The Spartanburg Academic Movement (SAM) is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization, funded by private donors and grants. The Spartanburg Academic Movement is also a community action initiative – the action of aligning the work of all sectors in our community toward a shared vision of success for all our students. The process used for both the organization and initiative is collaborative action informed by data-driven local research, and the application of continuous improvement strategies to actions taken. SAM uses local data and research to identify where to draw local resources and action into areas in need of support within the cradle to career educational continuum through which our students travel. Our goal is that Spartanburg County Students will reach proficiency in the knowledge and skills needed for them to have economic freedom and mobility in the career field of their choice and live fulfilling lives as strong citizens.
External link for Spartanburg Academic Movement
349 E. Main Street, Suite 101
Spartanburg, South Carolina 29302, US
Spartanburg Academic Movement reposted this
Movement 2030 unites an entire community, from schools to businesses and nonprofits around a shared goal: every child having the support to thrive from cradle to career. The work, led by Spartanburg Academic Movement, bridges classrooms and neighborhoods, helping families and communities gain access to vital resources and build lasting pathways to opportunity. What strategies have you seen make the biggest difference in cradle-to-career success?
🌼 What an incredible Hello Family Spartanburg Community Baby Shower! 🌼 We loved seeing so many expectant moms and families come together for resources, support, and celebration. The room was filled with smiles, helpful information, and special gifts — all made possible thanks to our generous sponsors, Humana and Healthy Connections. 💛 Hello Family is here for every Spartanburg family - from pregnancy through age eight — offering free support that meets you where you are. If you or someone you know could use a helping hand, guidance, or resources, Hello Family’s hotline is always available. 📞 Call 864-606-9808 🔗 Learn more at hellofamilyspartanburg.org Together, we’re building healthier, stronger futures for Spartanburg’s youngest learners and their families. 💙👶✨
Educators know when students feel safe and supported, real learning happens. 💡 Last week, educators and others who work with youth from across Spartanburg County joined Lead Training Coordinator Lee Shirley for our Level II: Prevention session -an engaging, practical training designed to support healthier, more resilient classrooms. Participants explored risk and protective factors in trauma prevention, learned how positive childhood experiences strengthen student outcomes, and practiced trauma-informed behavior responses they can apply right away. All CRSC trainings are free for educators, and continuing education credit is available through the SC Professional Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapists, and Psycho-Educational Specialists Licensing Board. Email Lee Shirley at lshirley@learnwithsam.org for more information. #resilientschools #mindfulness #supportingeducators
🔔 Big News! SAM + Movement 2030 are thrilled to announce that Re: Degree Spartanburg has partnered with ReUp Education to expand opportunities for adult learners in Spartanburg County. An initiative of OneSpartanburg, Inc. and powered by Movement 2030, this collaboration means more resources, personalized outreach and dedicated support to help adults return to college, finish what they started, and unlock new career paths. 🎓✨ Together we’re working to: ✔️ Re-engage learners who paused their college journey ✔️ Provide individualized coaching + data-driven support ✔️ Partner with Spartanburg institutions ✔️ Move closer to our goal of helping 5,000 adults complete degrees under Movement 2030 📍 If you’ve got “some college, no degree,” this is your moment and we’re here to help you finish and thrive. 👉 Learn more: https://bit.ly/49nnw4o #learnwithSAM #everyonecanthrivehere #RedegreeSpartanburg
In celebration of American Education Week, SAM's CEO Dr. Russell Booker shares a powerful message about what it truly takes to support every student: collaboration and opportunity. At SAM we’re proud to stand with the educators and partners who make learning possible. Read his full reflection and join us in celebrating the people who uplift Spartanburg’s children. https://bit.ly/4i4mtIJ
This is building community. This is empowering parents. This is the reason other communities are coming to Spartanburg to learn what the secret sauce is. The truth is, the secret sauce is a commitment to using data-informed strategies to inform the work.
