Dear friends,

A Message from Our CEO

I sat down with my 18-year-old daughter late last year to walk through her work history. Part of the exploration included her asking to see my resume. The first thing she noticed was my personal mission statement or “ways of working,” describing how I approach any role. I further explained that the intention behind that statement was to let would-be employers know what guides my pursuits and aspirations. Part of this also involved looking at the differences in terminology, comparing skills, character traits, and values. What we landed on was the value of understanding ourselves, the connection that comes from knowing one another’s north star, and the success that comes from self-awareness and empathy for others. I share this story because it describes our journey here at Mizzen Education: continuously revisiting and strengthening our organizational identity to grow our empathy for the now 26,000 educators who have come to rely on our people, products, and solutions.

We are grateful for the opportunity to share another year of our work and mission with you all as we look back to 2025! We have learned much since launching as an independent organization in October 2023, namely that our growth as an education technology (EdTech) organization has been about balancing our energies and talents to find harmony in our passion for both our technologies and the amazing people we call the Mizzen community.

Dear friends

Message from Our CEO

I sat down with my 18-year-old daughter late last year to walk through her work history. Part of the exploration included her asking to see my resume. The first thing she noticed was my personal mission statement or “ways of working,” describing how I approach any role. I further explained that the intention behind that statement was to let would-be employers know what guides my pursuits and aspirations. Part of this also involved looking at the differences in terminology, comparing skills, character traits, and values. What we landed on was the value of understanding ourselves, the connection that comes from knowing one another’s north star, and the success that comes from self-awareness and empathy for others. I share this story because it describes our journey here at Mizzen Education: continuously revisiting and strengthening our organizational identity to grow our empathy for the now 26,000 educators who have come to rely on our people, products, and solutions.

We are grateful for the opportunity to share another year of our work and mission with you all as we look back to 2025! We have learned much since launching as an independent organization in October 2023, namely that our growth as an education technology (EdTech) organization has been about balancing our energies and talents to find harmony in our passion for both our technologies and the amazing people we call the Mizzen community.

It’s because of this people-first approach that we reached our most significant moment as an organization: launching our totally new and re-imagined platform and solutions in August 2025. The entire Mizzen team pulled on all levers of engineering, learning experiences, content development knowledge, design and communication, strategic partnerships, and the like to release a resource worthy of our educator community. By listening to our community and connecting with their reality, it was clear that Mizzen needed to go beyond providing access to resources to offering tools and services useful to a wider array of adults and youth-serving professionals across varied settings and situations, including learning during the school day and at home.

In a recent education technology story, the author captured the perfect quote for describing how we envision interacting with individual educators and youth-serving organizations:

“Technology should serve education–not the other way around.”

In closing, we believe that Mizzen’s best innovations will come from our in-depth knowledge and empathy for educators (the people), combined with our drive to reduce friction and increase ease through great products and tools (our technology).

Thank you for being a part of an exciting year of connection and breakthroughs!

Living Our Values

We leaned into our community and partnered with educators to develop a new human-centered platform that meets the needs of the out-of-school time community.

We got collaborative by co-creating new learning experiences with Nickelodeon, teaming up to contribute to a summer professional development series for out-of-school educators, and hosting our first-ever interns.

We kept our work purpose-driven, amplifying the out-of-school educators who use our resources through spotlights like the “Celebrating Our Comunidad” series.

From pumpkin-decorating showdowns to a student Play Lab, Team Mizzen flexed our creative muscle all year-round.

Our name, Mizzen, speaks to our commitment to working "at the middle." In 2025, that meant connecting people to technology: educators with quality resources, youth with exciting experiences, and experts with an innovative platform to share their expertise.

Learn how our mission and values are anchored in our story.

Living Our Values

We leaned into our community and partnered with educators to develop a new human-centered platform that meets the needs of the out-of-school time community.

We got collaborative by co-creating new learning experiences with Nickelodeon, teaming up to contribute to a summer professional development series for out-of-school educators, and hosting our first-ever interns.

We kept our work purpose-driven, amplifying the out-of-school educators who use our resources through spotlights like the “Celebrating Our Comunidad” series.

