The Southport CoLAB And SVP CT Partnership Continues

THE SOUTHPORT COLAB ANNOUNCES CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP

WITH SOCIAL VENTURE PARTNERS CT

First Structured Literacy Pilot Program in Progress with Catholic Academies of Bridgeport

The Headmaster of The Southport School and Founder of The Southport CoLAB, Dr. Benjamin N. Powers, is pleased to announce the receipt of a second year of grant funding as part of a three-year partnership with Social Venture Partners Connecticut (SVP CT), a program of Fairfield County's Community Foundation (FCCF). Dr. Powers also announced that with the positive response and success of The Southport CoLAB during its inaugural year, the Board of Directors approved hiring a new director and appointed Suzanne Lang in July 2019. Together, Dr. Powers and Ms. Lang have compiled an exciting collaboration of workshops and course offerings for parents and educators for the 2019-2020 academic year. Ms. Lang will lead the CoLAB’s initiatives and drive the mission to integrate research, practice, and advocacy to effect positive outcomes for people with learning and attention issues.

“A student’s academic success relies in large part on the preparedness of their teachers. In particular, children with learning differences require knowledgeable teachers whose instructional strategies are driven by the latest educational practices and most current understanding of the neurobiological underpinnings of the learning process,” explains Dr. Powers. “Moreover, recent research supports that many of the approaches and techniques to support students with learning and attention issues benefit all students, so reaching as many teachers as we can through our partnerships and professional development opportunities is the vision of the School and CoLAB. SVP’s team leaders, along with Ms. Lang, and our in-house educational experts are helping make this happen for The Southport CoLAB through developing professional connections, sharing expertise, and leveraging strategic insight.”

SVP CT is an organization that invests financial resources and human capital for sustainable solutions to social problems. The Southport CoLAB and SVP’s shared objective is to enhance the CoLAB’s business plan with a specific focus on low-income school districts to promote positive changes in literacy outcomes through educational partnerships and training in Structured Literacy™ using the Orton-Gillingham approach. This includes the implementation of a three-year pilot program with the Catholic Academies of Bridgeport, where all kindergarten-level teachers receive formal training and workshops from the CoLAB’s team of experts.

“The Catholic Academies of Bridgeport’s professional development has been a positive and exploratory experience as we continue to analyze and implement relevant teacher training and further student education at the elementary level,” explains Stacey Goodwin, Lead Partner of the SVP Engagement Team. “It’s a start to a fundamental objective in this partnership which is to effect positive change and a ripple effect in reading outcomes for all children in the state of Connecticut. Educational success starts with a solid foundation like this.”

To support such initiatives and drive the mission of The Southport CoLAB, its new director Ms. Lang will continue to integrate research, practice, and advocacy to effect positive outcomes for people with learning and attention issues. Prior to this role, Ms. Lang was the Manager of Strategic Partnerships at Poses Family Foundation (PFF), a non-profit entity with an educational mission. Through her role at PFF, Ms. Lang was instrumental in leading the founding partnerships for Understood.org, a digital platform for parents of kids with learning and attention issues launched in 2014. Before her time with PFF, Ms. Lang was manager of the learning disabilities portfolio at the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation.

This fall, The Southport CoLAB announces its presentations for the 2019-2020 academic year. For all details and information, including times and registration, please visit the website at SouthportSchool.org/CoLAB.

Community Lecture Series – Free to the Greater Community, Registration Required

Friday, October 18, 2019 - The Dyslexia Foundation Conference Simulcast from Harvard Campus

“Understanding Spelling, Orthography, and Their Links to Reading”

Tuesday, December 10, 2019 - “Considering College for your Students with Learning Differences: Understanding the Big Picture, the Role of Foundational Skills and Making a Plan to Navigate the Process”

Thursday, January 16, 2020 - “E-Parenting: How to Raise Stand-up Citizens in a World of Sexting, Fortnite, Snapchat and other Digital Distractions”

