Meet the Staff
Diane Genco, Executive Director
Diane has led numerous programs for families for over 30 years, from teaching programs for two-year olds to day care programs for senior citizens. Diane is also an associate for the National Institute on Out-of-School Time at Wellesley College, where she has trained school administrators and afterschool professionals in 42 states. She serves on the Policy Board of the NJ Professional Development Center for Early Care and Education, and the NJ Advisory Board for No Child Left Behind. She has also served on the Board of Directors for the National School-Age Care Alliance and was a member of its Board of Advisors. A native of Buffalo, New York, she received a BS in Human Development, Family and Community Relations from the State University College at Buffalo and a Masters Degree in Education and Child Care Administration from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
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Cecilia Aerstin, Director of Special Projects
As manager of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers project, Cecelia provides technical assistance and professional development to the program's participants. Cecilia has been involved in education and family strengthening for over 30 years. She previously served as Director of Training with the Mercer County Resource and Referral Agency's Child Care Connection. As the Director of Childhood Services for the Arc of Somerset, she oversaw special education services, after-school, and summer camp programs. She has also served on various advisory boards in the Mercer County area. Cecilia has bachelor degrees from Trenton State College (in music education, psychology and early childhood education) as well as a masters degree in counseling, focusing on child and family development from Rider College.
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Christine Corriston, Technical Assistance Adviser
Christine has coordinated community service programs in the Bronx, provided social work services at a hospice in Ecuador, and ran an afterschool program in Boston. Christine has also worked with Homefirst (Interfaith Council for the Homeless) since 2002 as a clinician leading a support group for teens living in shelter and supportive housing. Christine has a Masters of Social Work degree from Hunter College and a number of post graduate certificates including certificate in clinical work with adolescents and clinical supervision.
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Sarah Cruz, Enrichment Support Specialist
Sarah has been working with children and for organizations serving children and families since 1996. Currently, she is the owner/director of Village Play Room LLC, a children's school vacation day camp program.
Previously, Sarah was the Director of the Hanover Township School- Age Child Care Program. She also worked as the Director of Child Care at the YWCA of Montclair/North Essex and as Assistant Camp Director of the Fairview Lake YMCA Summer Camp.
Sarah is a prolific writer and trainer. She has done training for the National AfterSchool Association, NJSACC, Work Family Directions Inc. and New Jersey Parks and Recreation Association. In 2001, Sarah wrote 'Fantastic Finales,' a compilation of activities for school age children. She attended Douglass College at Rutgers University and graduated with a BA in Urban Planning and a certificate in Professional Youth Work.
Stacy Dixon, Conference Coordinator
Stacy has been involved in child care for over 17 years. As conference coordinator for NJSACC, she is directly responsible for designing the conference, recruiting presenters and coordinating workshops as well as input in the conference brochure. Additionally, Stacy coordinates NJSACC's Membership Newsletter.
Stacys experience ranges from family child care to Director of YMCA School-Age programs at the Westfield YMCA. Stacy has a BA in Early Childhood Education from Kean University in Union, NJ. She currently resides in North Plainfield with her husband and four daughters.
Jessica Heiberg, Director of Program Services
Jessica designs and disseminates technical assistance to after school programs throughout the state. Trained as a Quality Advisor for the National Institute on Out-Of-School time, Jessica is proficient in the use of the ASQ (Assessing School-Age Quality) tool. Jessica represents NJSACC on the NJ Anti-Bullying Coalition and NJ Coalition for Kids in Grief. She has spent her career working with children - she has taught 3 year olds, as well as directed an afterschool program and a summer camp. A native of Westfield, New Jersey, she earned her BA in Women's Studies from Douglass College at Rutgers University.
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Pamela Lerner
Pamela Lerner joined NJSACC in September 2005 with over 30 years of teaching experience in elementary education in New York City. She has worked with students in grades K-6 as a classroom teacher, science specialty teacher, and enrichment/skills coach. She attended Brooklyn College in Brooklyn, New York where she received a BA in Elementary Education and an MA in Education.
Over the past three years, Pamela's main focus has been devoted to a 21st Century Grant Partnership with the Department of Education of New Jersey, Liberty Science Center, and NJSACC in the design, publication and dissemination of the 21st Century Afterschool Science Project (CASP). Her work has included staff development and technical support to afterschool personnel in New Jersey for use of this curriculum and she has introduced it nationwide at afterschool conferences.
Throughout her career, Pamela has been committed to quality education through her teaching and work with children. She is proud to be a part of NJSACC and its mission to improve quality afterschool programming.
Amy Sutnick Plotch, Campaign Director of New Jersey Afterschool Network
Amy directs the New Jersey Afterschool Network, a statewide initiative to build public, private and political support for afterschool. She brings extensive experience in communications for afterschool programs and youth development organizations. She has designed and implemented public education and communications campaigns for numerous youth development programs including the Center for Educational Equity at the Academy for Educational Development, the Innovation Center for Community and Youth Development, and Open Society Institute's Youth Initiative. She has also served as communications director at Girls Inc. and the New York City Department of Juvenile Justice. Amy has a bachelors degree from Colgate University.
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