Mt. Airy based educator awarded for creating network of ‘out-of-school’ resources

 Nancy Peter in her office. (Michelle Barrett/for NewsWorks)

Nancy Peter in her office. (Michelle Barrett/for NewsWorks)

Mt. Airy native and educator Nancy Peter was recently recongized for her research and support for children in after school programs. 

 

As founder and director of the Out-of-School Time Resource Center — a network that is part of the University of Pennsylvania and promotes the use and enrichment of after school programs — she was honored in late May as one of 11 nationwide “champions” by the After School Alliance at a gala in Washington D.C.

She also participates in a National Research Council committee, exploring science, technology, engineering and math projects. Peter chairs a STEM program for the Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool Youth Development Network, serves on the George Washington Carver Science Fair Committee and cofounded the Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative, all while earning her Doctorate in Education from the University of Pennsylvania.

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The Peter family has used the after school resources for their own family, and to help connect a young man they took under their wing several years ago. 

Four years ago, Peter received an email about a boy in Afghanistan who was coming to the U.S. on a scholarship and needed a host family. Peter and her husband, Kevin Peter, agreed to be his guardian.

“He’s now 19, in his first year of college and he’s happy,” said Peter. “We had the tools professionally to help him to create a support system,” she said, adding that he did a high school senior internship at the Philadelphia Wooden Boat Factory and is enrolled in the Manayunk-based soccer program, Starfinder Foundation.

“In education, I’ve learned to focus on what is important, cherish family time and not take on too many projects at once. That’s what works for me,” said Peter.

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