BOOST turns 15 – celebrate with us!
As we near our 15-year anniversary, we are reminded of how much we value and appreciate our TEAMBOOST partners and want you to meet them. Learn more about our team members and their journeys through the in and out-of-school time field, their goals and aspirations, a few fun things about them, and some of the amazing things they are doing in their communities.
We will be featuring our BOOST Bloggers, Ambassadors, Leadership Team members, and Partners weekly through the end of the year to thank our wonderful team members for their contributions to our incredible community!
Meet BOOST Partner Stu Semigran
Stu is the President & Co-Founder of the EduCare Foundation in Van Nuys, CA, and is a wonderful BOOST Partner!
How did you enter the OST, expanded learning, and/or educational field?
While in college, I fell in love with kids as a summer camp counselor working with special needs kids at the Fresh Air Fund in NYC. My future career aspirations shifted from a doctor (not a fan of blood), and lawyer (too dry for my taste), to teaching (possibilities galore). Onward and upwards ever since!
What motivates you to do this work?
Seeing our students’ amazing potential become real. Knowing that in our doing our best in providing terrific learning and growth opportunities for them, their lives are expanding with great promise and hope.
What are you currently reading or watching?
My Grandfather’s Blessing by Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D.; inspiring and profound!
Share some of your greatest accomplishments.
Helping raise, nurture, and enjoy a wonderful family and an amazing non-profit, EduCare Foundation. Ever thankful~
What are some big goals you are working toward?
Very excited about my 2nd book, soon to be released on Amazon, Heartset Education- A Way of Living and Learning!
What are your top three leadership qualities?
Kind, courageous, inclusive
Name a leader that you admire and why?
Barack Obama for making the tough decisions while keeping the humor and joy alive in his leadership and relationships.
Share an inspirational quote that resonates with you.
Don’t be afraid to look at your beauty. Don’t be afraid to love yourself. Love yourself so much that it flows over to everyone. (John-Roger)
As a child, what were your career aspirations?
I was aiming git be a psychologist until I feel in love with groups and classes of kids and knew education was to be my home base.
What causes are you passionate about?
Bringing love forward as the foundation of our education. SEL, human rights, student voice, and LA Dodgers (-:
What is one of the highlights of your career?
Watching students that I taught or mentored years ago now advance to amazing and varied positions of leadership and public service throughout our communities.
How do you show kindness to others and/or share ways others have shown kindness to you?
Listening and making time for each other has been a key kindness reminder for me. To allow myself to express my caring by deeply listening in ways that others hopefully experience that they are more important than getting the right answer or getting the job done.
What career legacy do you want to leave?
I would hope that my career assists in more fully developing communities where our young people are surrounded by compassionate and loving adults who elevate each child’s special uniqueness and gifts.
What’s the biggest mistake you made on the job and what did you learn from it?
Being too quick to judge my colleagues without realizing what may have been behind their decision or action. I am continually learning to slow down, pause, and look beneath the surface and realize that we all may be doing our best with all that may be going on. Hopefully learning greater acceptance, forgiveness, and understanding.
Tell us what you had for breakfast!
Today- oatmeal, peaches, & raisins- yummy!
From all of us here at TEAMBOOST, thank you, Stu, for being a valued BOOST Partner and for sharing your journey with us!