From pumpkin-decorating showdowns to a student Play Lab, Team Mizzen flexed our creative muscle all year-round.

Our name, Mizzen, speaks to our commitment to working "at the middle." In 2025, that meant connecting people to technology: educators with quality resources, youth with exciting experiences, and experts with an innovative platform to share their expertise.

Learn how our mission and values are anchored in our story.

Our educators asked, and we answered! On August 15, 2025, after months of development, design, and educator input, we launched the new, reimagined Mizzen platform. We upgraded the user experience to make finding, planning, and delivering thrilling learning experiences easier than ever. We also wanted the platform to be easy to access for first-time users, which is why we gave educators the ability to browse, preview, and share activities—all before creating an account.

The new platform also allows us to manage and track analytics from multiple sources, all in one place. So no matter how educators discover Mizzen, we can ensure they have a seamless experience from the first click. We also launched a feature set that allows educators to quickly submit issues by clicking the “Feedback? Tell Us!” button on any Mizzen activity.

Mizzen has now transitioned to a much more frequent release cycle, with new features, bug fixes, and improvements being released every two weeks.

Mizzen Education + Nickelodeon: The Power of Play

At Mizzen Education, we believe learning should be an exhilarating adventure for all young people. Our premiere partnership with Nickelodeon has allowed us to craft a unique learning journey for younger students, focusing on STEM, social-emotional learning, and youth voice. The resulting module, Nickelodeon Our World: The Play Lab, calls on young people to become Funologists, dream big, and invent unique games in celebration of Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play. It’s also our first foray into writing curricula for a name-brand partner. Together, we’re harnessing the transformative power of play and connecting educators and youth in the U.S. with communities worldwide.

<Quote from Nickelodeon>

Mizzen Education + Learn Fresh: Supercharging STEM Learning

We knew we wanted to expand Mizzen Education's STEM learning library, especially for adults who work with middle schoolers, while infusing every lesson with the thrill of games and sports. Partnering with Learn Fresh was a perfect match. When Team Mizzen experienced Learn Fresh’s NBA Math Hoops module firsthand, the impact was undeniable. By blending real world math skills with the fast-paced fun of basketball, NBA Math Hoops turns learning into an engaging experience for everyone. Implemented with more than 30 NBA and WNBA partners, this Learn Fresh program consistently delivers remarkable results in student engagement and math. Through STEM experiences that spark creativity and promote teamwork, our community is opening the door to boundless opportunities for youth.

<Quote> <“Learn Fresh is excited to launch a long-term partnership with Mizzen Education. Our partnership is the realization of a shared vision for supporting students in the out-of-school time space. We're excited to collaborate with their fantastic team and further expand our national reach.” — Nick Monzi, Learn Fresh CEO>

<vignette> <Leaning intently over her work with a green marker and a purple star sticker on her cheek, a student races through quick calculations to get her team’s last shot on the board. Seconds later, the clock stops and everyone erupts in cheers. Harnessing the blood-pumping fun of basketball, this is NBA Math Hoops in action.> <Image or video: MEI/LF Activation in LA>

Mizzen Education + Pulitzer Center: Inspired by Educators

Across all of our strategic partnerships, we strive to cultivate the growth of youth-serving professionals, and engage young people on a journey of discovery. Our collaboration with the Pulitzer Center embodies this vision. Through its ‘1619’ Afterschool Partnership, the Pulitzer Center works directly with educators nationwide, who inform content design. This input led to the Center’s creation of an inspiring new collection for early grades on Mizzen Education, centered around 'The 1619 Project.' Just like its acclaimed collections for grades 7-12, these activities encourage youth to delve into history, centered in the experiences of Black Americans, through research, reflection, art, and writing. We’re also proud to feature collections by the Center on journalism and digital media literacy. The News and You engages youth in critically navigating the news as they step into the roles of journalists and editors and explore how news can illuminate the stories that matter to them most.

