For 40 years, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ After School Enrichment Program (ASEP) has been a steady presence in the lives of students and families. Across 81 school sites, the program comes to life each day through the work of 250 dedicated staff members who create safe, engaging and enriching spaces beyond the school day. Their commitment, care and passion shape meaningful experiences that support academic learning and social growth.

ASEP has always been more than a program. It is a community shaped by relationships that grow over time and often last well beyond the school years. For LaQuansa Ervin of Piney Grove Elementary, those connections feel deeply personal. “I love working for ASEP because of the bond that I have with my families,” Ervin said. “When you have had students in their elementary phase and their parents call to invite you to their graduation, it’s an amazing feeling.”

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Moments like these reflect the trust and care ASEP professionals invest every day, creating continuity and belonging for students and families alike.

That sense of community also creates space for students to discover their voices and lead alongside one another. At Piney Grove, Ervin points to student-led basketball and cheer programs as a long-standing tradition. With encouragement and guidance from ASEP staff, students step into leadership roles, learn teamwork and build confidence — lessons that carry forward well beyond the gym or classroom.

 

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Across decades, generations of students have been shaped by ASEP’s steady presence. Few reflect that legacy more fully than Leigh Bishop, fondly known by colleagues as “Queen ASEP.” Bishop’s journey with ASEP began in 1990 as a teaching associate at Myers Park Traditional. Over the years, the path has included roles as interim site coordinator, program assistant, assistant director and now ASEP elementary and middle school specialist. With 35 years of service, the story mirrors the program itself — rooted in growth, consistency and a deep commitment to young people.

For Takia Denmark, site coordinator at Governor’s Village STEM Academy, ASEP represents a calling shaped long before a professional career began. “The phrase my grandmother repeated throughout my childhood — ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ — has shaped who I am and why I do this work,” Denmark said. Through ASEP, that philosophy comes to life each day, as students are welcomed into spaces that encourage imagination, curiosity and self-confidence. “For me, it’s not ‘Why ASEP?’ but rather, ‘Why not ASEP?’” Denmark said.

Many ASEP professionals describe the program as a place where purpose takes root. Chante Bryant, site coordinator at Sharon Elementary, has spent nine years with ASEP and continues to find meaning in the work. That feeling is shared by Christine Dyvig of Huntersville Elementary. “I love my job because I am passionate about learning,” Dyvig said. “There is nothing better than being able to inspire and instill a love of learning in others. This will see them through the best and worst of times in their lives.”