The Sammy Center background

When working as a Special Needs Liaison in the education system, Maria Soter came across a problem: too many children with challenging behaviors didn’t qualify for additional support because they didn’t have any diagnosable disabilities.

These DNQ results were heartbreaking because the meant children who have a real need for individual support were left to fend for themselves in a one-size-fits-all system.

Thus, the idea of The Sammy Center was born.

The mission

Maria gave up her job to go all-in on creating a school. But not just a school—a place where children who don’t fit into traditional systems can find belonging, support, and care.

The Sammy Center provides a safe place of education and support for all children, regardless of whether they have a diagnosed disability or not. It’s 100% referral-based, too—families are connected through other schools, therapists, doctors, and community programs that recognize a child’s needs exceed what they can provide.

The program maintains a staff of trained educators who, with their 1:3 teacher-to-student ratio, ensure every child has consistent guidance and care. The team serves children across the full developmental spectrum, including:

• Speech and communication challenges
• Sensory processing needs
• Emotional regulation difficulties
• Trauma-related behaviors
• Diagnosed and undiagnosed developmental differences

The goal is to provide both standard learning and social-emotional education, helping children understand big feelings, regulate their emotions, and build foundational skills that last far beyond preschool.

The goal

Maria’s goal is to create a dedicated space that houses not only preschool, infant, and kindergarten classrooms, but also integrated professionals—speech therapists, occupational therapists, behavioral specialists, and psychologists—working together under one roof.

A place where families don’t have to piece together care from multiple providers. A place where children are seen, supported, and celebrated.

That’s the kind of impact that changes lives.

To donate to The Sammy Center, contact thesammycenter@gmail.com