<Quote> <“Out-of-school time educators do so much to support students in their exploration of self and their place in the world. This collection aims to support those efforts by connecting students with stories of Black history, culture, and resistance. Digging into these scaffolded resources from ‘The 1619 Project’ can help young learners better understand their world and recognize the contributions of Black Americans all around them. We are glad to partner with Mizzen Education to publish this new collection of racial justice resources for elementary students.” — Hannah Berk, Senior Program Manager, the Pulitzer Center

MidAmerica

This year, Mizzen Education proudly welcomed MidAmerica Industrial Park as our first-ever corporate sponsor. Through MidAmerica’s investment, educators now have access to a curated collection of STEM, entrepreneurship, and college and career readiness resources that connect young people to real-world skills and future opportunities. MidAmerica’s commitment to innovation is helping educators engage young people in discovering their passions and building future-ready skills.

“We know that the success of our business depends on serving and supporting healthy, growing companies. And this growth comes in the way of our clients hiring great people with the necessary skills to remain competitive and meet the moment. Our partnership with Mizzen Education gives our school districts, community-based organizations, and individual educators the critical tools and resources they need to engage young people in discovering their passions and developing skills for this exciting future, be it here in Oklahoma or elsewhere.” — Scott Fry, Director of Workforce Development, MidAmerica Industrial Park

GivingTuesday

This year, we launched our first-ever individual giving campaign for GivingTuesday. Through our community’s amazing generosity, we reached and exceeded our goal of $5,000 to keep Mizzen’s essential tools completely free for educators. With support from one-time donors and new recurring givers, out-of-school educators across the country can spend less time searching for resources and more time impacting the lives of youth. We can’t wait to continue growing our community of individual donors who support Mizzen’s mission of providing the tools, time, and inspiration educators deserve to help young people thrive.

“Mizzen Education isn’t just a company — it’s a heartbeat in our field. And Carlos Santini is one of those rare leaders who makes you feel seen, valued, and inspired to do better for kids. If we want to alter the course of tomorrow’s leaders, this is the kind of work — and the kind of leadership — that lights the path.”

— Chad Norton, Deputy Director of Recreation, Wellesley Recreation Department

“Mizzen Education isn’t just a company — it’s a heartbeat in our field. And Carlos Santini is one of those rare leaders who makes you feel seen, valued, and inspired to do better for kids. If we want to alter the course of tomorrow’s leaders, this is the kind of work — and the kind of leadership — that lights the path.”

— Chad Norton, Deputy Director of Recreation, Wellesley Recreation Department

“Mizzen has been an incredible resource for D.I.G Afterschool Educators like myself! The website is not only easy to navigate but also filled with engaging, high-quality activities that align perfectly with our mission to inspire and impact students beyond the classroom. The lesson plans and project ideas are creative, flexible, and designed to keep students excited about learning. Mizzen truly empowers educators by saving time and providing innovative ways to bring enrichment to life”

— Dennis Perry, Educator, Dreams, Imagination + Gift (D.I.G.) Development Program

“Mizzen has been an incredible resource for D.I.G Afterschool Educators like myself! The website is not only easy to navigate but also filled with engaging, high-quality activities that align perfectly with our mission to inspire and impact students beyond the classroom. The lesson plans and project ideas are creative, flexible, and designed to keep students excited about learning. Mizzen truly empowers educators by saving time and providing innovative ways to bring enrichment to life”

— Dennis Perry, Educator, Dreams, Imagination + Gift (D.I.G.) Development Program

In October 2025, Mizzen Education and Nickelodeon teamed up for a one-of-a-kind Play Lab experience at Nickelodeon Studios in Burbank, California, where youth from the Woodcraft Rangers after-school program spent the day exploring, testing, and creating games—pushing their imaginations toward one goal: becoming official Funologists. The Play Lab experience was filmed and will be shared with OST programs nationally in 2026.

Nickelodeon Our World: The Play Lab, Mizzen’s first-ever curriculum co-written with a name-brand partner, calls on young people to become “funologists,” dream big, and invent unique games in celebration of Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play. Together, we’re harnessing the transformative power of play and connecting educators and youth in the U.S. with communities worldwide.

In 2025, we partnered with the 50 State Afterschool Network, supported by the Mott Foundation, to broaden the reach and impact of out-of-school time programs for youth. Together, we brought transformative experiences to educators (in-person) in South Carolina, California, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Kansas, Maine, Utah, Missouri, Oregon; (virtually) Delaware, New Hampshire, Hawaii, Kentucky; and through national conferences, including BOOST (Palm Springs), National Afterschool Association (Nashville), and Beyond School Hours (Orlando).

