This World Laughter Day, we’re celebrating three MASN team members who prove that joy and education go hand in hand. Meet Clint Darr, Aaron Banks, and Richard Irwin—educators by day, dad joke connoisseurs by… well, also by day.
Clint Darr, the Missouri Afterschool Resource Center (MOARC) Coordinator and Afterschool Regional Educator for Mid-Missouri, is known for weaving humor into his trainings and workshops. As a certified Laughter Yoga Instructor, Clint presented at MOSAC on “You Gotta Laugh!”, showing how laughter can re-energize both staff and students. Clint is the type to carry around a punchline for weeks, waiting for the perfect moment. Just ask him:
- “Dad, can I eat the last piece of cake in the fridge? Sure, but the dining room would probably be more comfortable.”
- “I bought my friend an elephant for his room. He said “Thanks!”, I said “Don’t mention it.”
- “Why didn’t the hamburger buns get along? They always had beef between them.”
Aaron Banks, MASN’s Youth Workforce Initiatives Coordinator, prepares youth for future careers while sprinkling his lessons with groan-worthy gems like:
- “Why can’t a T-Rex clap? Because it’s dead.”
- “There was a king once who was 12 inches tall. He was a terrible king, but a great ruler.”
- “When is a door not a door? When it’s ajar.”
Then there’s Richard Irwin, MASN’s STEM Educator and the mind behind the Mobile STEM Lab. His jokes are as sharp as his knowledge of science:
- “I’d tell you a joke about paper, but it’s tearable”
- “What’s a miner’s favorite music? Hard rock”
- “I’d submit a joke about dull scissors, but it would never make the cut”
The MASN team knows that humor isn’t just about the laughs—it’s a tool for connection, resilience, and joyful learning. Whether it’s sparking curiosity in a science lab or building relationships in afterschool spaces, laughter helps kids open up, take risks, and feel like they belong.
Celebrating Laughter, Learning, and Leadership: On this World Laughter Day, let’s celebrate not just the giggles, but the good that comes from combining joy with education. Thanks to MASN’s dedicated team and statewide partners, Missouri’s afterschool programs are places where students feel safe, supported, and yes—even entertained.
So, take a page out of the MASN playbook: share a dad joke, spark a smile, and remember that laughter and learning are better together.
Happy World Laughter Day from all of us at MASN!
