Angela Mickens honored nationally for work in Waynesboro with On the Road's after-school program

WAYNESBORO — Angela Mickens was hired by On the Road Collaborative in the fall of 2022 as program director in Waynesboro. She said at the time she wanted to be part of the solution and give back to the community.

Now, Mickens is being recognized at a national level for the work she's been doing the last two years as On the Road has partnered with Waynesboro Public Schools.

On the Road Collaborative is a Harrisonburg-based non-profit that provides educational opportunities and hands-on career experiences to middle- and high-school youth outside of regular school hours. The mission is to provide equal access to educational opportunities to area youth no matter their family's income.

"One thing that we hold very highly is equity," On the Road's co-CEO Emani Morse said at a recent Waynesboro School Board meeting. "We really want to make sure that we're serving students, anyone who needs us, who wants to be there, that we're eliminating the barriers there may be in their lives to getting there."

Morse said that studies show that by the time they're 12, students from lower income families are missing significant hours of learning opportunities.

"Maybe they have less time to read with a parent because a parent is at work or maybe there wasn't money to go to a summer camp," Morse said. "All of those missed opportunities equate to about 6,000 hours by the time they're 12. The reason On the Road came to be was to help close that gap by offering free programing."

The organization expanded into Waynesboro in 2022 at Kate Collins Middle School and this school year into Waynesboro High School, the program's fifth location. Mickens oversees the entire Waynesboro program.

Recently Mickens was honored by the Dallas-based National Afterschool Association as one of the Next Generation of Afterschool Leaders.

The group identifies young leaders who, according to its website, "have demonstrated contributions that have started to influence beyond individual programs to organizations and communities, a proven passion for developing themselves and others, active engagement in efforts to elevate the after school field, and demonstrated persistence in their work to grow as leaders. "

"It means a lot," Mickens said about the award. "It's a proud moment for me."

Mickens has worn many hats in the community over the years. She's probably still best known as an athlete, one of the greatest basketball players to come out of the Shenandoah Valley. Mickens was a star point guard at what is now Staunton High School, leading the school to a state championship. She then became a star at James Madison University, playing for Kenny Brooks.

But there's so much more to Mickens. She excelled in the classroom. She's a poet with her writing published in a book last year. And now she's an educator, working with students in Waynesboro.

"Working in after-school (programs) or any educational setting, you don't have instant gratification," Mickens said. "You work hard and it's not because you're looking for an award, but moments like this make it special."

About 67% of the students in the program come from low-income families and about 37% are youth who are English language learners, according to On the Road.

"Just being able to leave an impact on them, expose them to many different things, different careers, college visits, it's important," Mickens said of her work in Waynesboro.

The first hour of every day students receive academic support. The program also offers career enrichments, when community members volunteer to talk with students about possible careers. Students also have the opportunity to take trips to local colleges to see if that path is one for them after high school.

The program at Kate Collins runs Monday through Thursday after school and the Waynesboro High School program is Tuesdays and Thursdays. At the high school, Mickens said some students are involved in job shadowing. They also have a chance to listen to guest speakers.

Mickens spoke highly of all the staff, including Kisha Taylor, the senior high school site coordinator with On the Road. There is also Addison Tucker who is a site coordinator in Waynesboro The program works closely with Mary Baldwin University, bringing in students from the school to work with the middle school students.

Mickens had enjoyed her time in Waynesboro.

"I love my job," she said. "I absolutely adore my job."

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— Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education reporter. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: On the Road's Angela Mickens honored nationally for work in Waynesboro