. While I’m lucky to be part of a strong community of educators and partners, we still face real challenges: staffing shortages, limited resources and outdated perceptions of after-school as glorified babysitting. Many communities don’t have programs at all.
But here’s the good news: the momentum is growing. Gov. Phil Scott has made after-school a priority, and organizations like Vermont Afterschool continue to lead the way with vision and heart. There’s a shared understanding now more than ever that these programs matter, and that they should be available to all students, not just some.
So where do we go from here?
We dream bigger. We imagine a Vermont where after-school is not seen as an “extra,” but as an essential part of education. We build it into our systems, into our budgets and into our everyday understanding of what it means to support the whole child.
Think about this: after-school programs create space for students to discover new interests, build meaningful relationships and develop real-world skills that stay with them for life. From hands-on STEAM projects to creative arts, from leadership activities to quiet moments of connection, these programs support the whole child. Every student has the chance to grow, explore, and imagine their future in ways that traditional classroom time simply doesn’t always allow.
What if we created a state where every child had that opportunity, every day?
We already know that learning doesn’t stop at 3 p.m., and neither should our support. Let’s work together to build a system that reflects the full picture of learning, growth and possibility. Let’s make Vermont a place where after-school isn’t a patchwork of programs, but a promise we make to every child and family.
Let’s keep dreaming, and building, a brighter future for Vermont’s students.
