By Gina Warner, National Afterschool Association and Susan Fisher, Muncie Public Library—
WASHINGTON, D.C.,– The National AfterSchool Association (NAA), the voice of the afterschool profession and lead organization for the advancement of afterschool professionals and leaders has selected Katie Lehman, Ready Readers Supervisor at Muncie Public Library, as one of NAA’s 2022 Next Generation of Afterschool Leaders.
In selecting its 2022 Next Generation of Afterschool Leaders, the NAA sought to highlight emerging young leaders who are active in the broader afterschool community, demonstrate contributions that have created influence beyond individual programs to entire organizations and communities, are actively engaged in efforts to elevate the afterschool field, have a proven passion for development of themselves and others, and demonstrate persistence in their work to grow as leaders. Honorees will be profiled in the Spring 2022 issue of NAA’s AfterSchool Today magazine. View a digital edition of the magazine here after March 15, 2022. The honorees will also be recognized at an upcoming national conference in Las Vegas, NV.
“The National AfterSchool Association knows that strong afterschool leaders develop the skilled professionals and teams that run strong organizations and quality programs that result in positive youth outcomes,” said Gina Warner, President and CEO of NAA. “These emerging leaders will help shape the afterschool field and profession for years to come.”
Akilah S. Nosakhere, Muncie Public Library Director, praised Lehman’s creative approach to teaching early literacy to children. “The Ready Readers program, developed by Katie Lehman, serves children of all ages and has had incredible success helping children reach their age and grade appropriate levels in reading and vocabulary skills,” said Nosakhere. She noted that the program gives parents and caregivers the lesson plans and materials to continue the learning at home. Nosakhere said another unique aspect of Ready Readers is that prior to the pandemic, the learning sessions could take place in the student’s home, at the library, or online. The program hopes to return to this flexibility in program sessions as soon as pandemic guidelines allow. Nosakhere also reported that other Indiana libraries have visited Muncie Public Library to learn the early literacy teaching techniques used by Lehman so the program can be replicated in their own libraries and communities.
