Spartanburg Academic Movement

Today doesn't look like we thought it would due to the effects of Hurricane Helene. We hope you all are staying safe and taking care of the ones around you. The SAM staff is away from our physical location as we await power restoration. When we return to the office, we want you all to know that we've added a College Success Navigator to help Spartanburg citizens complete their college degrees. We’re excited to introduce Frederick Keenan, our new College Success Navigator serving the Highland and Northside Communities! 🌟 As a proud native of Spartanburg County, Frederick brings a wealth of experience helping individuals overcome barriers to earning a college degree and building strong community relationships along the way. 🤝 Before joining SAM, Frederick taught College Skills courses at Spartanburg Community College, equipping students with the tools they need to graduate. He’s also the author of two books focused on high school to college transition and personal responsibility, continuing his impactful work with Viking Early College in District 7. 📖📚 Let’s give Frederick a warm welcome to the SAM family! 🙌 #WelcomeToTheTeam #SpartanburgAcademicMovement #CollegeNavigator #CommunityImpact #StudentSuccess #EveryoneCanThriveHere

🌟 Exciting News! SAM is thrilled to share that Cleveland Academy of Leadership has been honored with the Cheryl Broadnax Award for Innovation and Results at the 2024 StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network Convening in Salt Lake City! 🏆👏 Under the leadership of Principal Dr. Marquice Clark, Assistant Principal Alanda Posey, and Instructional Coach Shiree Posey, Cleveland Academy has transformed into one of South Carolina’s highest-performing schools! 📚✨ Through their innovative practices and relentless dedication, the team has increased reading proficiency by as much as 40 percentage points and doubled math proficiency for third, fourth, and fifth graders. Dr. Clark shared, “With the community at our back and the tools of continuous improvement in hand, we’ve been able to significantly enhance learning outcomes for the children at Cleveland Academy of Leadership. This award is a testament to the power of collaboration and resilience.” This recognition not only highlights their achievements but also honors the legacy of Cheryl Broadnax, who helped train Cleveland Academy’s team in continuous improvement methods. Cleveland Academy continues to lead the way in Spartanburg, showing what’s possible when innovation, equity, and commitment to students are at the forefront. Congratulations to the Cleveland Academy team for this incredible accomplishment! 🎉 Read more: https://bit.ly/3zpMyAp Spartanburg School District 7 U.S. Department of Education South Carolina School Boards Association #ClevelandAcademy #StriveTogether #InnovationAndResults #EquityInEducation #ContinuousImprovement #SpartanburgProud #CradleToCareer #StudentSuccess #EveryoneCanThriveHere #learnwithsam

🎉 Congratulations to the Cleveland Academy! 🎉 Cleveland has been honored with StriveTogether's prestigious Cheryl Broadnax Award for Innovation and Results, recognizing their transformative leadership and dedication to student success. Under their collaborative efforts, Cleveland Academy has become one of South Carolina's highest-performing schools, making significant strides in academic progress for students furthest from opportunity. The award was presented by Cheryl Broadnax's husband and son at the annual StriveTogether Convening held this year in Salt Lake City. The award honors Cheryl, who trained districts and schools, in the science of continuous improvement to raise academic achievement to put more students and families on the path to economic mobility. 📈 Since 2018, reading proficiency for 3rd-5th graders has increased by up to 40 percentage points, while math proficiency has doubled and even tripled! Their commitment to innovative practices that strengthen academic outcomes and deepen community and family engagement has truly paid off. By using continuous improvement methods, the Cleveland Academy team is meeting students where they are and amplifying their potential—setting an example not just within their school but across the entire Spartanburg community. 👏 We are incredibly proud of their dedication and leadership, and their unwavering belief in every student’s ability to succeed truly embodies the spirit of this award. Spartanburg School District 7 #InnovationAndResults #ClevelandAcademy #EducationExcellence #StudentSuccess #ContinuousImprovement #CommunityEngagement #SpartanburgAcademicMovement

We're continuing our Meet the Team series with Cory Phillips, a dedicated and enthusiastic professional who’s passionate about continuous learning and personal growth! 🎓 Cory, a native of Shelby, NC, graduated from Gardner-Webb University with a double major in Economics and Finance, along with a minor in Intercultural Studies. When he's not busy making a difference at SAM, Cory enjoys cooking, spending time with his family, and engaging in arts and crafts. 🎨🧑🍳 His love for exploring new areas and cultures adds an adventurous spirit to both his personal and professional life. We're proud to have you on our team, Cory! #MeetTheTeam #EveryoneCanThriveHere

