Sahira Fernandez

Sahira Fernandez is a social worker who works with alternative students, ages 16 - 24 who have experienced deep trauma in their lives. Currently, she supports the Next Step Public Charter School which primarily serves recent immigrants and other students who may need different approaches to reach academic success. Here, she has expanded her expertise to include developing systems to combat youth homelessness, supervision of case managers, and crisis management. Her social work pedagogy was framed by the University of Maryland, Baltimore where she earned her MSW and Salem State
University which offered her BS in Social Work. Currently, Sahira resides in Northeast Washington, DC with her wife and dog.

AAPF19 Session

Ensuring Success: Opportunity Youth and the Early College Framework
George Kuh and colleagues (2006) describe critical elements for successful transition to, enrollment in, and completion of post-secondary education. The Early College model has great potential for ABE institutions, and the purpose of this session is to share promising practices, early “proof points,” as well as moments of re-calibration. The presenters highlight conceptual and curricular design, sustainability efforts, as well as student voice. From this session, consideration for policy and funding will also be shared.