Running Races, Going New Places, and Chasing Inspiration

#TeamMizzen kicked off a new era in 2025, and we’re gearing up to #Succeedin2026!

As the end of the year draws near, we’re looking back on how we thrived in 2025. From crossing major milestones to blazing new paths, this year was filled with incredible growth, fresh challenges, and valuable lessons to carry us into the new year.

In 2025, Team Mizzen expanded with the additions of Manager of Educational Solutions Lauren González, Sr. Software Engineer Mike Bell, and Operations Manager Sandra Havelka, as well as several amazing contractors. We grew strategic partnerships and released exciting learning experiences with Learn Fresh, City Parks Foundation, Farm to Table Kids, kid-grit, and PBS News Student Reporting Labs. The Mizzen platform also got a major glow-up this year! We launched our brand-new platform in September, rolling out powerful upgrades to help educators find, plan, and deliver incredible out-of-school time learning experiences faster and easier than ever. This included game-changing features for our Mizzen for Teams product to empower smoother team collaboration across multiple sites and programs.

We also launched our first-ever GivingTuesday campaign! Through our community’s amazing generosity, we met and exceeded our $5,000 goal to help keep Mizzen’s essential tools completely free for educators.

This sets the stage for our reflections on a year of finding our voice, strengthening our skills, and learning languages. We celebrated wins, joined forces to face challenges, and took Mizzen to new heights.

We are so grateful for you! We leaned into our human-centered values this year, connecting with you virtually through our Mizzen Meets series, face-to-face at events across the country, and side-by-side with feedback that took our platform to the next level. You are the heart of Mizzen, and we can’t wait to keep growing and building with you in 2026!

What was one way you challenged yourself to grow during 2025? (Personally or professionally)

#1 Conquering Comfort Zones

“A big part of [my] growth meant learning the organization more deeply by understanding how everything fits together, how each team and person works, and what people need to feel successful. Doing this pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way - I had to use my voice more, trust my judgment, and take ownership, even at times where I didn’t feel 100% confident. It stretched me and caused some occasional anxiety, but it helped me grow in ways and build relationships that feel real and are meaningful.” — Sandra Havelka

“One of the biggest ways I challenged myself to grow in 2025 was stepping back into a management role - and doing so with intention and courage. Becoming a manager again felt both exciting and daunting…I’m grateful I pushed myself to embrace this challenge.” — Janine Krause

“Learning new softwares! In the fall, we changed our internal CRM system to a software I had zero experience with. After lots of trial and error (and support from my teammates), I’m proud of building my knowledge and skillset.” — Hailee Moehnke

“Stepping out of my comfort zone as an introvert to have in person conversations with folks at BSH and FLASN 2025. Getting to chat with educators and see their reactions to Mizzen and the platform in-person deepened the feeling of impact we’re making in communities.” — Anton Nikolov

Mizzen accomplished a lot in 2025. What are 1-2 moments of joy or pride that stand out to you?

#2 Growing Team Mizzen

“It has been genuinely fun to build out our Operations department and to get back into this role alongside an incredibly passionate team - especially the strong and brilliant woman I’m fortunate to manage…I’m excited about where the department is heading in the years ahead.” — Janine Krause

“There is a lot to celebrate within the Strategic Innovation & Partnerships Department this year!! Sarah’s promotion to Senior Manager of Resource Innovation. Lauren joined the team as Manager of Educational Solutions.” — Angelina Garner

“Expanding our engagement + educator experiences team! We have an incredible team of contractors who are so committed to our community and mission and are helping to shape the Mizzen experience in every facet. It has been so fun and joyful to add new perspectives, fresh ideas, and a mix of personalities to our team as we continue to build together.” — Hailee Moehnke

#3 Making Magic Together

“Diving into our Mizzen for Teams work - from marketing strategy, to educator experience, to communications and support - has been a rewarding challenge. I’ve implemented new project management systems and had so many opportunities to collaborate with our other Team Mizzen members (and onboarded an amazing contractor, Amelia) to really intentionally think about how our Mizzen for Teams product takes the load off educators so they can spend more time focusing on their youth, staff, and community.” — Hailee Moehnke