We’ve heard from our out-of-school community that they don’t just need resources to use with their youth—they also need support in building skills as educators. That’s why this year, Mizzen took up the task and launched into the professional development space. By showing up for educators and delivering practical insights, we hope they feel empowered to show up even more confidently for themselves, their colleagues, and the youth they serve.

Mizzen partnered with a group of trainers to help summer program professionals craft a model program in the Summer School Lunch and Learn Series. This weeklong 10-session workshop series, featuring training sessions from behavior management to staff coaching, included a session from Kristin Stayer on how to plan, schedule, and choose themes for a summer camp that youth will love. We continued summer staff support at LA’s BEST Summer Land Event, where Carlos Santini presented three workshops that trained 100 staff members on strategies for designing fun and educational summer programs for youth.

We also went beyond training, workshops, and coaching to launch a first-of-its-kind, multi-year capacity-building partnership with the Flint Center for Educational Excellence (FCEE). Through this partnership, we’re developing an interconnected journey of intentional and innovative youth development practices for FCEE’s 14 program sites, rooted in a deep belief that thriving youth programs begin with confident, supported, and joyful educators.

In 2025, Mizzen Education’s strategic partnerships grew significantly, bringing an exciting new lineup of learning experiences to meet the needs of the out-of-school time community. Featuring new and returning partners, these collections are fueled by a deep understanding of our community and the goal of embedding new perspectives into our field. From hands-on STEM games to calming social-emotional exercises, each of these activities help educators deepen their practice, enrich youth learning, and spark a passion for discovery.

Mizzen Education + Nickelodeon: The Power of Play

At Mizzen Education, we believe learning should be an exhilarating adventure for all young people. Our premiere partnership with Nickelodeon has allowed us to craft a unique learning journey for younger students, focusing on STEM, social-emotional learning, and youth voice. The resulting module, Nickelodeon Our World: The Play Lab, calls on young people to become Funologists, dream big, and invent unique games in celebration of Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play. It’s also our first foray into writing curricula for a name-brand partner. Together, we’re harnessing the transformative power of play and connecting educators and youth in the U.S. with communities worldwide.

<Quote from Nickelodeon>

Mizzen Education + Learn Fresh: Supercharging STEM Learning

We knew we wanted to expand Mizzen Education's STEM learning library, especially for adults who work with middle schoolers, while infusing every lesson with the thrill of games and sports. Partnering with Learn Fresh was a perfect match. When Team Mizzen experienced Learn Fresh’s NBA Math Hoops module firsthand, the impact was undeniable. By blending real world math skills with the fast-paced fun of basketball, NBA Math Hoops turns learning into an engaging experience for everyone. Implemented with more than 30 NBA and WNBA partners, this Learn Fresh program consistently delivers remarkable results in student engagement and math. Through STEM experiences that spark creativity and promote teamwork, our community is opening the door to boundless opportunities for youth.

<Quote> <“Learn Fresh is excited to launch a long-term partnership with Mizzen Education. Our partnership is the realization of a shared vision for supporting students in the out-of-school time space. We're excited to collaborate with their fantastic team and further expand our national reach.” — Nick Monzi, Learn Fresh CEO>

<vignette> <Leaning intently over her work with a green marker and a purple star sticker on her cheek, a student races through quick calculations to get her team’s last shot on the board. Seconds later, the clock stops and everyone erupts in cheers. Harnessing the blood-pumping fun of basketball, this is NBA Math Hoops in action.> <Image or video: MEI/LF Activation in LA>

Mizzen Education + Pulitzer Center: Inspired by Educators

Across all of our strategic partnerships, we strive to cultivate the growth of youth-serving professionals, and engage young people on a journey of discovery. Our collaboration with the Pulitzer Center embodies this vision. Through its ‘1619’ Afterschool Partnership, the Pulitzer Center works directly with educators nationwide, who inform content design. This input led to the Center’s creation of an inspiring new collection for early grades on Mizzen Education, centered around 'The 1619 Project.' Just like its acclaimed collections for grades 7-12, these activities encourage youth to delve into history, centered in the experiences of Black Americans, through research, reflection, art, and writing. We’re also proud to feature collections by the Center on journalism and digital media literacy. The News and You engages youth in critically navigating the news as they step into the roles of journalists and editors and explore how news can illuminate the stories that matter to them most.

