LATT & Breakthrough Central Texas
The energy at Manor New Tech Middle School shifts from the moment youth finish the last bite of food, signaling their energetic chant. Middle school participants who moments ago were sprawled across tables eating and joking around with each other and staff suddenly snap to attention, voices rising in unison. It's structured, but playful; a ritual that marks the transition from casual afternoon hangout to intentional learning time. Today's focus: Gratitude, their core value of the month. Another cheer erupts, and the room pulses with the kind of energy that only happens when youth feel genuinely comfortable, cared for, and engaged (as much as youth can be after a long day at school).
Outside, that same energy continues as staff members run alongside youth on the field, calling out encouragement during a sports game. Inside, a program coordinator crouches beside one of their young leaders, patiently working through a homework problem. Everywhere you look, there's evidence of something important: a program that's relaxed yet purposeful. A safe place where structure and leniency coexist. Most importantly, where relationships matter as much as academics, and staff genuinely show up.
For over 20 years, Breakthrough Central Texas has been a leader in out-of-school time (OST) programming through college access and success, guiding potential first-generation college youth from middle school through to college graduation. Their holistic approach drives their phenomenal impact. With comprehensive advising, personalized services, and holistic support, they bring the keys to unlock educational opportunity for thousands of youth across multiple sites throughout Central Texas.
“While Breakthrough has long supported students beyond the classroom, joining the LATT Network helped us more clearly see ourselves as part of the out-of-school time community,” reflects Ja'Near Villines-Burton, Director of Middle School Programs. Breakthrough had experience and dedication, but they didn't feel connected to the wider network of shared learning and collective problem-solving.
Enter the Learn All The Time Network.
The Learn All The Time (LATT) Network, anchored by the Andy Roddick Foundation, exists to solve this exact problem. We strengthen and expand high-quality out-of-school time opportunities across Central Texas by convening providers, facilitating peer learning, and equipping programs with professional development, resources, and tools they need to enhance quality and grow capacity.
Our model is built on a simple belief: organizations serving youth are stronger together than apart. Through professional development series, peer learning opportunities, quality improvement resources, and leadership development, we build a connected ecosystem where providers learn from each other, access research-backed tools, and continuously improve their impact on the youth and families they serve.
As an active LATT Network Partner, Breakthrough Central Texas continues paving new pathways for growth across the organization.
At a planning level, Ja'Near and Associate Director of Middle School Programs, Heather Russon, joined the LATT Network's Steering Committee, gaining strategic insights while also connecting with peer organizations through our Summer Spark Series—a five-part peer learning series where providers share real solutions to shared challenges like registration processes, retention issues, and program planning. Ja'Near remembers the reassurance of seeing how other organizations address familiar obstacles. "We can see how other organizations are handling an issue Breakthrough might be struggling with and learn strategies we might not have thought of on our own," Ja'Near explains. For Heather, who entered the OST field without an extensive network, the LATT Network opened doors to a greater network of professionals equally passionate about serving youth. These relationships go beyond traditional professional development, creating a sense of belonging in a demanding field.
At a management Level, Heather now regularly uses the LATT Network's tip sheets—one-page infographics covering everything OST—to help guide frontline staff. More significantly, she's developing a comprehensive quality practices handbook for Breakthrough based in part on the LATT Network's Quality Practices Guide, customizing research-backed frameworks for their specific needs. This organizational capacity building strengthens their programming for years to come.
The benefits of the partnership quickly extend to those working directly with youth and the managers who support them. Ariana Esau, a Program Coordinator at the Del Valle site, found her own practice transformed by the LATT Network's OST Program Quality Essentials Series. This six-session series offers hands-on training grounded in creating safe, structured, and supportive environments for youth. Ariana completed every session, becoming the very first person in the Network to earn the OST Quality Essentials Digital Badge.
The badge symbolizes the expertise and confidence Ariana developed through the series. "The most valuable training was the Encouraging Learning session," Ariana shares. "It provided specific parameters for what active learning looks like and gave ways to support youth as the facilitator. Simple changes, like reframing questions to be more divergent, can make a huge difference in the experience the children have." She's put these principles into action immediately. "The training gave me many activities, ideas and ways to adapt the resources to fit our community. One of the games was giants, wizards and elves which we then adapted to reflect the characters in a book we were reading. The youth loved that game and thoroughly enjoyed participating in it." The impact is tangible: new facilitation strategies, creative adaptations that connect to youth interests, and invaluable confidence to advocate for programmatic changes.
"Being involved with the LATT Network has given me the confidence and expertise to advocate for changes within our programming by having the resources and reasoning to make them. The most valuable thing I've gained has been a combination of expertise and community."
The dedication from leadership and frontline staff ultimately reaches the youth they serve. It's a ripple effect. When one organization strengthens its practice, the youth and community they serve benefit. When providers learn from each other, innovation spreads. When frontline staff gain expertise, quality improves across programs.
Breakthrough Central Texas isn't just participating in the LATT Network—they're committed to quality practices, leading strategic conversations, and proving what's possible when excellent organizations get even better through partnership.
Because no organization serves youth in isolation. And when we strengthen the entire out-of-school time ecosystem, every young person in Central Texas wins.
