Ohio’s 2025 Out-of-School Time (OST) Conference brought together over 300 educators, program leaders, and industry experts for two days of inspiration, learning, and collaboration at the Greater Columbus Convention Center on February 11-12.
Hosted by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW) in partnership with Open Doors Academy’s Center for Out-of-School Advancement, the conference featured dynamic sessions on key topics, including literacy, workforce readiness, student wellness, summer learning, accelerated learning, data collection and evaluation, student mental health, the role of technology in education, and AI in content marketing.
Keynote Highlights & Takeaways
Jessica Horowitz-Moore, Chief of Student and Academic Supports at ODEW, delivered a powerful opening address, emphasizing the department’s four core priorities: literacy, learning acceleration, workforce readiness, and student wellness. She highlighted the critical role OST programs play in bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world skills, inspiring attendees to continue their essential work in supporting students beyond the school day.
Throughout the conference, attendees gained new strategies and innovative programming ideas and expanded their professional networks to help drive meaningful change in their communities. Mary Welsh Schlueter, CEO & Founder of Partnership for Innovation in Education in Cincinnati, reflected on the experience, saying, “I walked away with so many actionable ideas. The keynote was inspiring, and the breakout sessions provided real strategies to implement immediately.”
Looking Ahead
We extend our deepest gratitude to our partners at the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, as well as the incredible speakers, panelists, and attendees who shared their expertise. We hope the energy and insights from this conference continue to benefit youth across Ohio in the coming year.
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This article is a part of the March 2025 PINC Newsletter. To read more articles from this newsletter, click here or the button below.