<Quote> <“Out-of-school time educators do so much to support students in their exploration of self and their place in the world. This collection aims to support those efforts by connecting students with stories of Black history, culture, and resistance. Digging into these scaffolded resources from ‘The 1619 Project’ can help young learners better understand their world and recognize the contributions of Black Americans all around them. We are glad to partner with Mizzen Education to publish this new collection of racial justice resources for elementary students.” — Hannah Berk, Senior Program Manager, the Pulitzer Center

Mizzen Education + City Parks Foundation: Cultivating Environmental Leadership

We wanted to feature a learning experience for youth which would explore the eco-sciences, uplift youth voice, and cultivate leadership. That’s why we partnered with City Parks Foundation, who have a strong commitment to all three of those goals, to make Eco-Explorations available to out-of-school educators and youth nationwide. This acclaimed five-part curriculum emphasizes teamwork and social-emotional learning while fostering deep, meaningful connections to the natural world. From parks and playgrounds to riverbanks and bustling waterways, Eco-Explorations empowers youth grades 6-8 to discover real-world science while becoming stewards and leaders in their local environments.

“This curriculum has been utilized, loved, and honed over 20 years and we’re excited to spread its impact even further. In collaboration with Mizzen Education, we’re offering complete lessons and flexible topics that meet educators’ needs in any setting. We're delighted to partner, and hope these lessons inspire countless outdoor adventures that open pathways to youth discovery, STEM learning, and leadership.” — Chrissy Word, Director of Education, City Parks Foundation

Mizzen Education + Farm to Table Kids: Nurturing Nature Knowledge

Programs across the country have repeatedly requested a fun, engaging gardening curriculum. We spent years looking for the right partner that could bring passion, precision, and knowledge about gardening to the out-of-school space. We were thrilled to find the perfect partner in Farm to Table Kids, grounded in Stephanie “Farmer Steph” McDonough’s deeply-rooted horticultural knowledge, innovative learning design, and warm, interactive teaching style. Farmer Steph poured her expertise into Things to Know Before You Grow and How to Grow Dahlias, youth-tested STEM gardening curricula rooted in science, organic farming, and floriculture that helps educators turn the outdoors into the ultimate out-of-school teaching tool. We went beyond the typical Mizzen partnership, hosting a live learning experience featuring Farmer Steph’s expert insight and launching our very first partnership giveaway of free curriculum materials to help the collection flourish at program sites. Together, we’re helping educators create the conditions for curiosity to grow.

“Nature is the ultimate teacher—and with Mizzen, we’re putting the tools for joyful, garden-based learning into educators’ hands nationwide.” — Stephanie “Farmer Steph” McDonough, Founder, Farm to Table Kids

Mizzen Education + Nickelodeon: The Power of Play

At Mizzen Education, we believe learning should be an exhilarating adventure for all young people. Our premiere partnership with Nickelodeon has allowed us to craft a unique learning journey for younger students, focusing on STEM, social-emotional learning, and youth voice. The resulting module, Nickelodeon Our World: The Play Lab, calls on young people to become Funologists, dream big, and invent unique games in celebration of Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play. It’s also our first foray into writing curricula for a name-brand partner. Together, we’re harnessing the transformative power of play and connecting educators and youth in the U.S. with communities worldwide.

<Quote from Nickelodeon>

Mizzen Education + Learn Fresh: Supercharging STEM Learning

We knew we wanted to expand Mizzen Education's STEM learning library, especially for adults who work with middle schoolers, while infusing every lesson with the thrill of games and sports. Partnering with Learn Fresh was a perfect match. When Team Mizzen experienced Learn Fresh’s NBA Math Hoops module firsthand, the impact was undeniable. By blending real world math skills with the fast-paced fun of basketball, NBA Math Hoops turns learning into an engaging experience for everyone. Implemented with more than 30 NBA and WNBA partners, this Learn Fresh program consistently delivers remarkable results in student engagement and math. Through STEM experiences that spark creativity and promote teamwork, our community is opening the door to boundless opportunities for youth.

