Samara Learning Center

The Samara Learning Center is a 501(c)(3) in Bend, Oregon. Our Mission is, “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.”

"I wanted to say that I have never picked up my son after school and felt him so regulated and heard him singing in the car... I nearly cried... we had a day last Monday when he was so excited about school, and so peaceful ALL DAY--it's what I call a "glimmer day"--a day that gives me hope that we can help him find his peace with learning."

"You made me like reading. I think I’ll even read some over the summer.”

Our goal is to teach children to "Soar with your strengths and manage your weaknesses" in a safe, supportive, trauma-free learning environment. We guide children to excel academically, learn self-sufficiency, and utilize the Success Attributes: self-awareness, proactivity, perseverance, goal setting, emotional coping strategies, and problem-solving. We specialize in working with kids with neurodiversity. Many of our students are those who have/are: 

• Learning disabilities (such as: dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, etc.)
• ADHD/ADD
• Non-Verbal Learning Disability
• High functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• School phobia
• Experienced bullying in their previous school setting
• Chronic absenteeism (such as due to illness or anxiety)
• Been home-schooled and are preparing to transition into the district

 - Kids should have support to build academic skills that will give them their best chance for successful adulthood. They should not, however, have to work on what they are not good ALL DAY long; sacrificing art, PE, music, and other opportunities to build friendships, exposure to potential careers, and a reason to want to go to school...to learn...to excel. 

 - Almost 40% of those in the penitentiary system have learning disabilities and/or ADHD, YET those with similar challenges also make up about 33% of entrepreneurs. We want to help kids to be a positive statistic. 

Samara's are the winged seeds of a maple tree. Children are like samaras, they thrive when they find the right environment. Samara's programs include:

1. An ODE approved Alternative School with a goal to “learn and return.”  This allows students to build their academic, social-emotional skills, etc. in an environment they feel safe to risk being wrong, while also guiding them to transition back to the larger, primarily public, schools.
2. Tutoring program
3. Elective Collective (Elective-based programs with a trained staff that can help students with neurodiversity participate and succeed. Right now we are doing Dungeons & Dragons and an Improv class)
4. Outreach (Training, facilitating support groups, family/organization consultation, etc.)
5. We are building an after-school care program focusing on 1-3 grade students with neurodiversity in Fall 2023. 

 "I have never heard him engage with any teacher as much as he has with you over the last 3 months."

All of our programs integrate: 

1. Success Attributes: self-awareness, proactivity, perseverance, goal setting, emotional coping strategies, and problem-solving

2. Collaborative Problem Solving

3. Executive Functioning (prioritizing, organizing, etc.)