Oakland, CA - Mari Litsky, head of school-age care at the Mills College Children’s School, has won the annual award of excellence from the California School-Age Consortium (CalSAC).

Mills’ internationally respected, 80-year-old laboratory school prepares teachers through intensive programs combining theory and practice. When the primary and kindergarten-through-fifth-grade elementary schools were added to the traditional nursery school in the late 1980’s, Litsky was hired to develop and lead the after-school program.

According to Suzanne Di Lillo, director of the Mills Children’s School, “Mari Litsky is a pioneer in after-school programming and an impassioned advocate for the protection of childhood. We are most grateful for her leadership of a program offering children a safe, nurturing atmosphere of high-quality choices.”

Di Lillo commended Litsky for her achievements in community building, professional development, diversity, equity, advocacy and contributions to the school-age care field. 

CalSAC provides after-school programs and professionals with the training and support they need to deliver high-quality, affordable programming for kids. Through its statewide network of members and chapters, CalSAC aims to mobilize the after-school workforce and the field around a common vision: that after-school and school-age care programs will be a public priority throughout California.

Mills College is a nationally renowned, independent liberal arts college offering innovative degree programs for undergraduate women, and graduate degree and certificate programs for women and men. Consistently recognized as one of the top 100 liberal arts colleges in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Mills currently ranks among the top 20 most diverse liberal arts colleges. The New York Times recently selected Mills as one of three leading California colleges for students to consider.

In 2006, the Washington Monthly College Rankings named Mills a leading liberal arts college based on community service, research spending, quality of preparation for graduate education, and social mobility. In addition, The Princeton Review’s annual guide, the Best 361 Colleges (2007) included Mills for the second year in a row among top U.S. institutions offering students an outstanding undergraduate education.

Nestled in the foothills of Oakland, California, on 135 lush acres, Mills provides a dynamic liberal arts education fostering women’s leadership, social responsibility, and creativity.

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