“Working together to successfully launch the new platform!” — Mike Bell

“One moment of joy for me this year was hosting our February Mizzen Meets with Dani Coke Balfour of Oh Happy Dani, where we explored how art, activism, self-love, and everyday goodness can empower us to use our unique voices and creativity for justice. It was a rich, hope-filled conversation that left our community inspired to create a brighter, more equitable future for adults and youth.” — Kristin Stayer

“There was a moment at FLASN where we were speaking to a Mizzen user who hadn’t logged into the platform in over a year. After showing them the new platform improvements, their excitement to jump back in and re-engage with the great content the team puts together was a huge highlight.” — Anton Nikolov

“The expansion of our Nickelodeon Partnership. The release of six new content experiences through innovative partnerships. Completion of a strategic plan that will bring forth new engagement opportunities with the Mizzen Education community. Whew… It's been a good year!” — Angelina Garner

#4 Crossing Major Milestones

“Joining Mizzen full-time! Also, starting to learn Spanish :).” — Mike Bell

“I celebrated my 40th birthday by taking a solo trip to Portugal this spring! A bonus was getting to connect for dinner with Anton, Mizzen’s Head of Engineering, and Meygan, a former Mizzen Marketing Contractor,  who were also visiting Portugal at the same time!” — Kristin Stayer

“This was my first official year with Mizzen as a full-time employee, and one of the biggest ways I challenged myself to grow in 2025 was stepping out of a contractor mindset and stepping fully into my new role as Operations Manager with a team of people to work with and for…While learning and growing is sometimes hard in your first year, I’ve had the most fun and best experience, support, and teacher with my amazing manager, Janine.” — Sandra Havelka

“Personally, I challenged myself to take better care of my physical health. I got back into running and pushed myself to train for a 10k - and now I’m running a second one! I travel a lot in my role (which I love), but it makes healthy eating and physical activity routines harder to follow. Giving myself a specific challenge with an end date made it easier to stay motivated and focused on my health.” — Hailee Moehnke

What is one thing that excites you about Mizzen as we look ahead to 2026?

#5 Leveling Up the Platform

“Super excited to continue to grow the platform, we have so many cool ideas for new features that are going to take things to the next level!” — Mike Bell

“I’m excited to keep building towards a platform and experience that is guided by the perspectives and stories of our educator community. With the new platform launch, we are now able to point to direct elements that have been influenced by our community’s feedback and have so many more plans and features on the books that are directly influenced by what OST educators need and want. We’re driven by community and human-centered perspectives at Mizzen, so it’s been rewarding to have our product echo that value.” — Hailee Moehnke

“I am excited about expanding our technology features to support teams of all sizes with planning tools that meet the needs of our growing and diverse out-of-school time field. Pairing our team planning tools with our content library will help power youth programs of all kinds in ways that haven’t existed before in the field.” — Kristin Stayer

#6 Connecting With Community

“Hard to list only one, but I would have to say that I am PUMPED about how we're aligning around essential goals for 2026 and the number of amazing things that's going to yield for both our team and the Mizzen community!” — Alex Jergensen

“There are many things to get excited about in 2026 as far as the Mizzen community goes. But the one thing I'm looking forward to the most is to continue getting to know at a deeper level the programs, educators, and youth that engage and experience our resources and supports. Whether it's visiting programs to observe first-hand adults facilitating Mizzen-inspired learning experiences, or to sit at a table with youth to find out what they're interested in and curious about when it comes to their learning journeys, or hearing directly from adults visiting our platform and using our content, I just want to be around that type of energy and inspiration. — Carlos Santini

“Excited for 2026 as we focus on elevating diverse voices to share their expertise with the OST field!” — Angelina Garner

And there you have it! A year filled with firsts, fresh starts, and finish lines here at Mizzen, revealing just how vital creativity, connection, and chasing goals are to our mission and team. Through these reflections, we’ve been humbled by the trust you place in us and the gift of working alongside you to spark joy, curiosity, and connection for youth everywhere. We can’t wait to keep collaborating with you to empower educators, nurture the next generation, and shape what’s possible beyond the school day.

We wish you a joy-filled holiday season. May we all rest, recharge, and prepare to help our community #Succeedin2026.