Susan O'Connor

National Training Associate
New York

Susan O’Connor is the Director of the Hasbro Summer Learning Initiative and the WestMOST Network. The organization’s mission is to create equity in opportunity for all youth through expanded learning experiences in Western Massachusetts. HSLI/WestMOST provides a broad range of direct supports to after-school and youth development organizations, and works to build public will, impact public policy and improve outcomes through partnerships with schools, business, and the community. HSLI received the Excellence Award from the National Association for Summer Learning in 2009, in recognition of the innovative model and promising outcomes in stemming summer reading loss.

Prior to her work with the Network, Susan was the Director of the Hampshire Educational Collaborative’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers in Northampton, Massachusetts. Before working with 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Susan was a Research Associate with the National Institute on Out-Of-School Time at Wellesley College for nine years, developing standards and continuous improvement tools for after school programs. She is an author of Advancing School-Age Child Care Quality (ASQ). She has also published papers on Resiliency and After School programs, Workforce Issues, Homework Assistance and Literacy Activities.

She has an MSW from West Virginia in community development and has 30 years of experience in the youth development and community organizing.

  • PEOPLE ARE SAYING

    "NIOST has been an anchor for numerous school age care projects we do, including ASQ (After-School Quality) and Links to Learning. They are a nationally respected organization that Pennsylvania has partnered with for over 20 years."



    – Betsy O. Saatman, TA Specialist/SAC Initiatives, Pennsylvania Key
  • PEOPLE ARE SAYING

    "NIOST was a core partner in supporting the development of quality improvement systems across the nine cities that participated in The Wallace Foundation Next Generation Afterschool System-Building Initiative. The NIOST team worked well with other technical assistance partners in the initiative, always willing to pitch in and collaborate with others to make our professional learning community meetings a team effort. I truly hope the Foundation has an opportunity to partner with them in the future."


    – Priscilla M. Little, Initiative Manager, The Wallace Foundation

  • PEOPLE ARE SAYING

    "NIOST has been a leader in the out-of-school time field for as long as I can remember, and I have relied on their research, tools, and advice to improve my practice throughout my career. Their staff members are good partners and good listeners, and their influence across the country is palpable."


    – Jane Quinn, Vice President and Director of National Center for Community Schools, Children's Aid Society
  • PEOPLE ARE SAYING

    "Georgia Hall, Ellen Gannett, and the NIOST team have been instrumental in driving the healthy afterschool movement. Their dedication to quality practice, informed policy, and collective impact is instrumental in our effort to create healthier communities."



    – Daniel W. Hatcher, Director, Community Partnerships, Alliance for a Healthier Generation

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The National Institute on Out-of-School Time

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