Welcome Tamika Cleveland to the AzCASE team as our Quality and Accreditation Coordinator

Tamika is a dedicated educator with two decades of experience shaping the educational landscape. Hailing from Toledo, Ohio, Tamika has been a transformative force in urban education, specializing in turnaround initiatives. Throughout her dynamic career, she has seamlessly transitioned from roles as a teacher, coach, principal, and Director, to Superintendent, showcasing her versatility and commitment to student success.

Tamika holds a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Toledo, a testament to her dedication to continuous learning and leadership excellence. Her journey reflects a deep-seated passion for inclusive education, where she has tirelessly worked to bridge gaps and create equitable learning opportunities for all.

Tamika Cleveland, with pronouns she/her, is not just an educator; she is a catalyst for positive change in education. Her commitment to turning challenges into opportunities and fostering inclusivity serves as an inspiration to colleagues and students alike.

Applications for the Rise Fellowship

are now officially open!

The Rise Fellowship is designed to provide rural and Indigenous community youth-serving providers with coaching, tools and resources so that they can utilize evidence-based practices in their programs. Through this two-year program, fellows will network, collaborate, and leverage effective strategies to strengthen impacts for children and families.

Fellows will have the opportunity to:

• Access 30+ years or proven practices and strategies to drive strong youth outcomes from high-quality youth programming. Engage in immersive leadership development workshops and training sessions led by industry experts.
• Receive mentorship from seasoned professionals who are dedicated to supporting your personal and professional growth.
• Gain access to funding opportunities, resources, and networks to launch and scale your initiatives.



We are looking for passionate and driven individuals who are committed to elevating the potential of youth in their community. Interested individuals can learn more about the opportunity at https://grow.bellxcel.org/rise The application deadline is April 1st, 2024.

AZ Department of Health Services

Wanted: Quality out-of-school time programs to join our team!

If you have a desire to provide quality out-of-school time (OST) care to Arizona’s school-age children, you may have considered licensing your program.

New rules specifically for OST programming are upcoming. These OST rules will help programs meet health and safety standards and progress toward their goal of continuous quality improvement and support for all children. A licensed OST program may also be eligible for additional funding sources or subsidies.

Your OST program can provide flexible, creative, and relevant programming while still following licensing standards. Licensing provides programs support and assistance, while also providing families reassurance and resources.  

The Bureau of Child Care Licensing, Arizona’s licensing entity, will host a virtual Q & A session on March 01, 2024 from 11:00 am - 12:30 pm. Hear from our Licensing Team about the licensing process and bring your questions!

Please RSVP via email to margaret.bernal@azdhs.gov to confirm attendance. 

 AzCASE supports all quality programs regardless of licensing status.

Your Leadership Is Your Impact

By Erika Petrelli Bayh, Senior Vice President of Leadership Development at The Leadership Program

I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard someone say some version of “Oh, I’m not the leader, so I can’t…”

As if there is just one way to be a leader.

I believe that all of us are leaders. Our leadership just shows up differently.

Because our leadership is in our impact.  

The impact we have on others, on our projects, on our teams. Everything in which we are a part, we influence. Whether we realize it or not.

Let me say that again: everything in which we are a part, we influence. 

Think about your relationships, your teams, your projects, the places where you work, live, and play. How do you show up? That’s your leadership. 

This is especially important for those of you who are not currently in what you would consider to be a position of leadership, and so wonder if you actually even have the ability to impact change. Without such a position, you might wonder — without the name badge, the corner office, the big whistle — does what you do or say even matter?

And this is where we talk about influence over authority.

The answer, in case you haven’t spotted it yet, is a resounding YES. Yes, what you say and do matters, and YES, you can have incredible influence on your team without any kind of formal position of authority.

So, the real question is not “Are you a leader?” The question is, “What kind of leader are you?” and “What do you want your impact to be?”

Top Tools for Building Mindfulness

in the Classroom

Increased mindfulness can enhance a range of important social and emotional skills, including self-awareness, empathy, handling stress, and identifying emotions. As students think about their feelings, they will begin to practice self-control and self-regulation, which can boost focus and promote accountability. Help students develop mindfulness with these hand-picked apps and websites. Through meditation exercises, physical activities, calming strategies, and role-playing scenarios, kids can benefit in and out of the classroom.

Learn more about how SEL intersects with the digital world with our SEL in Digital Life Resource Center.