NEW HEIGHTS EDUCATIONAL GROUP
No Limits, Just Goals!
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
New Heights Educational Group, Inc., was formed on June 1, 2006, as a support network of diverse northwest Ohio families with children in public, charter and home schools. We currently serve northwest Ohio and beyond, including the following Ohio towns: Allen, Defiance, Delphos, Hancock, Henry, Lima, Lucas, Napoleon, Putnam, Paulding, Van Wert, Wauseon, Williams and Wood. Anyone from anywhere can take our classes or request tutoring or other educational services. We are proud to provide a one-stop education shop. We believe that a child's high-quality school experience includes exposure to diverse people, topics and learning adventures. Therefore, our goal is to provide a social/informational framework where parents and students can share educational resources, group activities, field trips, a magazine, meetings, a radio show, email/chatroom discussions, and where students of any age can receive tutoring. Or enjoy a one-stop-shop for a la cart education.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Library, Informational Services and Tutoring Center
The NHEG private library and Personalized Tutoring Center includes various curricula, software and other important items needed for our tutoring program.
We would like to obtain a building so that students and tutors are able to access this information and offer internet access to students as an additional information resource.
Requirements: 6 computers
We are an excellent source of information for homeschool parents and students, as well as for anyone considering educational options. In addition to the many pages of information available on this website, we offer one-on-one consultation and tools to plan and manage anyone's academic efforts. We also offer free educational opportunities and information about various contests and awards. If you are a homeschool parent and confused about which curriculum to follow for your children, we can help you with the decision making process.
NHEG Computer Lab and Learning Center
The labs will provide a space for academic research, academic studies, school assignments, educational planning, testing and tutoring services, and other educational options. The labs can be used by families with students enrolled in any type of school or after school programs, for homeschool resources and as a teaching space for themed co-op/enrichment classes. The facilities will enable NHEG to teach, assist and provide technical resources to families for self-guided learning.
Requirements: 15 new laptops (replacement of existing computers)
Special Events
Our special events include field trips, live performances, dances, enrichment days, recognition days, graduation days, fundraising events, informational meetings, pool parties, mom's time, advisory groups, and prom.
Student Leadership
Student members of NHEG who offer support and advice to the director and the other board members, either during online or in-person meetings.
Philosophy behind the advisory group: "Rather than standing or speaking for children, we need to stand with children speaking for themselves. We don't need a political movement for children... [We need to] build environments and policies for our collective future." - Sandra Meucci, as quoted by Wendy Lesko in Maximum Youth Involvement.
Responsibilities and goals:
Promote youth leadership, service-learning, and expressing opinions.
Offer programming advice, delegate roles, and positions to other youth and bring a valuable youth perspective to NHEG’s work.
Help with fundraising, and soliciting monies
Help spreads the word about NHEG
Fundraise for their many future experiences, either through hands-on training for their future careers or for other means
Cannot issue directives that must be followed: serves to make recommendations and/or provide key information and materials to the board members
Expected to meet often, either online or in person.
Working with the NHEG board and expose advisors to new and potentially useful ideas and perspectives
Expand advisors’ networks and provide them with a way of giving back and improving education in our area
Be supportive and listen to the Founder/Director, offering clear and positive feedback
Be respectful of all points of views
Work as a team to further goals
Be responsible for providing their own structured plans and for programs/activities/gatherings and follow-up to ensure plans succeed and become established
Create agendas before each meeting, allowing for discussion, visiting, and brainstorming.
Opt to designate officers or to take turns with jobs and tasks.
Answer to Founder/Director and other board members if they have questions or concerns.
Call meetings, whenever the need arises
Adult Advisory Group
New Heights has created an Advisory Group of parent members and other adult non-members, which will offer support and advice to the Founder/Director and the other board members either during online or in-person meetings.
These individuals will not be part of our board; this is a separate opinion panel.
Responsibilities and goals:
-- Help with fundraising and soliciting monies and spreading the word about New Heights
--Bring unique knowledge and skills that complement the knowledge and skills of the board members to help the organization grow and succeed.
