In a field built on relationships, dedication, and an unwavering belief in the potential of young people, it is a special thing when that same spirit shines through in the professionals doing the work. Dakota Schlechter and Michaela Flores are exactly those kind of professionals — and this year, the National AfterSchool Association (NAA) made it official.
Both women have been named 2026 Next Generation of Afterschool Leaders honorees by the NAA, selected from more than 140 nominations submitted from across the country. Of the 30 professionals aged 30 and under chosen for this cohort, Missouri proudly claims two. It is a distinction that speaks not only to Dakota and Michaela’s individual excellence, but to the remarkable depth of talent growing within Missouri’s afterschool community.
Leading From Where They Stand
Dakota Schlechter serves as BOOST Program Coordinator at Ray-Pec School District, and if you ask anyone who works alongside her, they’ll tell you the same thing: she knows every student, every parent, every district employee by name. Not because it’s in her job description — but because that’s simply who she is.
Ryan Naylor knows this firsthand. For nearly five years, Ryan served as BOOST program coordinator at Ray-Pec while Dakota worked alongside him as assistant program coordinator. When Ryan transitioned into a new role within the district, there was little question about who was ready to carry the program forward. Dakota stepped into the coordinator role and never looked back. “This recognition is a direct reflection of the impact she continues to make,” Ryan says. “It is 100% earned, and it is something that will be proudly celebrated across our district and throughout the community.”
The depth of that impact is rooted in something simple but powerful: genuine connection. The relationships she has built and the meaningful bonds she has created with students and families speak for themselves. “She leads with heart, dedication, and a genuine commitment to making a positive impact every single day,” Ryan reflects — and those who work alongside Dakota would say the same without hesitation.
As a first-year Missouri Afterschool Ambassador, Dakota didn’t ease into the role — she stepped into it fully, taking on a large part of the Celebration of Afterschool and joining her district’s legislative board, where she participates in weekly calls reviewing state-level legislation and bills. Dakota shows up wherever she’s needed, without hesitation.
It is the kind of drive that doesn’t just strengthen a program today — it builds the foundation for what afterschool can become tomorrow.
The Kind of Care You Can’t Teach
In Columbia, Michaela Flores is doing something equally powerful through the Moving Ahead Program. Her role is Program Coordinator, but her reach goes far beyond any title.
Michaela shows up to basketball games. Dance recitals. Graduations. She builds the kind of relationships with youth and families that don’t end when the program day does. Her director, Caitlin Hammons, describes it simply: “That level of care and commitment is something you can’t teach — it’s just who she is.”
Caitlin has watched Michaela grow into one of the most passionate advocates in the afterschool community. “Michaela goes far beyond her role,” she says. “She shows up to important moments in our students’ lives and builds real relationships with both youth and their families, often spending time outside of normal programming to support them however she can.” That investment in people — in the whole person, not just the program participant — is what sets Michaela apart.
But Michaela’s impact doesn’t stop at the program door. As a member of the Missouri AfterSchool Network’s Policy Committee and a Missouri Afterschool Ambassador, she has brought youth to the Youth Advocacy Summit, the 220 Youth Leadership Summit, Middle and High School Summits, and Show-Me Afterschool Day — not just as a participant, but as a passionate and knowledgeable voice for the community she represents. “Her work as a Missouri Afterschool Ambassador has played a huge role in this recognition,” Caitlin notes. “She consistently brings awareness to the importance of afterschool programming and uses her voice to advocate for the needs of our youth and families at a larger level.” Michaela understands that advocating for youth means showing up in the rooms where decisions get made, and she does exactly that.
What This Moment Means for Missouri
The afterschool field is only as strong as the people who choose to build careers within it. Every day, approximately 850,000 professionals across the country show up for the 7.8 million young people who depend on afterschool programs. The quality of that work — and the future of the profession itself — rests on the next generation of leaders who are willing to go deeper, push further, and lift others as they rise.
Dakota and Michaela are that generation.
As Brad Lademann, associate director of quality at the Missouri AfterSchool Network and NAA board member, reflects: “Dakota and Michaela exemplify exactly what Missouri’s afterschool field needs most right now — leaders who don’t just show up, but who lift everyone around them. Missouri is stronger because of their work, and so is the entire afterschool profession.”
Their recognition by the NAA is well-earned. But more than an honor, it’s a signal — to every early-career professional in this field — that the work you do every day, the relationships you build, the advocacy you show up for, and the young people you champion: it matters. It is seen. And it is shaping the future of afterschool in Missouri and beyond.