Today’s family workshops were a wonderful reminder of the power of linking families to their children’s learning outcomes. We welcomed 10 families for a hands-on morning of learning, exploration, and practical strategies they can use at home to assist in the academic development of their sons and daughters. Parents & their children engaged in activities that modeled best practices in numeracy and literacy skills—everything from strengthening number sense & meaningful math talk--to supporting vocabulary development, reading comprehension, and writing skills. Families were also introduced to strategy-building exercises to be more strategic problem-solvers. Events like this are more than a celebration of learning—they are a crucial bridge. When families understand what students are expected to learn and how they learn best, they become better equipped to support those outcomes at home. Strengthening this connection between school and home not only boosts student achievement but reinforces a shared belief that we all play a role in every child’s success. Families attending the math and literacy sessions received a large bag full of math or reading manipulatives, books, journals & much more to implement their new learning at home. Thank you to all the families who joined us today. Thank you Marisa Lee, Lauren Miller, & Dr. Valarie Cleveland-Tyson for facilitating the sessions. When we learn together, we grow together. Today’s workshops, materials & refreshments were made possible by the Southside Promise Grant (Spartanburg Academic Movement) awarded to the James E. Vaughn Foundation. Many thanks!! #Education #FamilyEngagement #ParentalInvolvement, #StudentSuccess #ParentPartnerships
🚀 We’re hiring! The Spartanburg Academic Movement (SAM) is growing our team and looking for passionate leaders who are ready to make a difference in education and community impact. We’re currently seeking: 📘 Two Continuous Improvement Coaches 🎓 School-Based Initiatives Manager Join a team dedicated to improving outcomes for children and families across Spartanburg County through collaboration, data, and action. Learn more and apply today: 👉 Continuous Improvement Coach 👉 School-Based Initiatives Manager #NowHiring #EducationJobs #Spartanburg #CommunityImpact #ContinuousImprovement
Youth Philanthropy Board Learns from Spartanburg Joint Funders Panel Spartanburg’s Youth Philanthropy Board (YPB) recently met with members of the Spartanburg Joint Funders panel to gain insight into the collaborative funding efforts shaping our community. The panel - originally formed during the COVID-19 pandemic - includes representatives from the Mary Black Foundation, United Way of the Piedmont, Chapman Cultural Center, Spartanburg Academic Movement, Spartanburg Regional Foundation, and the Spartanburg County Foundation. The Joint Funders are united by a shared commitment to intentional collaboration and coordination. While each organization maintains its own funding guidelines and application processes, the group works together to strengthen Spartanburg County’s collective impact. As the panel emphasized, the Spartanburg Regional Foundation and other funders are not only grantmakers but also partners, conveners, facilitators, and leaders - actively engaged in a variety of community initiatives beyond traditional grantmaking. During the session, YPB members—juniors and seniors representing high schools across Spartanburg County—heard about best practices in philanthropy, collaborative funding models, and the importance of local impact in driving meaningful change. The discussion provided valuable perspective as students prepare to award grants to local organizations during their service on the board. The Youth Philanthropy Board is a joint initiative between United Way of the Piedmont and the Spartanburg Academic Movement (SAM), designed to cultivate the next generation of community-minded leaders and informed philanthropists.
🚀 **Join SAM’s Leadership Team as Chief Impact Officer! Are you a visionary leader who loves turning data into action? At Spartanburg Academic Movement, we’re committed to transforming cradle to career outcomes across Spartanburg — and we’re looking for a dynamic Chief Impact Officer who will: • Design and implement data-driven strategies to measure and improve impact. • Lead external measurement, research, and evaluation efforts that advance our mission. • Build capacity across partners and help everyone use data to drive continuous improvement. • Use evaluation to spotlight opportunities, remove disparities, and fuel systemic change. • Tell the story of our impact to funders, policy-makers and community stakeholders. You’re a strong fit if you bring: • A Master’s or Doctorate degree in a relevant field (data science, education, public policy, social sciences) or equivalent experience. • At least five years in data, evaluation, research, or continuous improvement - ideally in education or the nonprofit sector. • A deep understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methods, and tools like Tableau or Power BI (Bonus: Experience with AI-driven analytics to forecast trends and model scenarios). • Excellent storytelling skills - able to translate complex data into compelling narratives. • A passion for community impact, systems analytics, and making real change happen. Why SAM? Because this isn’t just a job — it’s a chance to steer the impact engine of an organization committed to improving educational outcomes and life trajectories right here in our community. Be part of something meaningful. 📍 Location: Spartanburg, SC 🖇 Learn more & apply here: https://lnkd.in/gztvWDqb 🔁 Please share or tag someone who’d be perfect for this! #Spartanburg #Education #NonprofitJobs #Impact #DataDriven #Leadership #SAM #CradleToCareer