Transforming Mizzen by Mott into Mizzen Education, Inc.

Video: Learn Fresh

Huddled around 10 tables at a community center in Los Angeles, After-School All-Stars students race through math calculations to clinch a game-winning play for their team. Seconds later, the clock stops, and the room erupts in cheers. The game, NBA Math Hoops, was developed for youth and educators by Learn Fresh.

Across the country, in White Pine, Tennessee, the Boys & Girls Club of Dumplin Valley is abuzz as youth explore music through hands-on engineering. Immersed in an activity called Creative Loops, they’re using everyday objects to build a sound-producing machine. The lesson was designed by Jazz at Lincoln Center.

In Schenectady, New York, STEAM Camp students are fired up by a districtwide rocket-building competition. Immersed in learning about aerodynamics, they’re vying with teams at five school sites to launch the highest rocket — and engineer the furthest flight. The activity was created by NASA.

What does each activity have in common? It can be found on Mizzen, a digital learning hub uniquely built with and for the out-of-school time community.

The idea for Mizzen was born in 2017, when Ridgway White, president of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, posed a provocative question to the Foundation’s Education team:

“How can we use technology to help ensure that all kids — no matter where they live and learn — can always have access to outstanding learning opportunities in out-of-school time?”

The answer was Mizzen.

In a collaboration led by its Education and IT teams — and with assistance from external technology strategists and developers — the Mott Foundation took the unusual step of incubating an online platform created with and for afterschool educators.

Mizzen by Mott was launched in the spring of 2020 and introduced to the field in collaboration with the Mott-funded 50 State Afterschool Network. Its inception coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which presented both challenges and opportunities.

Initially, the pandemic complicated the rollout, as many educators were focused on students’ basic needs rather than structured learning content. However, Mizzen’s mission to provide turnkey lesson plans and activities quickly proved invaluable. As educators struggled with increased workloads and stress, Mizzen offered a lifeline by helping them plan and implement engaging activities.

This was crucial to Aiko Sato, who led afterschool programs in Oregon during the pandemic and was part of the cohort of professionals who helped pioneer Mizzen and guide the development of its features. She and her team used Mizzen to prepare activities for kids that were rejuvenating, fun and helped them stay connected to learning.

“As a program manager, I look for activities that promote the engagement, safety and well-being of our kids and also for resources that support the growth of my team members and teachers,” said Sato. “Mizzen is unique in that it’s a one-stop shop for our field. There are amazing educational resources out there, to be sure, but this is the first one that’s entirely geared toward us.”

From an app to a nonprofit

As intended from the outset, Mizzen by Mott spun off to become its own independent charitable organization in October 2023. Mizzen Education, Inc. is now well positioned to grow as a national leader in afterschool and summertime learning support.

Today, Mizzen offers a one-of-a-kind digital platform with a virtual content library of 1,800 resources serving 23,000 educators who reach nearly 560,000 students.

“The free platform includes a dedicated app that provides direction, resources and assistance in everything from STEM education to mental health support,” said Carlos Santini, a leader in the afterschool field and former executive vice president of programs for After-School All-Stars. Santini was brought in to become the CEO of Mizzen, lead its transition to an independent nonprofit and take it to the next level.

“Mizzen is the first online application developed by and for afterschool educators. Packed with fun and enriching activities, it helps them create transformative experiences for children and youth. And we know that a better equipped educator is a happy educator,” Santini said, emphasizing the importance of support and community in reducing turnover rates within the afterschool sector. Mizzen strives to provide a sense of understanding and support, letting educators know they have a partner in their mission to foster positive youth development.

That collaborative mindset was important to Emily Williams, chief development officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dumplin Valley, who described how Mizzen enabled her to engage students through easy access to unique content. While initially uncertain about how kids in her club would respond to jazz, she said the results were overwhelmingly positive.

“I ran the program myself, and the kids loved it,” Williams said. “To this day, the kids still ask me, ‘Miss Emily, when are we going to do jazz again? I loved that.’

“The Mizzen platform gives our staff an easy way to pull activities without having to recreate the wheel.”

Empowering afterschool educators like Williams is what Mizzen is all about.

The evolution from Mizzen by Mott to Mizzen Education, Inc. marks a significant chapter in the organization’s journey. As Mizzen looks to the future, its unwavering commitment to supporting out-of-school-time educators and enhancing learning experiences remains at the forefront of its mission.

