SAMARA LEARNING CENTER
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Mission Statement
To provide students with learning differences a program that promotes the development of academics, language, social-emotional, creative growth, and those attributes that will contribute to lifelong success. These "success attributes" include proactivity, perseverance, self-awareness, self-advocacy, and problem-solving.
About This Cause
Samara Learning Center’s goal is to provide opportunities for youth to achieve positive life outcomes. Our 2024-2025 budget of $232,000 funds scholarships for students, staffing, operations, and supplies for six programs. Our alternative school, tutoring program, and after-school program are specifically for struggling students. Our additional enrichment classes and summer camps are open to the general populace. Nevertheless, since we are one of the few organizations in Oregon that specialize in working with kids who are neurodivergent (ADHD, dyslexia, autism, etc.). All of our programs offer a level of support and approaches that provide experiences of success to groups of kids with diverse strengths and challenges. These programs correspond to the realization of one's potential. By giving an individual the chance to access education, guidance, and connections, they are 80% more likely to try new behaviors that lead to economic security & independence. At Samara Learning Center, we create a space that allows for mistakes, failures, second chances, and a celebration of brave attempts. Having an LMFT on site will allow learners to practice self-awareness when bouts of fear, frustration, and sense of failure resurface. Such an emotional state is far more damaging than most educators understand. “Chronic stress impairs brain function by fouling up brain chemistry and even shrinking critically neural brain tissue, making problems with learning and attention worse. Chronic Stress decreases memory and cognitive flexibility, as it increases anxiety and vigilance. This ratchets up a student’s alert level and gives rise to a protective defensiveness. As a result, too much energy is put into escaping the threat by avoidance, resistance, or negativity” (Jerome Schultz, Ph.D). In general, Samara Learning Center educates individuals (and families) struggling with disparities using trauma-informed, neurobiological, and social/emotional evidence-based data. Specifically, we utilize research-based studies and best practices also when facilitating our parenting series Central Oregon Attention Deficit Disorder (COADD) support group. On average, 83.3% of Samara Learning Center’s school’s students K-12th grade have documented Learning Challenges. Also, on average, 53% of our school’s students have been diagnosed with Mental Health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, bipolar, and Adverse Child Experiences (A.C.E.s) Learning challenges and mental health issues can lead to a much greater likelihood of: -Being bullied or bullying others -Academically failure -Dropping out of school -Having self-esteem issues/suicide -Experimenting with illegal drugs -Having car accidents -Becoming parents early -Being in the penitentiary system -Being frequent utilizers of emergency departments How do we help kids more likely to become a positive statistic? Research has shown that it isn’t performance on academic assessments, such as SAT or ACT, which are the optimum predictor of success. The best predictors are more often the executive functioning skills and Success Attributes. Samara excels in incorporating these in all our programs through direct lessons and teachable moments. The Success Attributes, which are based on a longitudinal study from the Frostig Center in 1999, are self-awareness, proactivity, perseverance, goal setting, effective use of support systems, and emotional coping strategies. In The Outliers by Malcolm Maxwell, Richard Lampert, one of the authors of the University of Michigan affirmative action study, states that the relationship between success and IQ works only up to a point. Then, other aspects of the creative mind start to matter more. Divergence test, (as opposed to a Convergent test that asks you to sort through the possibilities and converge on the correct answer), requires you to use your imagination and take your mind in as many different directions as possible. What Lambert is saying is that the only measure that a student really ought to be measured by is how well they do in the real world by having a fertile mind and opportunity. At Samara Learning Center, we adapt together with our students. We embrace shared learning and a growth mindset. Hearing messages that translate to different = bad/broken is outdated! The narrative that youth need to comply with adult authority limits their ability to contribute to society. Diversity is how our planet's systems thrive and survive adversity. Once we do though, watch out! Here come different ways of thinking and doing and being, and together, in community, we can be more than the sum of our parts. Based on this philosophy and federal, state, and regional Health and Wellness measures, we adjust and apply our learnings to the complex and changing landscape of health and well-being in Central Oregon. Plans for accomplishing Samara's Projects: I. Reaching organizations/individuals a. Develop a targeted outreach list: Identify organizations serving low-income families, foster/kinship care, LGBQT2+ communities, and communities of color. Include outreach to state programs, schools, service providers, social service agencies, community centers, and faith-based organizations. b. Create engaging outreach materials: Update brochures, flyers, and presentations highlighting the program, scholarship opportunities, and benefits. Utilize social media, email marketing, and local media outlets for promotion. c. Direct outreach efforts: Conduct presentations at identified organizations, attend community events, and connect with individual professionals who work with the target population. d. Track progress and adapt: Monitor outreach efforts and adjust strategies based on results. f. Utilize data to identify the most effective methods for reaching your target audience. II. Supporting students during summer and the 2024-2025 school year a. Develop a summer program: Offer targeted tutoring sessions, enrichment activities, and social-emotional learning workshops during the summer months. b. Recruit and train tutors: Expand your pool of qualified tutors by offering training sessions or partnering with universities/colleges with education programs. c. Offer flexible scheduling: Provide tutoring options throughout the week and during different times of the day to accommodate student needs. d. Utilize technology: Explore online tutoring platforms and resources to supplement in-person sessions and reach geographically dispersed students. III.Measuring success a. Track outreach efforts: Monitor the number of organizations and individuals contacted, materials distributed, and presentations conducted. b. Collect student data: Gather information on demographics, learning needs, and baseline scores on assessments like BRIEF2 and CYRM-R. c. Monitor student progress: Track attendance, participation, and academic performance throughout the program. Assess progress using the Success Attributes: Stages of Growth Tracker and standardized assessments. d. Analyze data and report results: Utilize data to evaluate the program's effectiveness, identify areas for improvement, and prepare comprehensive reports for the Clabough Foundation. IV. Additional considerations: a. Sustainability: Develop a long-term funding plan to ensure the program's continued operation beyond the Clabough Foundation grant. b. Partnerships: Collaborate with other organizations to share resources, and expertise, and reach a wider range of students. c. Cultural sensitivity: Ensure program materials and delivery are culturally sensitive and inclusive of all target populations. Samara Learning Center is committed to being a safe place for all regardless of race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, or financial stability as a place to receive education as well as a place of employment. While we have taken some positive steps to be more inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accepting, we acknowledge it is an ongoing journey to learn, unlearn, and improve upon our understandings and practices. Samara Learning Center will seek to hire qualified staff and junior counselors who represent our diverse community to mentor and educate our target population. By implementing these plans and focusing on data-driven decision-making, Samara's Projects can achieve its objectives and make a significant impact on the lives of struggling youth in your community. One of the main reasons that Samara Learning Center became a nonprofit was the hope that our school program would be able to accept the federal Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) funds through contracts with the school districts. Based on legislation such as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), and Oregon Senate Bill 819, in addition to teacher strikes, and the numerous education advocacies like Wrightslaw, all are undeniable signs that there is a need for Alternative Education with mental health components and community engagement. Samara Learning Center provides an opportunity to meet those needs. We want our future leaders to internalize: "soar with your strengths."