The California AfterSchool Network’s (CAN’s) beloved Program Director, Jessica Hay will transition from her position with CAN to pursue her next venture in July 2018. Jessica became CAN’s Program Director at a time of transition for CAN. CAN had just found its new home at the Foundation for California Community Colleges and had just begun a major effort to advance Continuous Quality Improvement in California in partnership with the CDE’s Expanded Learning Division. Throughout her nearly three year tenure at CAN, Jessica has single-handedly provided over 40 unique professional development events impacting hundreds of expanded learning professionals. As a White-Riley Peterson Policy Fellow, Jessica has been instrumental in advancing CAN’s role in after school policy at the state and national level; most recently providing advocacy training as part of a California Afterschool Advocacy Alliance field engagement strategy, and Co-chairing the youth committee charged with creating a consensus among the diverse and often contentious Proposition 64 Stakeholder Group. She was able to accomplish all this while managing CAN’s amazing program team.  

If you know Jessica, then you know she has a strong passion for policy, you know she has advocated for you, you have experienced her deep passion for this field, and you likely shared contagious laughter with her. The CAN staff know that she will excel in her new dream job as the Manager of Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood in Bellingham Washington, where she will oversee the policy, communications and education projects. While it is bitter-sweet to say goodbye to a good friend and virtuous comrade, CAN is fortunate to have been a part of Jessica’s success story and even more fortunate that she has been part of ours. Please join us in offering congratulations to Jessica. She can be contacted through July 18, 2019 at jhay@afterschoolnetwork.org