“With Mizzen as its own nonprofit, we are highly nimble and positioned for rapid growth in response to the needs of educators,” Santini said.

Mizzen has been able to accelerate the launch of new partnerships, content and features — and collect real-time feedback from practitioners — all of which are essential in the dynamic, ever-changing world of education technology.

Plans to expand

Building a robust and intuitive platform requires substantial investment in time, personnel and resources. Mizzen’s strategy involves expanding its team and more than doubling its user base to 50,000 educators by December 2025.

To achieve this, Mizzen is focusing on a strategic approach known as Mizzen for Teams. The goal will be to onboard larger groups of educators from sizable organizations, school districts and rural communities, where equitable access to quality educational content is often limited.

“We want to attract organizations that have large numbers of educators that we can become almost like an enterprise solution for,” Santini said. This approach not only facilitates faster growth, but also ensures higher levels of engagement by providing centralized support and resources to large groups.

Using Mizzen for Teams to co-plan activities seamlessly across school sites was essential to Kayla Ambesi, the community schools supervisor at Schenectady City Schools who led the development of STEAM Camps in her district.

“Mizzen for Teams made programming incredibly easy,” Ambesi said. “It gave educators the ability to have fun with their students, but also ensure that the academics were strong.”

Mizzen also is leveraging the growth of its platform and community to host capacity-building training and events. Through the Mizzen Meets series, it has convened national gatherings on STEM equity, youth and community mental health, empowering girls in science, and using differential learning experiences to expand access to math.

Inspiring discovery

Mizzen collaborates with 30 content partners to bring enriching activities and lesson plans to the out-of-school-time community. They recently joined forces with Nickelodeon to launch Nickelodeon Our World: The Play Lab, an original 12-part series that engages students in using science to invent games from scratch. In collaboration with Learn Fresh, Mizzen released an exhilarating NBA Math Hoops module that develops students’ algebra readiness while also promoting social-emotional learning. With The Nature Conservancy, they now offer four playlists that empower youth to connect more deeply with nature and learn about the conservation efforts of more than 400 scientists around the globe. These resources expand on groundbreaking content from PBS News Student Reporting Labs, the Pulitzer Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, the National Wildlife Federation, VentureLab, PowerUp Fitness and more.

“What excites me most is co-creating and building new resources with our partners that benefit educators and youth in programs,” Santini said. He emphasized the importance of youth-centered experiences and multimedia content, which make learning meaningful and relevant to today’s students.

Mizzen is about equity. It’s about ensuring that every child across America has equal access to really high-quality, free content. It’s about delivering more for every kid.” Ridgway White, Mott Foundation president and CEO

Knowing the users is essential

In the competitive EdTech space, having a deep understanding of the user base is crucial. Santini highlights that Mizzen’s strength lies in the team’s understanding of out-of-school-time practitioners.

Williams agreed, saying, “The Mizzen team understands the world of afterschool and what we need.”

Because the best technology solutions do not remain static, Mizzen is currently in the process of revamping its platform, a project that’s expected to yield significant improvements in the next year. This ambitious endeavor will incorporate feedback from afterschool educators and providers who use the platform, ensuring it meets their evolving needs.

Even with these improvements and related expenses, Mizzen remains committed to offering the platform for free.

“Mizzen is about equity,” said White, who volunteers his service as a member of Mizzen Education’s board. “It’s about ensuring that every child across America has equal access to really high-quality, free content. It’s about delivering more for every kid.”

Looking ahead

While Mizzen’s primary financial support still comes from the Mott Foundation, it’s actively seeking additional funding sources.

“Our goal is to diversify our funding through grants and corporate contributions,” Santini said.

According to Santini, building a robust, intuitive platform and making strategic investments in technology and people likely will yield significant impact in the years to come.

“As Mizzen continues to grow and innovate, its focus on understanding and connecting with educators, coupled with a commitment to providing free access to quality content, positions it as a formidable player in the EdTech landscape,” Santini said.

In a world where education is constantly evolving, Mizzen is not just keeping pace but leading the way with passion, innovation, and a deep commitment to quality and equity.

As Santini put it, “When people think of Mizzen, I want them to see us as champions of joy, curiosity and genuine love for learning.”

Afterschool providers and educators, as well as potential content partners and funders, can learn more at mizzen.org.