Sarah Cruz Email & Phone Number

I have been working with children and for organizations serving children and families since 1996. Currently, I am a Quality Advisor for NJSACC: The New Jersey Afterschool Network.From August 2013-March 2021, I was the Special Assistant for Expanded Learning Time (ELT) for the Newark Public Schools, overseeing daily programming for the school districts 30K+ Student population.Previously, I was the Director of Expanded Learning Opportunities at NJSACC. In that role I oversaw the development and implementation of Professional Development programming for Out of school Time staff to turn key to their youth participants.Prior to that role, I served as the Director of the Hanover Township School- Age Child Care Program (HTSACC), a program operated in a NJ Public School system. At HTSACC, I facilitated the National Afterschool Association (NAA) Accreditation of 3 public schools before and afterschool programs. Working closely with the Superintendent, principals and school day teachers, my goal was to engage the children in the out of school time programs in activities that complimented the school day as well as operate programs that met the NAA Standards for Quality Care.I am a prolific trainer. Nationally, I served as a National Association for Elementary School Principals (NAESP) Facilitator for the workshop "Aligning the Learning Day, Collaborating Strategies for Principals and Afterschool Program Leaders." I worked with programs across the country helping principals and afterschool leaders develop a vision for a seamless alignment of school and expanded learning opportunities for children and youth.In 2010, I completed the National Afterschool Matters Initiative Practitioner Fellow hosted by Philadelphia Writing Project at the University of Pennsylvania, where I conducted an inquiry on Professional Development for Out of School Time Youth Workers.In 2001, I wrote 'Fantastic Finales,' a compilation of activities for school age children. I attended Douglass College at Rutgers University and graduated with a BA in Urban Planning and a certificate in Professional Youth Work.In 2016, I was honored to become a National Afterschool Ambassador for the Afterschool Alliance, representing NJ advocating on the importance of Out of School Time (OST) programming for youth. iStarting in January 2017 was elected as the Township Councilwoman for the Third Ward of Bloomfield, NJ and I am now in my second term.

Listed skills include Grant Writing, Staff Development, Nonprofits, Community Outreach, and 9 others.