Words and Images by Marla Price
After-school programs across Winston County are opening doors for students, helping them discover passions, build real-world skills, and strengthen connections with their schools and communities.
For over 25 years, the Nita M. Lowey 21st CCLC initiative has provided federal grant funding dedicated solely to quality before-school, after-school, and summer learning programs. Five sites at Addison, Double Springs, Lynn, and Meek have received a total of $3.5 million in grant funding over the last five years for salaries, equipment, contracted services, and consumable supplies for after-school and summer learning experiences.
Vision and Perseverance
None of this would be possible without the vision of Jennifer Baker, elementary curriculum director for Winston County Schools. Mrs. Baker is the 2025 president of the Alabama Community Education Association (ACEA), an organization that promotes excellence in educational programming outside of the traditional school day. She has also been named an “After-School Champion” by the Alabama Expanded Learning Alliance for her efforts and continued support of quality enrichment opportunities.
Today Mrs. Baker oversees all sites as the district’s program director but was the principal at Lynn Elementary five years ago when the school was awarded 21st CCLC funding. After three prior attempts, Mrs. Baker and now-retired teacher Cynthia Tittle were thrilled to secure funding in 2020, although the award came with the added challenge of the pandemic.
“Wednesdays were virtual days, and we had around 45 days that school year when at least one grade level had to stay home. We would send craft supplies for an after-school project for those kids. We would also send books and activities during the meal deliveries,” Baker recalled.
Communication with families was also an obstacle, but Baker utilized social media to include children at home in the activities. She says they set up a Facebook page so parents could post photos of home activities and had a virtual Schoology classroom so all students could participate.
Parental involvement is a required component of all 21st CCLC sites, but it has been a mainstay throughout the years at Lynn. Early on, parents and teachers communicated through Google Voice as a result of pandemic precautions; now parents and families have continued to participate in their children’s education through daily volunteer opportunities and special parent nights.
Five Years of Impact
Lynn Elementary School’s “Bear Necessities” averages upwards of 100 students daily, over a majority of the school’s total enrollment.
“Our community is so thankful to have this program. I’ve had parents tell me that they transferred their child here because of after-school. One gentleman said that had it not been for the gap program, for pre-K students, he would have had to change jobs,” said site coordinator Lisa Davis. “The teachers make it easy for me. They are so dedicated, and they can tell that their work is making a difference.”
Davis also emphasized the effectiveness of their initiative, describing how teachers don’t always see the benefits of their efforts. As a 30-year classroom veteran, she said that she’s never been associated with a program that’s had quite this much impact: “One of my teachers had evaluated the students’ test scores and grades, and the majority of the students who progressed by leaps and bounds were after-school students.”
From test scores to behavior, the difference is measurable. One student who struggled with repeated discipline referrals transformed after joining drama. He never received another referral again.
Drama is one of the most popular offerings due to the extensive work of Sharon Fike, theater and choral teacher, and her husband, Rodney, drama technical manager and Lynn’s band director. The pair are assisted by Molly Rawls, who serves as an elementary teacher.
“Mr. and Mrs. Fike and Mrs. Rawls are such professionals, and they set the bar very high. The students rise to the occasion because they have put on some incredible productions,” Davis said.
The Young Actors’ Guild averages one major show per semester, with Into the Woods, Jr., a retelling of classic Brothers Grimm fairy tales, performed most recently. Other memorable musicals include 101 Dalmatians, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid.
Archery has always been a major draw for student participation. Kaci Randolph, Becky Terry, and Janet Knight are certified instructors through National Archery in the Schools (NASP). However, beginning in the 2025-26 school year, students can also look forward to golf, engineering, and robotics, in addition to the usual slate of activities, which includes classes in the culinary arts and dance. The school’s outdoor classroom gives students opportunities to grow their own vegetables and learn about native wildlife.
While academic enrichment, STEM activities, and the arts are major components, community service is also a requirement of a quality after-school program. Last Christmas, students participated in Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child through a partnership with Lynn Baptist Church, facilitated by Sherri Cockrell.
Mrs. Davis’s commitment to excellence was honored as she received the Extended Day Site Coordinator of the Year award at the ACEA conference. She is using her experience to mentor the new site coordinators at the other programs in Winston County.
Another vital member of Lynn’s after-school team is Jacob Brown, who was honored as Volunteer of the Year at the ACEA conference. Mr. Brown’s tireless efforts to provide meals for students began after the program’s nutrition supplier ceased services to schools in 2023 due to a loss of funding. He was inspired to create Grace Kitchens, a non-profit dedicated solely to providing meals for the students, who receive hot meals several days each week due to his work.
Common Threads and Community Support
Each community in Winston County now hosts its own 21st CCLC after-school site, providing consistent opportunities for academic support, extracurricular enrichment, and family engagement. Although the activities may vary, each site shares the same commitment to student growth and community connection.
- Addison Elementary School’s “Bulldogs Unleashed” serves grades preK-6 from 3:00-5:00 pm. The site coordinator is Randole Stone.
- Double Springs Elementary School “QUEST” serves preK-4 from 3:00-5:00 pm. The site coordinator is Julie Wilcoxson.
- Double Springs Middle School’s “Jacket Pride” serves grades 5-12 from 3:00-5:00 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The site coordinator is Nakia Wakefield.
- Meek Elementary School’s “Paws and Stripes Forever” serves preK-12 from 3:00-5:00 pm. The site coordinator is Tammy Johnson.
- Lynn Elementary’s “Bear Necessities” serves preK-8 from 3:00-5:30 pm.
Home school students are also eligible to attend the program in their local community.
An after-school session begins with academic enrichment and homework help, along with a snack or meal and physical activity. However, the primary goal of after-school programs is to enhance students’ learning through extracurricular outlets and project-based learning. Lessons in drug and bullying prevention, character education, nutrition, cultural diversity, and financial literacy equip students with life-long tools for success.
Mrs. Baker stated that academic activities are also embedded through real-life applications, such as cooking, which requires students to use math, chemistry, and measurement, whereas drama emphasizes literacy skills through repeated readings and presentations.
The Winston County Extension Office partners with all sites to teach nutrition classes and facilitate other activities. The agency’s “Kitchen a la Carte” allows up to ten students to participate in culinary arts lessons. The Winston County Arts Council is another community partner, providing hands-on lessons in drawing, painting, and pottery.
Students at all after-school sites receive snacks through the district’s Child Nutrition Program.
The learning and the fun don’t stop when the school year ends. A summer program is offered during June, with the same emphasis on academic enrichment, STEM activities, and healthy choices, plus a field trip for each of the four weeks.
Cindy Nuss, a teacher at Double Springs Elementary School, reported that a student is already preparing for next summer. “On the first day of school, one of our students asked about the field trips we are planning to take,” she says.
Whether cooking in the kitchen, painting a masterpiece, or planning next summer’s field trips, Winston County students are proving that learning doesn’t end when the last bell rings–it’s just getting started. 67
