Dr. Russell Booker
We at SAM are looking forward with hopeful hearts as we close out what has been one of the most challenging years for our world, our nation, our community, our own families, and yours. While recently approved vaccines, social justice efforts, and a deeper sense of community bring hope to the world, we share our optimism for 2021 with you, our neighbors we serve, from what has happened within SAM during this past year: We enjoyed a smooth leadership transition as our founding Executive Director, Dr. John C. Stockwell officially retired in August. Dr. Russell W. Booker, recently retired School District 7 superintendent, assumed the role as our new Executive Director on September 1. Both of these individuals were humbled to be recognized by our Governor as they each were awarded our state's highest civilian award- the Order of the Palmetto for their lifelong work supporting our community.
In October, SAM received a significant investment to support specific Covid-19 recovery in our community.
Funds are being distributed to all seven Spartanburg school districts to support equitable recovery for our students and families.
SAM was able to provide direct support to improve digital access for rural students in the County.
The effort from SAM’s Wardlaw Institute to build recovery from Covid-related learning loss demonstrated positive results, earning a new investment from the Spartanburg County Foundation to expand the effort.
SAM is providing Covid-recovery support for our LatinX students and families through PASOS and the Upstate Family Resource Center.
Childcare stabilization funding is being directed from SAM to support early learning efforts and recovery during the pandemic.
Organizations helping children and families recover from the pandemic will have new funding opportunities through SAM beginning in early 2021.
Without a doubt, Covid-19 has changed the way every person and organization functions. We are learning new ways to support our community while building the foundation needed to reach our ultimate goal: improved economic mobility anchored in academic achievement.
Early learning:
This year’s administration of the Early Development Instrument (EDI) will bring us new information in an effort to inform where resources can better support kindergarten readiness. and we can do this more effectively than ever before because parents throughout the county have shared their voice in the process through a parent survey. We look forward to the May 2021 release of this vital data.
Early Reading:
As educators across the county were assessing the extent of Covid learning loss, SAM piloted an intensive tutoring program, free to families, and now expanding.
We are thankful that such gains in reading were made in the Four Schools Project and have confidence that the stronger skills built before the pandemic, gave students greater skill resiliency as they returned to multiple forms of school this fall.
Health and Well-being Expansion:
SAM has hired Dr. Jennifer Parker to lead the non-profit’s emphasis on child and family initiatives with a focus on health and well-being, expanding the organization’s whole-child, two-generation approach to improving educational achievement.
High School and Beyond:
The Out-of-School-Time Collaborative supported program providers across the County with essential training and delivered direct support for youth to attend high quality programs supporting their social and emotional development.
SAM’s research and pilot programs helped more students launch their dreams of college enrollment into action – even in the midst of the pandemic. While nation-wide, college enrollments have declined, early indicators suggest that Spartanburg County’s Class of 2020’s college enrollment remained steady. We are working diligently to ensure the Class of 2021 does not lose ground.
SAM’s efforts to improve FAFSA completion rates were successful, helping students obtain funding for college.
SAM’s pilot mentorship program, “Start Smart,” connected students with community members trained to help them move from “planning to” enroll to actual registration in fall classes. SAM’s partner One Spartanburg provided funding to cover textbook costs for students completing the program.
Training Educators and Community Leaders:
We joined educators and service organizations in shifting our operations to online formats. The John T. Wardlaw Institute for Continuous Improvement trained over 300 educators and community service providers in methods proven successful before the pandemic and essential as part of recovery efforts and offers ongoing, self-paced virtual training for educators and program providers – all free of charge for those living and working in Spartanburg County.
The Wardlaw Institute has opened registration for its next Leadership Training Group.
SAM created a Distance and Blended Learning resource hub for local educators at their request.
National Attention:
While we work to assess and draw resources around local needs, national (and even international) attention came to Spartanburg for the work already underway with SAM and its partners, using Continuous Improvement to build successful collective impact.
The improvement in reading achievement in The Four Schools Project was the topic of a case study published by StriveTogether.
The work was featured as a story in The 74 a non-profit, non-partisan news site covering education in America.
The study was presented at the International Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) forum in December and in the British Medical Journal.
This work in Spartanburg was highlighted in a Hechinger Report op-ed.
It was featured again in a Politico Magazine article.
Spartanburg was also highlighted in a feature posted to Equal Measure, a national platform advancing social change.
While national attention is not why we do what we do, it is important. Spartanburg becomes viewed as “a good bet” for investors wishing to support our community work with the goal that it becomes a model for investment in other communities.
A vital key to what is happening in Spartanburg is collaborative support that makes it happen. From individuals working together to our City Council becoming a model for how racial divides can begin to heal; to organizations, schools, and faith communities uniting their resources to support families in crisis; and the grassroots investments that started this work years ago, we are now in place of sincere hopefulness for the future of our community.
We thank you for your ongoing support of the long-term vision we share: that together, we can build equitable economic mobility, anchored in academic achievement, that builds strong futures for every individual.
In closing, we’d like to extend to you and your family our sincerest best wishes for a Happy New Year and a prosperous 2021. Please stay tuned for an exciting upcoming announcement that will further elevate our work while supporting our children, families, and communities.