Alondra Zepeda was just a sixth grader at Rifle Middle School when she first stepped into a classroom with the Second Shift after-school program, armed with a love for art, a free snack and the kind of excitement only a 12-year-old can bring. Today, she’s the director of the very organization that helped shape her path.

Zepeda now oversees all three of Access AfterSchool’s core programs: BoostCamp, a summer program for first through fifth graders; Second Shift, the middle school after-school program offered across Garfield Re-2 and up-valley districts; and Accelerate, an elementary school program unique to the Re-2 district.

“I remember taking an art class after school and just being able to be myself,” Zepeda said of her time in the Second Shift program. “It was super affordable — like $20 — which really helped my family. That made a difference.”

Her journey didn’t stop there. While attending Rifle High, she heard about BoostCamp from friends who were working there and looking for other aspiring teachers to join the team. She signed on as a teaching assistant the summer after graduation, eventually moving up the ranks to teacher, site lead and then program director.

Zepeda, who was born in Glenwood Springs and graduated from Rifle High School, pursued an education degree at Colorado Mesa University. Before completing her student teaching internship, she took on a leadership role at BoostCamp, giving her valuable real-world experience and exposure to teaching styles.

She later taught for two years at Graham Mesa Elementary and worked as a paraprofessional there for three years, but eventually transitioned full time into administrative leadership with Access AfterSchool.

“I loved teaching, but it’s exhausting to do it all year and all summer,” she said. “So I reached out to our executive director and asked if there were other roles I could support the program in.”

That conversation led to an interview process and, ultimately, the program director position she now holds for Access AfterSchool. This summer marks her third year in charge. Under her leadership, BoostCamp was recently named the top summer camp in the Garfield County Locals’ Choice Awards.

“That was really awesome to see,” Zepeda said. “Being able to understand each role at BoostCamp helped me shape it into what it is now.”

For Zepeda, returning to work in the same schools she attended has brought more than just professional pride — it’s personal.

“I got to work with teachers who were my teachers at Graham Mesa Elementary,” she said. “It was kind of funny, calling them by their first names instead of ‘Mr.’ or ‘Mrs.’ It was weird at first, but really cool.”

It’s also a continuation of her father’s encouragement to “be someone in the world,” a message that stuck with her.

“I wanted to teach that to other kids,” Zepeda said. “I wanted to teach kids to love school as much as I did.”

From a student in the program to directing its operations, Zepeda’s story is one of homegrown leadership — and a testament to the long-term impact of accessible after-school learning.

“There was an organization here that allowed me to accomplish everything I wanted,” she said. “It’s full circle, and it means everything.”