The SMILE program is in its third and last year as a grantee in the K-12 Student Success: Out-of-School Time initiative funded by the Oregon Community Foundation and the Ford Family Foundation in support of youth services and education. Learn more here.

SMILE has been an engaged member of the initiative’s Professional Learning Community focusing on program quality and building evaluation capacity. Last week, OSU Precollege Programs and SMILE staff Emily Nicholson and Susan Rowe participated in a two-day professional development program to “plan with data” and learn many helpful tools and resources for youth program quality. Many relationships are built and new partnerships flourish from such a wonderful community of talented pre-college professionals engaging in meaningful evidence-based practices.

SMILE staff Susan and Emily spend some valuable time learning with Tamara DePue and Kelly Garcia from the Oregon MESA – Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement Program.