Educational thought leader Terry Peterson and two dynamic Wyoming innovators: Liz Cassiday, Sheridan County YMCA CEO, and Jenn Beckstead, Natrona County Library Youth Services Manager shared ways that they are growing partnerships across their communities in ways that cultivate connections in and across communities to benefit youth.
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Read the Report on Strengthening Partnerships by Aria Heyneman
Featured Speakers
Terry K. Peterson, PhD: Dr. Peterson has been a long-time leader in the development of national and international strategies and partnerships for education reforms and expanded learning opportunities. While holding federal and state level executive education positions, Terry helped develop numerous education policies including helping to formulate the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, E-rate, GEAR-UP, Family Involvement Partnership, the Arts Education Partnership and teacher and technology quality grants. At the state-level, his work encompassed major initiatives in early childhood education, teacher recruitment, performance pay programs, innovation funds for teachers and schools, accountability systems, and the arts in the basic curriculum. Dr. Peterson serves as co-chair of the National Afterschool Alliance board and is Senior Education Advisor for the CS Mott Foundation and for former Governor and US Secretary of Education Dick Riley. Learn more about the “Godfather of Afterschool” from furman.edu.
Liz Cassiday, Sheridan YMCA CEO: Elisabeth Cassiday is the CEO of the Sheridan County YMCA, where she works to strengthen access, improve operations, and align programs with real community needs. With more than 18 years at the Y, her focus centers on returning to simple, intuitive youth and community work—programs that are not complicated, grant-driven, or costly, but rooted in doing what’s right for families. She prioritizes straightforward, accessible offerings and partnerships that share this approach, keeping the Y grounded in service that truly meets people where they are. Learn more at sheridanymca.org
Jenn Beckstead, Natrona County Library Youth Services Manager: Jenn draws from her extensive experience spanning fourteen years as the Teen Librarian. She currently serves as a member of the Wyoming Enrichment Network’s Expert Advisory Board, is co-chair of the Soaring Eagle Book Award committee as a member of the Wyoming Library Association and other professional library associations and is a Leadership Casper graduate. Jenn coordinates Wyoming Reads for Natrona County and Wyoming. Jenn earned a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wyoming, studying her first two years of coursework at Central Wyoming College. Jenn balances work and family life in Casper with her husband and their three kids, who span across elementary, middle, and high school. Learn more at natronacountylibrary.org.
About the Time to Thrive Conversation Series: The Wyoming Enrichment Network convened the Time to Thrive conversation series to inspire and connect adults who work with or engage young people grow in after school, on weekends, during the summer, and in every space where learning happens. Together, we explored how organizations and adults can deepen developmental relationships, build adult capacity to mentor and inspire youth, and create connected, career-relevant pathways.
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