In fall of 2021, we made an exciting announcement that we were ready to expand our impact and serve more youth by launching our middle school program in another community within the Shenandoah Valley. 

Our first step was to find an interested school district that would partner with us to continue our mission in a way that was true to our organization, and In spring of 2022, we introduced you to that new partner, Waynesboro City Schools.

While we were excited and prepared for this next chapter, we knew we would need to add members to our already amazing team in order to be able to successfully navigate this expansion and continue to build authentic relationships with our youth. 

And today, we want to introduce you to our two new Program Directors!

Angela Mickens and Cristina Lotts both bring a wealth of experience working with kids both in and out of the classroom. They also bring a desire to make a positive impact on our youth, their families, and the communities we serve. 

We sat down with them and chatted about their interests, what prompted them to apply, and what they’re most looking forward to in this new role.  

Angela Mickens

Program Director, Waynesboro City Schools

From Staunton, VA – born and raised. A JMU alumna, and now back in the area with her family.

TELL US THREE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF:

1. “Chipotle is my life. if I could eat it every day, I would.” 
2. “I write poetry.”
3. “I have a set of twins who are 6, a dog named Duke, a cat named Simba, and a cat named Bella.”
   

TELL US A BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND:

“After college, I moved down to Florida and ended up becoming a preschool teacher and afterschool counselor. So, I’ve been around kids in most of my jobs and I’ve always known I wanted to be around kids. When I moved back [to the area], I started working as a registered behavior technician and got offered an assistant coaching position at Bridgewater for the women’s basketball team.”

HOW DID YOU FIRST FIND OUT ABOUT ON THE ROAD?

“When I was at JMU, I knew Ms. Deanna (from Delta Sigma Theta) and I volunteered [when On the Road was doing] a 5k. It was cool to be around [the organization] and learn the reason why On the Road was started and what it meant to be an On the Road youth and and how involved they were.”

WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS WHEN YOU FIRST APPLIED FOR THIS POSITION?

“I’ve been in direct work as a youth leader and doing everything with the kids. And, and when I was there, I found myself wanting to do more, I wanted to be more … but I couldn’t grow to be who I wanted to be in what I was already doing. But this feels like everything I’ve ever wanted.”

HOW HAS THE TRANSITION TO THIS NEW ROLE BEEN SO FAR?

“Teamwork makes the dream work, I’m a believer of it. And so far, I love the people we’re around. I love the environment. We’ve learned a lot and there’s so many components but there are so many people that are here to help and that’s definitely welcoming. I think they do a great job of putting the team first with the whole big picture of On the Road.”

WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT?

“I’m most excited about getting back to the community and making a positive, optimistic impact.”

Cristina Lotts

Program Director, Harrisonburg City Schools

Has lived all over, but spent more formative years in Florida. Went to college in Utah, and then taught in DC Schools before finding her way to the Valley.

TELL US THREE INTERESTING ABOUT YOURSELF:

1. I am the daughter of an immigrant who came from Ecuador, and the oldest of four.
2. I have twins who are three years old. And they’re the best, I love them to pieces. 
3. I love sushi.

TELL US A BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND:

“I was an education major and did my student teaching in DC public schools, and ended up staying there and met my husband there. He’s also a teacher, and he’s from the area and went to JMU, so he wanted to come back here. So we moved down in 2013 to Harrisburg, and I’ve been in Staunton City Schools for 10 years now as a middle school teacher. I decided that I wanted to exit the classroom, but still be able to work with kids and serve them in a more authentic way.”

HOW DID YOU FIRST FIND OUT ABOUT ON THE ROAD?

“I was ready for a change and in looking at what was available, I stumbled across On the Road and their job posting. And then I looked up and researched and became just a fangirl of it, because it’s the things that they do – all the career enrichments and everything. It was just like, ‘This is what I want for any of my students.’ I wish every kid had access to this program.”

WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS WHEN YOU FIRST APPLIED FOR THIS POSITION?

“I was looking for something that would benefit from my strengths as an educator, because I’ve had lots of positions where I’ve learned how to do classroom management and connect with some of the toughest students. And so I wanted to still take that and then also the leadership skills that I’ve developed. And so using all those kinds of things, [On the Road] just seemed like a good place for me to keep developing these skills, and just a natural next step.”

HOW HAS THE TRANSITION TO THIS NEW ROLE BEEN SO FAR?

“It’s been really friendly and warm, a very welcoming environment. They’re really supportive, and I think they’re ready to help me in whatever way I need. But I also feel like I’m supporting in a way where I can contribute a lot to the team.”

WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT?

“I think I’m most excited about seeing all the growth that the kids are going to have. Seeing them grow from sixth grade to senior year is gonna be really exciting and then being able to get to know their families and connect with them will be really exciting. And then all of our partners, sponsors and everybody that really eager to help in any way they can–it’s going be really cool to get to know them.”