<Quote> <“Learn Fresh is excited to launch a long-term partnership with Mizzen Education. Our partnership is the realization of a shared vision for supporting students in the out-of-school time space. We're excited to collaborate with their fantastic team and further expand our national reach.” — Nick Monzi, Learn Fresh CEO>

<vignette> <Leaning intently over her work with a green marker and a purple star sticker on her cheek, a student races through quick calculations to get her team’s last shot on the board. Seconds later, the clock stops and everyone erupts in cheers. Harnessing the blood-pumping fun of basketball, this is NBA Math Hoops in action.> <Image or video: MEI/LF Activation in LA>

Mizzen Education + Pulitzer Center: Inspired by Educators

Across all of our strategic partnerships, we strive to cultivate the growth of youth-serving professionals, and engage young people on a journey of discovery. Our collaboration with the Pulitzer Center embodies this vision. Through its ‘1619’ Afterschool Partnership, the Pulitzer Center works directly with educators nationwide, who inform content design. This input led to the Center’s creation of an inspiring new collection for early grades on Mizzen Education, centered around 'The 1619 Project.' Just like its acclaimed collections for grades 7-12, these activities encourage youth to delve into history, centered in the experiences of Black Americans, through research, reflection, art, and writing. We’re also proud to feature collections by the Center on journalism and digital media literacy. The News and You engages youth in critically navigating the news as they step into the roles of journalists and editors and explore how news can illuminate the stories that matter to them most.

<Quote> <“Out-of-school time educators do so much to support students in their exploration of self and their place in the world. This collection aims to support those efforts by connecting students with stories of Black history, culture, and resistance. Digging into these scaffolded resources from ‘The 1619 Project’ can help young learners better understand their world and recognize the contributions of Black Americans all around them. We are glad to partner with Mizzen Education to publish this new collection of racial justice resources for elementary students.” — Hannah Berk, Senior Program Manager, the Pulitzer Center

Mizzen Education + kid-grit: Tapping In to Empathy

There are times when staffing capacity can become a program challenge for many educators. We wanted to provide brief and impactful learning experiences that could set the tone at the beginning or closing of a program to establish a healthy environment for youth. To make that a reality, we collaborated with kid-grit to co-design Opening and Closing Activities for Grades K-2 and 3-5. The two collections foster youth’s social and emotional wellbeing while empowering educators to build a safe learning space. From morning warm-ups and lesson kick-offs to gentle brain breaks and end-of-day circles, our partnership with kid-grit provides educators with the tools to create an intentional pause that makes out-of-school learning more meaningful for both youth and adults.

“I think of educators and front-line staff as artists and innovators, with the ability to craft real-time impact. My hope for these activities on Mizzen is that they will be an entryway to more critical-thinking and creativity. If educators feel they are resonating, they don’t have to stick to a script, but can explore even further, enjoy the process, and play.” — Julia Gabor, Founder, kid-grit

Keeping Teams Connected

The reimagined Mizzen platform wasn’t our only makeover in 2025. Mizzen for Teams also got a huge overhaul! We redesigned Mizzen for Teams, the one-stop shop for out-of-school team management, to make collaboration across multiple sites, classes, and programs easier and faster than before. Staff can now create nested sites and classes to organize their program, make scheduling easy with an interactive, multi-view calendar, and mass-assign activities to multiple sites and classes. And the best part? It’s still entirely free.

Here’s what program staff have to say!

“I love the new printing feature and how clean it is, and that there are QR codes for everything.”

“I really love that they can schedule an activity across multiple classrooms.”

"We've been waiting for these new features since we created a [Mizzen for Teams] account a year ago, and now that they're here, we're ready to really re-engage with our team on this."

“This is going to make it so much easier to work across my sites.”

“I can't believe this is free!”

“This is exactly what I was looking for.”

Spreading Mizzen’s Expertise

Team Mizzen is chock-full of expertise from tech to curriculum development, and this year, we tapped into that! We embarked on new areas of engagement to leverage the expert voices within our staff to transform the out-of-school time and edtech fields.

