SAM Executive Director John Stockwell Receives National Recognition

Danae Davis (l) from Milwaukee Succeeds Initiative and the Strive Together Board, celebrates the presentation of the Bill Henningsgaard Cradle to Career Champion Award to Dr. John Stockwell of the Spartanburg Academic Movement. The award was presented by StriveTogether network navigator Bridget Jancarz (r) in Phoenix, Arizona.

Media Release 10.20.2017

CINCINNATI, OHIO — After 17 years as chancellor at the University of South Carolina Upstate, Dr. John Stockwell  joined an effort to pursue high levels of academic achievement for children in Spartanburg County where he now serves as Executive Director of the Spartanburg Academic Movement. His long focus on helping kids succeed is why he has been selected for the Bill Henningsgaard Cradle to Career Champion Award by StriveTogether, a national nonprofit organization working to improve education for every child. Read more

SPARTANBURG, SC — After learning of the prestigious award,  The Spartanburg Academic Board issued their own public statement of appreciation for Dr. Stockwell's leadership of the countywide movement to affect systems change to in support of student achievement along a cradle to career continuum. The statement highlighted several of SAM's achievements within its first three years of operation.  Read more

SAM TO PRESENT AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE 9.21.2017

Media Release 9.21.2017

SPARTANBURG ACADEMIC MOVEMENT TO PRESENT AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE

StriveTogether event to draw nationwide community, education and nonprofit leaders

 PHOENIX, ARIZ. —The Spartanburg Academic Movement (SAM) will Be The Change during the Strive Together national convening event in Phoenix, Arizona Oct. 3-5 SAM staff will join more than 400 community leaders from across the country for the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network Convening, Be the Change: Getting Results for Every Child.

SAM Staff members Ida Thompson, Program and Network Manager; and Beth Thompson, Director of Collaborative Action Networks, will present “Collaborative Action in Action,” highlighting the journey to success for the Kindergarten Success Collaborative Action Network (KSCAN) group working throughout Spartanburg County to impact kindergarten readiness.  Read More

SPARTANBURG ACADEMIC MOVEMENT hires Project Manager 9.22.2017

Sharon Lauer joins SAM in support of efforts to improve College and Career Ready Graduation

Media Release 9.22.2017

Spartanburg, SC — The Spartanburg Academic Movement (SAM) has hired Sharon Lauer as a full-time Project Manager.  Her primary focus will be working with Ms. Beth Thompson, Director of Collaborative Action Networks, to meet goals set for the College/Career Ready High School Graduation outcome area in SAM’s Cradle-to-Career work in education. The Spartanburg Chamber of Commerce and Spartanburg County schools have provided funding for this expansion of SAM’s collective impact work to improve student outcomes.  Read More

Milliken Leadership joins Spartanburg Academic Movement Board

Craig Haydamack, New SAM Board Member

Media Release 5.1.2017

Spartanburg, SC — Craig Haydamack, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Milliken & Company has joined the Board of Directors of the Spartanburg Academic Movement (SAM.)

 “To have senior level executives from our local corporate community is key to our success.  There are so many standards of excellence and expertise in the for profit sector that can be applied to advance our educational achievement efforts. We look forward to benefiting from Mr. Haydamack’s expertise and passion for academic success in Spartanburg County and South Carolina,” said Jennifer Evins, Chair of the SAM Board of Directors.  Read More

SAM Receives National Support to Accelerate Work

Media Release 4.2.2017

Local Leaders Tapped to Impact Early Grade Reading Achievement

Spartanburg, SC — The Spartanburg Academic Movement (SAM) is one of five national partnerships selected this year to receive coaching and funding to accelerate its county-wide academic achievement goals through an Accelerator Fund Award. The award will speed the rate at which SAM’s efforts positively impact educational outcomes for children in Spartanburg County. SAM is part of the seventy member national StriveTogether learning network that provides support for implementing effective change across the cradle-to-career educational continuum. Read More

SAM's Accelerator Team, digging deeply into factors influencing early grades reading success with professionals from across the nation in Charlotte, NC. Team Members include:  Dr. John Stockwell (SAM,) Dr. Glen Carson (SAM,) Argyll Brewton (D7,) Marquice Clark (D7,) Heather Witt (United Way of the Piedmont)