Burnet, Marble Falls afterschool program garners state honors, plans for stellar year

DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR

MARBLE FALLS — When Kerri O’Connor, the director of the new Burnet County Consortium, and her crew of educators kicked off the Texas Afterschool Centers on Education in Burnet and Marble Falls school districts last year, they wondered what the year would hold.

Now, with a year under their belts and a couple of state awards, the staff plans to make the afterschool enrichment and academic program even stronger.

“Last year, I think there was a lot of ‘How is this going to work?’ and ‘What do the kids need and want?,’” O’Connor said. “This year we’re going to be more strategic. Now we know what we’re doing, so let’s plan it out better.”

Despite the first-year jitters, the Texas Education Agency honored the Burnet County Consortium ACE program with one of only six Golden ACE awards earlier this summer. The award recognizes the top six ACE programs across the state. The TEA also named O’Connor as one of the two top project directors in Texas.

The consortium and the ACE program came about through a grant that funds the afterschool program at Burnet Consolidated Independent School District and Marble Falls Independent School District campuses. The grant and program target specific demographics, so only certain campuses offer the afterschool tutoring and enrichment classes.

While O’Connor and her crew welcome last year’s success and accolades, they envision more growth and higher expectations this year.

“One of the things we want to do this year is try to identify the kids and their needs and really give them higher interventions,” O’Connor said. The ACE program includes two basic components. When students first arrive after school, they tackle homework or get extra academic assistance. After this portion, the student chooses enrichment classes or programs, which include arts and crafts, music and robotics among many others.

During the academic phase, O’Connor said the goal includes targeting the struggles of individual children and helping them in those areas.

The ACE staff also wants to emphasize two areas on the enrichment side as well.

“We’re going to really look at STEM and physical fitness,” O’Connor said. STEM focuses on science, technology, engineering and math. While physical fitness typically means gym class, O’Connor said the program will offer a more comprehensive selection that includes diet and making healthy choicess. “We want them to learn about complete wellness.”

Though ACE staff members have their own ideas for the direction of the program, they will keep an open ear to the students and listen to what they want and need.

“All of it’s about taking care of the kids,” O’Connor added.

Taking care of the kids also includes their families. The ACE program is enhancing the family engagement side with staff member Melissa Alexander tasked with developing relationships and keeping in touch with ACE families.

“Her role is to really serve the needs of families that’s beyond the school,” O’Connor said. “If a child is struggling in reading, maybe the whole family has some needs. So she’ll look into those and try to help the family. Sometimes, that might mean connecting the family with resources within the community.”

Along with developing stronger programs for students, the ACE staff wants to create connections with families, whether its through afterschool math labs, science programs or reading nights. O’Connor envisions holding a family game night several times throughout the year, simply because board games offer a great chances for families to just sit down together.

“Kids love to play games,” she said. “For families, it just opens up a great chance to have fun together and talk.”

With classes starting Aug. 25, the ACE programs gets rolling Sept. 2 at the Burnet campuses (Bertram Elementary, R.J. Richey Elementary, Burnet Elementary and Burnet Middle School) and Sept. 8 at the Marble Falls campuses (Highland Lakes Elementary, Marble Falls Middle School and Marble Falls High School.) Campus officials will send out information as classes begin. Parents can also go to mfisd.ss3.sharpschool.com and look under the “departments” heading for the ACE program to get more information.

“This is going to be an exciting year,” O’Connor said. “Last year was great, but this year we’re looking to really elevate the program and what it can do for the kids.”

daniel@thepicayune.com