Friday, February 14, 2020 - The Dyslexia Foundation Conference Simulcast from UCLA Campus

“Dyslexia and Literacy: Understanding Anxiety and the Struggling Reader”

Thursday, April 23, 2020 – “A Personal Journey: From Struggle to Success”

Thursday, April 30, 2020 – “Experience” Learning Differences

Executive Functioning Workshops – Registration Required & Fee

Three-Part Series Workshop - October 2 | October 16 | October 30

Understand, Identify and Foster Executive Function for Parents

Two-Part Series Workshop- March 31 | April 7

Self-Regulation and Its Connection to Executive Function for Parents

Two-Part Series Workshop – October 10 | April 21

Understanding Executive Function and its Relation to Educational Goals for Educators

Assistive Technology Workshops - Registration Required & Fee

For Parents - “LD-EdTech: How Can Technology Help My Child?” -November 12

For Educators - “TechnolOGy: EdTech to Enhance Structured Literacy Instruction - November 16

For Educators - 20-Minute Webinars, Working with LD Students – January 22, January 29, February 12

Preschool Educators Professional Development (all Tuesdays) – Registration Required & No Cost

October 22, 2019 – Explore the Senses in Our Sensory Lab!

January 28, 2020 – Regulation & Executive Function

April 28, 2020 – Speaking with Parents about Evaluation

Orton-Gillingham Courses for Educators & Parents – Registration Required & Fee

Structured Literacy IV - AOGPE Certified Level II| Tuesdays, 4:00-7:00 PM

Structured Literacy II - AOGPE Associate Part II | Fridays, 1:00-4:00 PM

Free Reading Screenings for Children (Pre-K to 3rd Grade) – Appointment Required & Free

The ability to read is one of the most important predictors of academic success. Children with reading difficulties are at risk for setting a pattern of experience failure in school. Early identification can significantly reduce this risk. Personalized feedback sessions and recommendations (approx. one hour). Visit our website to schedule an appointment.

The Southport CoLABprovides the highest quality programs in training professionals, educators, and families using a collaborative, partnership-based approach with like-minded organizations and experts in the field. Our mission is to integrate research, practice, and advocacy to effect positive outcomes for people with learning and attention issues. Led by Southport School teachers and collaborators, we currently offer three specialized training programs: Structured Literacyä, Executive Functioning, and Assistive Technology. Parents, teachers, and administrators are invited to learn more about how we can work as a community to impact the nearly 1 in 5 students with learning and attention issues, including the 1 in 10 with dyslexia, in our schools. Learn more at SouthportSchool.org/CoLAB.

Since its inception in 1984, The Southport Schoolis dedicated to creating transformative educational experiences for students that recognizes individual strengths, promotes independent thinking, develops self-esteem and self-advocacy, and supports a successful transition for continued academic achievement. In our coeducational elementary, middle, and summer school programs, students can safely take risks and are championed by an expert faculty that is student-focused and uses research and evidence-based approaches. In the last 35 years, The Southport School has grown from serving 20 students to 112 from more than 30 communities in Connecticut and New York. The school’s two buildings – home to the original Pequot School and Southport Savings Bank - are located at 214 Main Street in the historic harbor of Southport, Connecticut. Learn more at SouthportSchool.org.

Social Venture Partners Connecticut(SVP), is an engaged community of individuals, called Partners, leveraging time, expertise, and financial resources toward a goal of closing the opportunity gap in Connecticut, while becoming more strategic and effective in their personal giving. SVP also builds cross sector partnerships that can create sustainable solutions to social problems. Using a venture philanthropy model, SVP supports the growth and capacity building of the most effective nonprofit organizations, social ventures, and educational institutions through multi-year grants and pro bono strategic consulting. SVP is a program and field of interest fund of Fairfield County’s Community Foundation and a donor advised fund of the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. SVP Connecticut is an affiliate of the global SVP Network of engaged donors with more than 3500 Partners in 44 cities around the world. Learn more at SocialVenturePartners.org/Connecticut.