“We are all dedicated to ensuring your child gets the best education and has access to every academic opportunity, along with unwavering support in building their character.”
Leading By Example
The faculty and staff here at Aurum Preparatory Academy (Aurum Prep) all lead by example. Whatever life experiences have led us here, we share the same dedication to ensuring our students receive the rigorous instruction and positive character education that will help them succeed in high school, college and life, and serve as the next generation of moral leaders.
Our commitment and collective excellence are the result of many years of precise planning and rigorous discernment when choosing processes, procedures, and people to join us. This is abundantly clear when working with Ms. Samanth. As our Director of Operations, she brings the vital “on the streets” perspective of having practiced dependency law for 15 years in the Bay Area, advocating for foster youth in legal proceedings.
We value building relationships with our community, and so we decided to ask Ms. Samanth a couple of questions to help you get to know her better. As a key member of our Leadership Team, we are delighted to introduce you to Ms. Samanth in the interview below:
You served on the Board for Aurum as Board Secretary and Board President while working as a lawyer, advocating for youth in the bay area. What inspired you to join Aurum Prep as their Founding Director of Operations?
While I was working as a lawyer, advocating for kids in the foster care system, I was in and out of hundreds of schools locally in the Bay area, and throughout the country. In doing this, it was clear to me that most schools are very well intentioned, yet intentions don’t carry you very far unless those good intentions are well executed.
That was when I met the Founder and Executive Director of Aurum Prep. He had a plan to execute on the goal of serving our community with excellent education - the kind our students would not otherwise have access to. This plan would close the achievement gap, getting students up to their grade level, and it wasn’t just a good idea - David had an actual plan for its implementation.
I joined Aurum’s Board of Directors and volunteered with them for 2 years as Board Secretary and then Board President. Our Board, composed of exceptionally talented and dedicated individuals, worked exceptionally well together and I felt honored to partner with them to launch Aurum Prep. During that time, it became clear that I could have a greater impact on my community by stepping down from the Board and joining Aurum Prep as Director of Operations.
As a youth, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I wanted to be a spy. Crime shows very much intrigued me, and still do.
What do you like most about your job
I love working with our students - they inspire me every day!
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
When I have an evening to myself, I love cooking. I’ll explore the way food and wine compliment each other and learn about different pairings. Each meal tells a story, and when we come to the table, we experience the story of the soil, the farm, the hands and efforts required to cultivate each item and so much more. Food has a way of bringing people together in a beautiful way.
Anything else you would like our families to know about you?
I am grateful you choose to entrust us with your children. It is truly an honor to serve our students and this community.
Advocating for Students at Aurum Prep
Everyone here believes in our students and is dedicated to doing what we can to help them succeed. Through rigorous instruction and positive character education, Aurum Preparatory Academy educates all students in grades 6 through 8 to succeed in high school, college and life, and serve as the next generation of moral leaders.
On top of being a small, safe, and free public school, we host a culturally representative teaching staff that empowers our students by showing them what is possible and teaching them how to dream big.
If you are looking for the right school to support your youth, give us a call at (510) 746-7860 and talk to a real person.
Feel free to email us: info@aurumprep.org with questions and we will get back to you.
Now enrolling 6-8th grade students in East Oakland.