The devastating fires in Los Angeles have displaced over half a million students, leaving schools scrambling to provide continuity in education. While the city grapples with the challenges of this unprecedented crisis, Swoon Learning is stepping up to offer a lifeline to affected students and families. By combining personalized academic coaching and executive function development, Swoon Learning helps ensure students stay on track despite the chaos.
Keeping Education on Track Amid Disruptions
Swoon Learning, a Bay Area-based company founded by Carla Bayot and Cory Borman, is no stranger to turning challenges into opportunities. Bayot and Borman, who were instrumental in Anova Culinary’s $250M sale to Electrolux, bring their expertise in building impactful organizations to revolutionize the tutoring experience for high school students. Their approach goes beyond traditional tutoring, integrating essential life skills and fostering student resilience.
In the wake of the LA fires, Swoon Learning has transitioned to conducting online sessions, ensuring that education remains uninterrupted. Currently, the company supports approximately 10 students in the LA area, focusing on Pasadena and Brentwood. This innovative approach aligns Swoon Learning with school curriculums while providing customized, one-on-one academic coaching. Many of these Academic Coaches (ACs) are UCLA students, who now find meaningful work by supporting high school students while navigating their challenges with remote learning.
“We believe in the power of human connection to inspire and motivate students. Even during times of crisis, our commitment to providing personalized support remains unwavering,” said Carla Bayot, co-founder of Swoon Learning.
The Dual Impact of Academic Coaching
For Swoon Learning, this initiative isn’t just about helping students stay academically afloat. It’s also about empowering their Academic Coaches, many of whom are UCLA students. By employing UCLA students as Academic Coaches, Swoon Learning creates a ripple effect of support, offering meaningful work opportunities when many students’ education has shifted online.
This synergy exemplifies Swoon Learning’s commitment to fostering academic success and personal growth. Their Academic Coaches help students improve their grades and teach essential skills like time management, goal setting, and balancing academics with extracurricular activities—skills that will serve them well beyond high school.
Addressing a Systemic Challenge
The LA fires have exposed a critical gap in the city’s ability to maintain educational continuity during large-scale disruptions. Many schools lack comprehensive contingency plans, leaving students and families struggling to adapt. According to reports from the UCLA Newsroom and the Daily Bruin, the displacement caused by the fires has overwhelmed the educational system, forcing half a million students to face an uncertain academic future.
Swoon Learning offers a proactive solution to this systemic challenge. Integrating teachers into their system and working closely with school curriculums minimizes disruptions and provides a model for effective contingency planning. This approach bridges the gap for individual students and demonstrates the potential for scalable solutions that can benefit entire communities during times of crisis.
The Human Element in Learning
Photo Courtesy: Swoon Learning
At the heart of Swoon Learning’s philosophy is the belief that the human connection is irreplaceable. While technology has its place in modern education, Swoon Learning emphasizes the importance of great educators who can inspire and motivate in ways that no app or algorithm can replicate.
This commitment to human-centric learning is evident in the way Swoon Learning’s Academic Coaches build relationships with their students, tailoring their support to each individual’s needs and aspirations. Whether helping a student catch up on missed assignments or teaching them how to manage their time more effectively, Swoon Learning’s coaches are making a tangible difference in the lives of students and their families.
A Model for the Future
The LA fires have created an undeniable urgency to rethink how education systems can adapt to crises. Swoon Learning’s response to this challenge highlights the importance of proactive solutions that prioritize both academic continuity and personal development. By stepping in where traditional systems fall short, Swoon Learning is setting a precedent for how private organizations can play a vital role in supporting education during emergencies.
As Los Angeles continues to recover from the devastation of the fires, the lessons learned from Swoon Learning’s approach could inspire broader changes in how schools and communities prepare for future disruptions. For now, Swoon Learning continues to be a source of inspiration for students and families, demonstrating that with the right support, education can flourish even in the toughest situations.
Published by Iris S.
