Dear Miriam Community,

Wishing you a happy day. Lately, I have had the privilege to sit with educators, staff, and parents at the Lower/Middle School. As always, I am so impressed by the depth of heart, expertise, and commitment to our students who learn differently. I almost feel guilty knowing that our Miriam collective happiness, which we experience while educating our students, is not something others have in their schools.

Across the country—and right here in our region—educators are sounding the alarm.

According to a 2022 RAND Corporation study, nearly one in four teachers reported that they were likely to leave their job at the end of the school year—compared to just one in six before the pandemic. In Missouri alone, over 3,000 teachers left the profession last year, and enrollment in teacher preparation programs continues to decline across the state. Those who remain are often stretched thin, navigating more complex student needs with fewer resources.

I believe this isn’t due to a lack of care or commitment; it's quite the opposite.

Today’s classrooms are more complex than ever. Students are presenting with increased academic needs, heightened anxiety, and rising mental health challenges. A 2023 report from the National Center for Education Statistics found that 70% of public schools reported an increase in the number of students seeking mental health support. Teachers want to help, but too often, they share that they don’t have the training, tools, or support they need to effectively reach all learners.

At Miriam, we see this as both a call to action and an opportunity to lead.

For nearly 60 years, Miriam has been a beacon of support for students who learn differently. Now, through our Miriam Learning Center, we are expanding our reach to support the educators who serve them.

We are proud to introduce two powerful programs designed to meet this urgent need:

Miriam’s Tools for Teachers Program

This initiative equips general and special education teachers with evidence-based strategies to support students with learning differences, behavioral challenges, and emotional regulation needs—right in their own classrooms. Through interactive workshops, coaching, observation, and consultation, we offer practical tools teachers can use the very next day. 

Our General Education to Special Education Bridge Program

Through this initiative, Miriam provides mentorship, coaching, and hands-on support to general education teachers who feel called to work more deeply with students who learn differently. We are helping passionate educators throughout the St. Louis region take the next step in their careers by building their capacity—and confidence—to pursue special education certification.

Whether a teacher is just beginning to explore the field or actively working toward licensure, our program surrounds them with the expertise, encouragement, and real-world tools they need to thrive. It’s part of Miriam’s commitment to strengthening the pipeline of skilled special educators and ensuring that more children have access to teachers who truly understand how they learn best.

These programs are more than professional development. They are lifelines. We are committed to not only building capacity in children who learn differently but also in the people who serve them.

They reflect Miriam’s unwavering belief that when educators are supported, students thrive.

If you are a parent, educator, or community leader who wants to be part of the solution, we invite you to connect with us. Reach out to learn how your district or building can bring these programs to your teachers and students.

Because at Miriam, we believe that every child deserves a teacher who is empowered to help them succeed—and that every teacher deserves a community that equips them for the vital work of educating St. Louis’ children, whether they work at our amazing K-12 school, are employed through our Learning Center, or they are in their own school.

With gratitude and hope,
 

Meg Bamford, Head of Miriam School and Learning Center