The Riley Institute at Furman University has selected Shaquité Pegues, Director of Ella Baker Leadership Development, to participate in South Carolina Afterschool Leaders Empowered (SCALE), a new initiative that equips afterschool and summer learning leaders in the state with the tools they need to grow and improve their programs.
The initiative is offered in partnership with and funded by a $1.3 million grant from the South Carolina Department of Education as part of the monies the agency received from the American Rescue Plan to address the academic impact of COVID-19, particularly among youth in need of additional support to complete unfinished learning.
Pegues is one of twenty-one emerging afterschool leaders to be selected for the inaugural cohort.
A native of Bennettsville, Pegues matriculated through the national CDF Freedom Schools program model and currently serves as director of Ella Baker Leadership Development. Pegues oversees the CDF Freedom Schools Ella Baker Trainers and three 21st Century after-school and summer program sites in Marlboro County.
She is a graduate of Spelman College, with a B.A degree in Early Childhood, a graduate of Nova Southeastern University, with a M.Ed. degree in Management and Administration of Educational Programs and is a certified PreK-5 and ESOL educator. Pegues also serves as president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Upsilon Sigma Omega Chapter, Executive Committeewoman for the Marlboro County Democratic Party, South Carolina Ports Authority Ambassador, National Alumni Association of Spelman College Southeast Region Delegate, and S.T.A.R. (Spelman Team of Alumnae Recruiters).
Pegues said, “I’ve received a number of awards and recognitions over the years, but none greater than working with the Children’s Defense Fund to level the playing field for children. Like many areas across South Carolina, Marlboro County is rural, poverty-stricken, and among the lowest in academics. For many, the after-school and summer programs are the only source of enrichment, meals, and academic support, outside of what’s provided during the school day. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to embrace opportunities for learning additional skills for engaging and supporting parents, as well as sustaining and enhancing programming for students.”
Selected participants represent nearly a third of the state’s school districts, a variety of organizations, and a mix of rural, suburban, and urban areas.
Taking place over the course of 10 months, SCALE offers a curriculum that touches on topics such as school-community partnership development, program sustainability, and youth mental health, and is led by national and local afterschool and summer learning leaders. In addition to convening on Furman’s campus for a weeklong intensive workshop and participating in monthly webinars, members of the cohort will take a field trip to a nationally acclaimed summer learning program and work on a capstone project related to afterschool or summer learning.
High-quality afterschool and summer learning programs have been shown to improve student achievement, life skills, and mental health, all while helping working families keep kids safe. For more than a decade, the Riley Institute has conducted work in the afterschool field at the national level.
“Inspired by the impact we’ve made through our national afterschool policy fellowship, we’re eager to help strengthen and expand access to phenomenal programs that are already in place across the state,” said Amy Keely, SCALE director. “In doing so, the Riley Institute is advancing its goals of creating greater opportunity for students and their families in South Carolina.”
To learn more about SCALE, visit furman.edu/scale or contact Keely at amy.kelly@furman.edu.