Next Door gives first community partner award

Ko has worked as the Education Program Specialist for the past 16 years and with TNDI for the last nine years as TNDI’s liaison to the Department of Education. In his role, Ko helps ODE create budgets for all of Oregon State’s Long-Term Care and Treatment Programs (LTCT); the Juvenile Detention Education Program (JDEP); Youth Corrections Education Program (YCEP); and Correctional, Hospital, and Treatment Schools (CHaTS). At The Next Door, Ko’s support and expertise have been invaluable.

For the last nine years, Ko has worked to help TNDI establish quality education at the Klahre House (KH). When there is money available to eligible day treatment programs like The Next Door’s Klahre House School, Ko advocates for TNDI in securing the funding needed to operate a Long-Term Care and Treatment school. As a result, KH educators have been able to attend additional training courses to learn about how to educate youth in a trauma-informed setting. 

Working in partnership with KH School Administrator Timothy Shampoe, Ko has also helped create pathways that have allowed youth to have access to 21st-century technology in KH classrooms and a state-of-the-art computer lab.

“Sam Ko has helped me create a school that reaches into cracks where society has left our students,” said Shampoe. “He understands where our youth have come from and has helped us to create a school in which they can learn, thrive, and do more than just survive. [Ko’s] partnership with The Next Door Inc. has, in my opinion, helped create the strongest Alternative Education program in the Columbia River Gorge.” 

Every two years, Ko performs TNDI’s LTCT audits, ensuring TNDI is following all state, federal, and program laws, as well as providing rigorous education instruction that allows all students the best education in hard situations.

“With his guidance, TNDI has sent several youth to college, the military, and several more have completed their GED,” said Shampoe. “This school and its transition program have a proven track record of success, in part because of our partnership with [Ko].”

TNDI extends sincerest thanks to Ko for his commitment to the organization and the youth it serve. TNDI also thanks local partners nominated for this award for their dedication to the organization’s success, including the United Church of Christ in The Dalles, Riverside Church in Hood River, Washington Gorge Action Programs, Fish Food Bank of Hood River, and Beneventi’s Pizza in Bingen. Their support serves as a powerful reminder of all that can be accomplished when we come together as a community. For more information, visit nextdoorinc.org.