Holly Klotz considers herself very fortunate to have grown up in Hawaii and California. Her father served in the Navy and was stationed at Pearl Harbor, and her parents got married at the Pearl Harbor Memorial Chapel. After her father’s service in the Navy came to an end, he became a CPA, which prompted the family’s move to California, where Klotz attended middle school, high school, and college.
She moved to Michigan in 1998 to get married and start a family, and has lived there ever since. Klotz received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and her Master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of South Dakota.
Sean Williams, Director of Community Education & Recreation, says that Klotz is exceptional because of the care and commitment she shows everyone.
“That includes staff, students, and the community,” he says. “Holly truly wants everyone to enjoy what they are doing whether it be planning or participating in programs. Any frustrations she communicates are only to better serve her staff and/or participants. She is truly an asset to Rec & Ed!”
Klotz lives in Canton with her husband, Steve, sons Sean and Austin, and their 6-month-old puppy, Josie. On the weekends, Holly’s family enjoys going on long walks with their puppy, attending sporting events, watching movies, and spending time with friends.
What drew you to the field of lifelong learning, and how did you end up in this role with Ann Arbor Recreation & Education?
Because I was afforded many enrichment opportunities growing up, I have always wanted to be able to offer the same opportunities to others. Throughout my career, I have worked in several community service organizations: YMCA, Boys & Girls Club, Parks & Recreation, and Schoolcraft College Continuing Education & Professional Development, so coming to AAPS Community Education & Recreation (Rec & Ed) in 2018 seemed like a perfect fit. Rec & Ed’s mission to improve quality of life through engaging programs that promote lifelong learning, well-being, and meaningful connections certainly resonated with me. I derive great job satisfaction from seeing smiles on participants’ faces, but what really tugs at my heartstrings is when I am able to witness the exact moment a participant realizes they have reached a goal, mastered a skill, overcome a challenge, and/or found a new friend. Who wouldn’t want to be part of that experience?
Can you describe a typical day as a Rec & Ed Program Manager? What are your key responsibilities?
My position as Program Manager of Lifelong Learning, which includes early childhood camps and classes, youth enrichment classes, and instructional sports, as well as adult enrichment and fitness classes, keeps me on my toes all year long. My primary responsibilities include providing guidance to Rec & Ed’s program supervisors as well as managing budgets, updating our website, and coordinating registration timelines. Occasionally, I take class photos, write class descriptions, and create curriculum, all of which I enjoy doing.
What types of lifelong learning programs have you found most successful with Ann Arbor residents, and why do you think they resonate?
The types of lifelong learning programs that I consider most successful are those where the participants feel a sense of belonging. I also consider a program successful if participants achieve a goal they set for themselves. Ann Arbor residents seem to gravitate towards hands-on experiences and meaningful connections, which is exactly what our classes and camps offer!
How do you identify gaps in educational programming and determine what new courses or workshops to develop?
Most of the time, we develop new programs in response to participant input. In addition, we canvass the surrounding areas to keep up with programming trends. New program ideas also come from individuals or vendors in the community. Creating partnerships with individuals and organizations who share our vision and mission helps us offer diverse and meaningful programs and services. We welcome new ideas from subject matter experts with teaching experience and ask anyone interested in teaching to submit a class proposal form found on our website www.aarecedonline.com.
What strategies do you use to make lifelong learning accessible and inclusive for people of all backgrounds and abilities?
Rec & Ed believes that accessibility and inclusivity are paramount to building community, which is why we offer at least one full scholarship in every class and camp, in addition to offering senior discounts and AAPS staff discounts. Also, being a division of AAPS allows us to work closely with the Office of Special Education to open registration to children and adults with special needs. Our classes and camps are convenient, affordable, and welcoming to all.
What’s been your proudest achievement or most rewarding moment in this position?
The most rewarding moments have involved the completion of each season’s class schedules. For example, we just completed our fall class schedule, and, as usual, I am thoroughly impressed by my team’s diligence and efficiency. They work with many different instructors and can offer a wide variety of programs, but planning each season’s lineup of classes and camps is no easy task. Their sincere desire to meet the needs of the Ann Arbor community is apparent in everything they do.
How do you measure the success of your programs beyond just enrollment numbers?
In addition to analyzing participation numbers, we look at the quality and impact of our programs through the lens of others by doing the following:
1) Survey participants via email.
2) Talk to participants in person.
3) Actively seek input from a Recreation Advisory Committee.
4) Reach out to participants via social media.
5) Communicate with instructors before, during, and after classes.
We focus on instructional quality, curriculum relevance, equity and access, and sustained outcomes. We want participants to know that they are heard, respected, and supported, and we always appreciate when they recommend our programs to others. Our participant testimonials illustrate the importance of community, as they often include personal anecdotes about feeling supported and welcomed by their instructor and peers.
What do you most want people to know about AAPS Rec & Ed?
We are a non-profit organization with a financially self-supporting budget. We strive to make our programs as convenient and affordable as possible while ensuring we can cover our operating costs. Also, we run our programs year-round, which means that our staff works year-round. In the summer, we typically spread our staff out across multiple summer camp locations. So, although the Rec & Ed Office may be somewhat quiet over the summer, our camp locations are bustling with activities! I spend much of my summer over at Westerman Preschool & Family Center because that’s where we offer our early childhood summer camps and classes. I appreciate the opportunity to work at a summer camp location because it allows me to have more direct communication with instructors, parents, and participants.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Generally speaking, I enjoy being part of an organization that provides so many educational and recreational opportunities to the community. I also enjoy the people I work with (which includes the staff within the Rec & Ed Office as well as all of our instructors) because they are creative, intelligent, purpose-driven, and team-oriented. Everyone brings unique strengths to the table, and we complement each other well, which makes tackling challenges much more efficient and satisfying.
But the best part of each day is when I overhear participants talk about how much they like their instructor and how much they enjoy their class or camp, and, most importantly, how much they can’t wait to come back! It serves as confirmation that we are fulfilling our mission.
What’s the most interesting class or workshop you’ve personally taken as part of your own lifelong learning journey?
When studying for my Master’s degree, I took a class about experiential learning and transformative learning. It taught me that no matter what you read in books or on social media, or what you watch on TV or in movies, no learning has as profound an impact as when it occurs through personal, hands-on experience. Also, no person can expand their mind unless they consider varied perspectives and allow for opposing viewpoints.
I’ve learned that placing myself in challenging and/or uncomfortable situations
allows for the most significant intellectual growth.
If you could design your dream educational program with unlimited resources, what would it be and why?
If I had unlimited resources, I would own a campground with a free, family-oriented sleep-away program that allows everyone to unplug, unwind, and explore the outdoors. It would include horse stables, an arts and crafts lodge, a nature center, a ropes course, lake/water sports, campfires, and many other activities to keep families happy, safe, active, and healthy. I would employ several different subject matter experts who value the importance of hands-on learning, so that families can learn from them without even realizing that they’re learning. Basically, I’d like to offer a no-cost experiential enrichment program that creates positive memories that last a lifetime.
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