Meet Julie Bookwalter

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Director of the UCI Extended Day Center

Julie attended the University of California, Irvine (UCI) as an undergraduate. While there she worked as a teacher assistant at the UCI Infant-Toddler Center. After completing her undergraduate studies she decided to pursue a career in social work and earned an MSW degree. She worked with kids from birth through adolescence in a variety of settings including foster care, and with families in homes where children were at risk for abuse or neglect. Julie found herself missing time spent with kids in an all day setting. She worked in a couple of schools as a social worker and did grant writing, but wanted to be part of a school environment as a teacher. She had kept in contact with her supervisors at UCI, and one day she received a call that the director position at the UCI Extended Day Center was available. That was 26 years ago, and Julie still loves it! She gets to use her social work skills every day, loves being with kids, and enjoys doing some administrative work. Julie is an "on the floor" director and likes to be involved in classroom learning projects and activities. She and her staff are very engaged in the outdoor classroom approach. In fact, they became the first after school program to be certified as an Outdoor Classroom Demonstration Site and now as a Certified Nature Explore classroom. Julie has also written two articles for Child Care Exchange Magazine. Julie is passionate about outdoor play! They transitioned to a full day program when they reopened and are doing distance learning with the K-6th graders, but they spend every minute they can outside!