-- Serve in the group that can lend/provide status to participants, such as retired CEOs, board chairs or major contributors
--Cannot issue directives but serves to make recommendations and/or provide key information and materials to the board members
--Serve for at least one year at a time but may renew if both parties agree after that duration
--Serve as a sounding board, a source of ideas and expertise – and honest advice.
--Meet every three months
--Expand advisors’ networks and provide them with a way of giving back and improving education in our area
--Be open and frank and suggest ways of correcting problems that are identified
--Share past mistakes, so we can avoid making the same ones
--Be supportive and listen to the Founder/Director and offer clear and positive feedback
--Help with daily functions and activities if they choose to
--Support the organization financially or through their expertise
--Subject to replacement at any time for a variety of reasons
1.Bi-Monthly Magazine, 2. Comic book for Teens E.A.S.Y. toons
A comic book (Educational Anectdoctes for Struggling Teens) designed by NHEG to reach students with great kindness and understanding. NHEG’s team of graphic designers have created the cartoons, and educational writers create scripts for the comics. An NHEG radio host reads the comics and take calls from students. The comic book volunteer position is a hard position to keep staff for, which jeopardizes the comic book. We would like to hire someone for this position.
New Heights Show on Education
Educational Show
Sensory Room
Create a sensory room for students with disabilities/special needs. This is very important for those with special needs and can open a new world for these students and their families. A sensory room can improve their lives in several ways:
--Increase concentration and focused attention
--Develop or reactivate the senses
--Improve coordination and motor development
--Promote cognitive development by increasing brain function
--Lead participants to explore their environment
--Provide security
--Provide an unrestrained atmosphere where participants can enjoy themselves
--Improve creativity
--Stimulate the sensory building blocks
--Develop a sense of cause and effect
--Develop language—more vocalization
--Promote social interactions
--Promote mental and physical relaxation—stress levels drop dramatically, which results in more calmness and lower aggressive behavior
--Increase opportunity for making choices and self-determination
--Improve communication and sharing
--Lead to non-responsive patients becoming communicative
Genealogy Program
NHEG is looking to create a genealogy program with the goal of building students' self-esteem and further connecting them to their community and country.
GED/Testing Center
We provide tutoring for students interested in improving their life skills and obtaining a GED. By expanding our services with a GED testing center, NHEG can not only help adults prepare but also give them a place to take the GED tests and see their final goals accomplished without having to drive to another location.
NHEG's current assessment tools include reading and math success labs and Irlen screening. These assessments are used to help place students in the proper learning levels. The progress of each student will be tracked by NHEG using its own assessment tools, which will help our tutors and students determine when they are ready to take the GED tests.
Where we work
Awards
Organization of the Year – Government or Non-Profit SILVER STEVIE WINNERS: New Heights Educational Group, Inc., Defiance, OH USA 2012
Women In Business (Stevies)
BRONZE STEVIE WINNER: Pamela S Clark, Founder/Director of New Heights Educational Group, Inc., Defiance, OH USA: 2012
Women In Business (Stevies)
Category: Company of the Year - Non-Profit or Government Organizations New Heights Educational Group, Inc., Defiance, OH USA: 2013
American Business Awards (Stevie Awards)
Category: Executive of the Year - (Pamela S Clark) Non-Profit or Government Organizations Status: Gold Stevie Winner 2013
American Business Awards (Stevie Awards)
“Company of the Year - Non-Profit or Government Organizations” Silver Winner of Stevie International Business Awards 2013
International Business Awards (Stevie Awards)
First Runner up as of the morning of win but we didn't win 2013
People's Choice Awards (Stevie Awards)
BRONZE STEVIE WINNER: "Executive of the Year - Non-Profit or Government Organizations category" Status: waiting results Steve Winner 2014
American Business Awards (Stevie Awards)
Affiliations & memberships
ProLiteracy America 2011
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsNumber of editorial board meetings held
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Children and youth, Families
Related Program
NHEG Computer Lab and Learning Center
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Board meetings are held one to two times per year. The leadership team meets seasonally to communicate updates, concerns, and progress reports.