Head of Product Alex Jergensen brought his tech-savvy skills and leadership to a national conversation on tech development in education as a Fireside Chat panelist at the Build4Good internship program Hackathon. Angelina Garner (VP of Strategic Innovation + Partnerships) and Sarah Mellon (Senior Manager of Resource Innovation) put their education acumen into action with Nickelodeon and Boston Children’s Museum’s Nickelodeon Our World: Beyond the Backpack, helping 1,500 families receive the tools they needed for a healthy start to school.

Kristin Stayer, Mizzen’s VP of Engagement + Experiences, brought rich insights on building youth workforce development skills, confidence, and creativity in her workshops and plenary session at the Riley SCALE PowerUp! Convening for South Carolina’s Afterschool Leaders. We also leveled up our expertise at the Fast Forward x Bloomberg Pitch Camp, a two-hour opportunity where we received first-class feedback from trained Bloomberg volunteers on how to bring our essential resources to more educators in 2026.

Innovating in Community

The out-of-school time space is a tremendous learning lab for innovation. In 2025, Mizzen Meets continued as a virtual gathering place for bold ideas and real solutions, bringing together changemakers across our community. We journeyed with Dani Coke Balfour to discover unique, creative ways to shape a future for adults and youth filled with hope, equity, and positive action. Shawna Rosenzweig (CEO of Camp Fire) taught us how to create strategies that prioritize youth voice and allow the adults who support them to show up authentically. And in a candid conversation with Executive Director Emanuel “Dupree” Jackson, Jr., Director of Operations Joeniseley “Jojo” Mathurin, and inspiring youth leaders Ja’Miya, Myles, and Patrick, the EJS Project shone as an example of how to unite youth and the local community to build a meaningful career development program together.

Staff

Carlos Santini (he/him/él), CEO

Janine Krause (she/her/ella), Director of Operations

Sandra Havelka (she/her/ella), Operations Manager

Alex Jergensen (he/him/él), Head of Product

Mike Bell (he/him/él), Sr. Software Engineer

Anton Nikolov (he/him/el), Head of Engineering

Kyle Swank (he/him/él), Software Engineer

Hailee Moehnke (she/her/ella), Community Engagement + Experiences Manager

Angelina Garner (she/her/ella), VP of Strategic Innovation + Partnerships

Sarah Mellon (she/her/ella), Sr. Manager of Resource Innovation

Lauren González (she/her/ella), Manager of Educational Solutions

Kristin Stayer (she/her/ella), VP of Engagement + Educator Experiences

Contractors

Mike DuVarney (he/him/él), Business Development

Jenn Conner (she/her/ella), Cng Learning LLC, Edu Expert

⁠Meygan Ngo (she/her/ella), Marketing

⁠Stephanie Bermúdez Giraldo (she/her/ella), Graphic Design

Gabe Ogilvie (he/him/él), Video

Laurie Posner (she/her/ella), Communications

Amelia Green (she/her/ella), Mizzen for Teams Growth and Success

Olivia Williams (she/her/ella), Communications

Sanjana M. Satagopan (she/her/ella), Intern, Product Development

Sophia Wang (she/her/ella), Intern, Product Development

Michael Berry (he/him, él), Training and Development Coach

Richmond Brown (he/him, él), Training and Development Coach

Jocelyn Kirkland (she/her/ella), Training and Development Coach

Janay Boughton (she/her/ella), Training and Development Coach

Ashley Law (she/her/ella), Training and Development Coach

Mizzen’s flying high, and we’re going to keep the creativity, curiosity, and connection soaring in 2026! We’re venturing into diverse communities, including caregivers at home, K-12 teachers, and rural communities, to better support their work with children and youth. Our educator training initiatives will dig deep into the “how” of teaching and learning, equipping educators with the best practices in facilitation, connection, and belonging. New language translation pilot projects will make Mizzen more accessible, and new Mizzen for Teams tools will fuel collaboration for program managers and their teams. And we’ll test out potential AI features built within the Mizzen platform to power up our products. We want to support everyone working with youth in a wide range of exciting settings: librarians, community center staff, museum leaders, and more!

Together, we’re championing joy, curiosity, and play beyond the school day.