LEWISTON — Soft-spoken Lewiston educator Jenn Carter is about to get some Washington, D.C. lessons in lobbying, communications and advocacy.

Carter, director of the Lewiston School Department’s 21st Century after-school programs, has been chosen as a 2018-19 Afterschool Ambassador by the national Afterschool Alliance.

As a national ambassador, Carter will work in Maine and nationally to advocate for more student access to after-school programs and attend Afterschool Alliance conferences in Washington, D.C.

Jodi Grant, executive director of Afterschool Alliance, said in a statement that the national organization is “thrilled that Carter will serve as an after-school ambassador. Now more than ever, with federal funding for quality after-school and summer learning programs under attack, we need strong advocates like her. She will mobilize parents, educators, business and community leaders” to safeguard and build programs.

Lewiston Superintendent Bill Webster said the honor is reflective of the commitment and work Carter brings to afterschool and summer programming. “We are very fortunate to have Jenn in this role,” Webster said. “She is making a difference in the lives of Lewiston students.”

Carter is one of 15 ambassadors nationwide. The others are from Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas and Vermont.

Carter has been director of Lewiston’s after-school programs for six years. She said she applied to be a national ambassador to share her love of her job and her goals. “I must have said something right,” she said with a smile. Being chosen “means our program is recognized in the nation as an exemplary program.”

The Afterschool Alliance programs are funded by grants from the U.S. Department of Education to support students academically, provide a safe space and support working families, Carter said.

“Those hours between 3 and 6 p.m. the parents have to be at work,” she said. “If they can’t afford child care the kids are going home alone.”

Carter’s daughter, 10, is in the Martel Elementary School program. “If I didn’t have that after-school care, it would be a huge burden for me. I need it just as much as other families.”  

Lewiston has 750 students in the 21st Century after-school and summer programs at Lewiston High School, Lewiston Middle School, and Longley, Martel, McMahon and Geiger elementary schools. The programs are free to students and families.

In the earlier grades, youngsters get help on homework and building social, communication and friendship skills. In the middle and high school programs, students learn a variety of interests, including sewing, cooking, the arts, robotics, computer coding, leadership skills and the Book Buddies program where older students teach reading to younger students.

Some students who got involved in Book Buddies are majoring in education in college, Carter said. Overall the programs help students of all ages.

“Hopefully they walk into school the next morning and they’ve got a connection from the afternoon program they didn’t have yesterday,” Carter said.

Studies show that the best way to enhance learning of English language learning students and special education students is extra time, which the after-school programs provide.

In the past six years, Lewiston’s 21st Century programs have grown from a few dozen to 750 students. Still, there’s a significant wait list of 200 students. “There isn’t enough funding,” Carter said.

She’s hoping her stint as ambassador will help her learn to better advocate for more help. “What’s the language I use, or how do I present it in a way to gain community support,” she said. “We have so many parents calling saying, ‘How can I get my kid in the program?’”

The federal grants provide $650,000 a year to the Lewiston programs. There’s little local money in the programs, but the School Committee provides some funding for summer programs, Carter said.

Eventually the federal grants will disappear, Carter said. “Over time we have to figure out how it’s going to be sustainable.”

Carter, a former middle school teacher and YMCA child care director, said the job of overseeing after-school and summer enrichment programs is perfect for her.

“I love spending time with the kids and getting to know them and their families. I’m inspired by the kids,” she said.

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Jenn Carter, director of Lewiston School Department’s 21st Century after-school programs, has been chosen as a 2018-19 Afterschool Ambassador by the national Afterschool Alliance. Carter will work in Maine and nationally to increase access to after-school programs. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal)

21st Century Leader and high school student Rukia Mohamed tutors Longley Elementary School student Joshua Price during the Book Buddies program in 2016. (Alexandra Morrow photo) 

Lewiston 21st Century after-school students Olivia Carter and Brooklyn Crowley practice the ukulele in 2016. (Alexandra Morrow photo)