Number of assessment guides developed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, Adults
Related Program
Library, Informational Services and Tutoring Center
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Every student receiving personal tutoring is given a monthly assessment with remarks from a teacher/tutor, class monitors, parents, and from the Executive Director.
Number of students receiving personal instruction and feedback about their performance
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Children and youth, Social and economic status, Ethnic and racial groups, Parents
Related Program
Library, Informational Services and Tutoring Center
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
These numbers are in addition to previous year numbers, most families receive ongoing services. The numbers represent new families/ people served in-person and/or online.
Number of favorable critic reviews/awards of art produced given by media or peers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Children and youth, Ethnic and racial groups, Social and economic status, Family relationships
Related Program
Library, Informational Services and Tutoring Center
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
111 reviews are featured on GreatNonprofits https://greatnonprofits.org/org/new-heights-educational-group?badge=1 and on our awards page: https://www.newheightseducation.org/who-we-are/awards
Number of research or policy analysis products developed, e.g., reports, briefs
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Children and youth, Ethnic and racial groups, Family relationships, Social and economic status
Related Program
NHEG Computer Lab and Learning Center
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Our research team provides ongoing reports. This is only an estimate
Number of youth who demonstrate critical thinking skills (e.g., reasoning, analysis)
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, Social and economic status, Family relationships
Related Program
Student Leadership
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
All students are empowered to voice their opinions and thinking skills. Numbers represent local youth served but exclude students served online.
Number of families served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Children and youth
Related Program
NHEG Computer Lab and Learning Center
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
These numbers represent new people/ families served in addition to numbers served in previous years. 2019 numbers were updated in November of 2019. Since then we have served 45,837 as of Feb 2020.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
To secure funding from various sources to acquire an operating site, and employ professional staff, and set up the following programs that could become self-sustaining:
--Family navigation services: serve as a resource for families to educate themselves about ASD/DD and services available. Many times families don’t know what resources are available not only to help their children but to help the entire family feel supported. And barriers such as location and transportation prevent families from being able to access services and informational resources, so NHEG would like to increase the use of technology to create and provide online service and resources to these families with the hopes of contracting an accessible transportation option to bring families to NHEG’s center and other locations providing services..
NHEG would serve as a hub for families to build a toolbox of strategies and skills that families can pull from so they can best help their child, allowing them to tailor an informed, individual approach to supporting their child and allow them to demand more from practitioners who are working with their children.
--Computer Lab and Library: the library will provide education to families of children with and/or at risk for ASD/DD to improve self-efficacy in navigating the system of care for children. Families can learn more about services they’re entitled from the state to and supplemental services available in the community. Equipped with this knowledge, they can better advocate for their child’s needs to improve communication with their primary and specialty providers.
Genealogy and DNA Program
Purpose: To build self-esteem and further connect students to their community and country.
https://School.NewHeightsEducation.org/online-courses/genealogy-dna-course/
NHEG is looking to create a genealogy program with the goal of building self-esteem and further connecting students to their community and country. To incorporate this program, it would cost $539.88 for an Ancestry annual membership. We would also need to include funds for a genealogist to work with them at the rate of $30 an hour for 10 hours a week. This would amount to $15,600 annually without salaries; we should also plan for two employees.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1skD2-zIVxFm_1DN7He_Sc_HzlBxzwtdAPgWippddwyI/edit?usp=sharing
The center’s computer stations will allow volunteers to conduct some informal evaluations of children’s needs as they wait for the state’s diagnostic resources are available. This will link children to diagnostic evaluations, and NHEG can begin providing some basic services as well as generate a list of community resources specific to that student’s needs. The services can be used in a self-service fashion by families or a volunteer Navigator can be assigned to guide the families through the information. (Please see uploaded strategic plan for more details)
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Applying for grants from foundations and other sources and having fees for each offered service are strategies for making this happen. The costs of the programs can be seen at https://www.NewHeightsEducation.org/NHEG-educational-programs/program-service-fees/
Funding received will help us run our many programs and offer a site that is open to families faced with many educational issues or in need of tutoring and our large variety of other services.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Our History:
Award-winning organization New Heights Educational Group (NHEG) was formed in 2006 by Mrs. Pamela Clark. Mrs. Clark discovered that families needed to cooperate, especially in educating children with learning difficulties such as ADHD, bipolar disorder, autism and neurological disorders. NHEG has served over 350,000 students via online services and courses. Mrs. Clark leads a team of 87 volunteers who research advancements and provide training to teachers and tutors exploring different learning styles.