📢 Join Us at the Thrive 2024 Resilience Conference! 🌟 Spartanburg Academic Movement is excited to introduce our incredible keynote speakers for Thrive 2024—a powerful gathering to strengthen children, families, and communities! 💪✨ 🎙 Dr. Jack P. Shonkoff – A world leader in early childhood development and Director of Harvard's Center on the Developing Child, Dr. Shonkoff will dive into the science of early childhood development and how we can build a strong foundation for future generations. 🎙 Mathew Portell – A pioneer in trauma-informed education, Mathew has transformed schools through innovative practices. He’ll share his inspiring journey and groundbreaking work with the Trauma Informed Educators Network. 🎙 Dr. Alice Forrester – CEO of Clifford Beers Community Health Partners, Dr. Forrester is a leader in mental health and community care. Her focus on multi-generational resilience will leave you motivated to create lasting change. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from these exceptional experts and take part in shaping resilient communities! 🌍💫 📅 Mark your calendars and register today to be part of this transformational event: https://lnkd.in/gsTb9ytV #Thrive2024 #Resilience #CommunityStrength #SpartanburgAcademicMovement #EveryoneCanThriveHere

Own the opportunity to be even more impactful in your role as an educator! Let's learn from the front-runner in trauma-informed practices, Mathew Portell, principal, advocate, and podcast host. Join us at the Spartanburg Academic Movement's conference, dive deep into valuable insights on resilience and early childhood development, and network with pioneering professionals. Save your seat here: https://lnkd.in/gzG22yF4 🎟️🤝 Don't miss this opportunity! Registration open 🎟️

The 7th annual NAZ Northside Institute was a success! Educators from anchor partners and schools gathered for a collaborative one-day empowerment event that brings the bold vision that every scholar can be college, career, and life ready. The morning keynote was given by Dr. Booker, whose belief that our greatest hope for the future is to inspire and equip our children. Thank you to all who attended!

🚀 Exciting Day of Learning at Greater Atlanta Christian School! 🚀 Robin Carter and Naomi Israel, of SAM's Wardlaw Institute of Continuous Improvement, had the incredible opportunity to tour Greater Atlanta Christian School and explore their cutting-edge AI tool, TrekAI, which they’ve deployed campus-wide to improve student outcomes and ease administrative burdens for teachers. TrekAI leverages Causal AI—a powerful statistical framework that identifies root causes of events by analyzing the effects of various factors on outcomes. This aligns with our focus on Continuous Improvement. 💡 We engaged in an insightful discussion on the future of AI in education and the importance of teaching students how to navigate this rapidly evolving field. SAM proudly provided Spartanburg School District One with a $25,000 rapid planning grant to support their AI Tools for Education Initiative. These funds will help: 📊 Collect and analyze teacher data on AI tools 🔎 Visit districts with successful AI implementations 🛠️ Test AI tools in select classrooms 🎓 Support staff participation in key conferences and workshops District 1 is also applying for an SCDE Innovation Grant to expand this exciting work! 👥 Who's Who: Dr. Mark Smith (District 1 Superintendent) joined via Zoom 📹 Jodi Wright (Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum & Instruction) led the discussion on-site Teachers, tech staff, school board member Mark Holden, and Jimmy Pryor (former Assistant Superintendent) were also present. From Greater Atlanta, a special thanks to Dr. Josh Thomason (VP of Finance & Operations) and his team for their presentation and AI demos! Stay tuned as we continue to explore the role of AI in transforming education! #FutureOfLearning #AIInEducation #ContinuousImprovement #SpartanburgOne #EveryoneCanThriveHere

Time is ticking ⏰ Dr. Jack Shonkoff, a world-renowned expert in early childhood development, will share insights from his groundbreaking research at the Spartanburg Academic Movement Conference. If you're passionate about building resilience in our next generation, this is your golden opportunity to learn🧠, connect🤝, and make real impact💥! Secure your spot NOW: https://lnkd.in/gzG22yF4

An opportunity not to be missed! Our incredible lineup at this year's Thrive Resilience Conference, including special guests Dr. Jack Shonkoff, Dr. Alice Forrester, and Mathew Portel, are sure to inspire and enlighten. If making a difference in the lives of children is your mission, this is your event. Join us! Hit that 'Registration' button & sign up today 👉 https://lnkd.in/eJ5UN8h6