NHEG provides fill-in-the-gap tutoring to reach students who have been left behind by traditional schools. It offers classes, an educational magazine that has been viewed over 75,000 times and a comic book. The organization has published two books: Unraveling Reading and Unraveling Science. Both books are part of the Unraveling series, which provides strategies to parents, teachers and tutors to support children’s learning processes. The series will include a book for each subject. One Nonprofit’s Journey to Success, written by an NHEG volunteer, was released worldwide in March 2015 and tells the organization’s story. NHEG’s internet radio show, New Heights Show on Education, has over 327,000 listeners.
NHEG offers over 145 free and 19 low-cost and high-quality courses on its website. It has also made available an international student leadership council, which helps 9th- through 12th-graders develop their leadership skills, and an international student advisory group.
https://www.NewHeightsEducation.org/NHEG-educational-programs/NHEG-tutoring-program/
New Wording for Award Entry 2020 New Heights Educational Group (NHEG) grew its reach by over 90,000 people in 2020. Pamela Clark’s leadership of a team of volunteers who are experienced in online learning enabled NHEG to reach families in need of quality remote learning during the pandemic. The organization reduced its tutoring service fees, which include one-on-one learning for three one-hour sessions, from $45 a week to $45 a month. NHEG’s online courses, informational services and tutoring now reach 351,077 students, and all courses offered can be seen on our webpages below: https://School.NewHeightsEducation.org/online-courses/discounted-and-free-online-classes/ https://School.NewHeightsEducation.org/online-courses/
NHEG serves the majority of its students through free courses, which are one of the organization’s main expenses. NHEG has expanded its online reading ambassador program in partnership with The 2nd & 7 Foundation, where athletes read stories to students online. Student groups were opened to international students this year, with great success, to meet demand. To run these programs, NHEG must budget for Zoom, website fees, site security and the Google Suite and Classroom to build courses.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
New Heights Educational Group was created in 2006 with the initial goal of offering help to all interested families regardless of school choice. The mission for services was birthed from families coming together to better their lives and educational options. and benefit from Founder/Director Mrs. Clark's journey of discovery in bettering her children's education. Mrs. Clark has explored many options including homeschooling, charter schools, and local public school settings. Through her involvement with these educational systems, Mrs. Clark has not only found strengths and weaknesses in these systems but also resources to teach children with learning difficulties such as ADHD, Bi-Polar disorder, Autism, Neurological Disorders, and Processing Disorders. Because of this, families further found themselves better able to cope with their children's struggles because of increased social supports and shared skills. This experience gave credibility to Mrs. Clark's vision of one day having a Resource and Literacy Center that would function as a place for families to come for educational help and supports. To date, NHEG has served 256,480 people/families locally and online and continues to gain new and repeat customers on a regular basis. The organization has published two books and launched an internet radio show that has reached over 327,343 listeners.
NHEG has received over 42 awards and a lot of recognition over the years.
https://www.NewHeightsEducation.org/who-we-are/awards-and-achievements/
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
NEW HEIGHTS EDUCATIONAL GROUP
Board of directorsas of 02/27/2023
Mrs. Pamela Clark
New Heights Educational Group, Inc
Term: 2006 -
Sheila Wright
Board Member
Kristen Congedo
Board Member
Marina Klimi
Board Member
Laura Casanova
Board Member
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 09/24/2022GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.