Samarth Kasaraneni has spent the better part of his young life involved in philanthropy.
He’s volunteered at food banks, sorted medical supplies, collected disaster relief items, and made bookmarks for underprivileged children. Throughout, he learned to leverage his passion for math and heart for those in need to make an even bigger difference.
Samarth, a sophomore at Providence Day, founded Every Student Succeeds at Math, or ESSAM, two years ago. The nonprofit offers free online math tutoring for elementary students in grades 3 through 5 who attend Title I schools.
Schools considered Title I receive federal money to help improve academic achievement based on the percentage of low-income students.
“Reaching elementary school students at a young age, especially those attending lower-income schools, is crucial,” Samarth says, “as it allows us to lay the foundations for mathematics and develop a lifelong passion for learning for the students.”
His team of about 40 tutors helps 100 students who attend schools in North Carolina, Texas, Florida, and Mississippi. The sessions, held throughout the week, supplement what students are learning in the classroom.
“Children are naturally curious,” Samarth says. “By building upon that curiosity early, it is much easier to develop an analytical mindset, something that will help with any field in the future. Whether engineering, medical sciences, aeronautics, business, law - any field these kids aspire to enter - a solid foundation in mathematics triggers an analytical mindset. It prepares these kids to approach a problem (real-life) from various aspects.”
How it began
In the eighth grade, Samarth led free courses for American Mathematics Competitions, a math competition for middle school students. He worked with Dr. Harold Reiter, a math professor at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.
“One of my students was from a Title 1 school, and it was clear that he lacked a solidified understanding of the subject,” he says. “I reached out to Dr. Reiter during the winter break of my eighth-grade year to express my interest in starting a nonprofit organization to help elementary school students attending Title 1 schools. He immediately jumped onto the idea and helped guide me on how I could turn my idea into a reality.”
ESSAM began with one tutor - Samarth - and three children. As it’s grown, he’s kept the student-to-tutor ratio at 3 to 1 for more tailored instruction.
“He has invested a ton of his personal time into this organization that he has founded out of sheer passion both towards the subject and also towards making an impact,” his mother, Swapna Devineni, says, “and we are elated today that he has accomplished his goal.”
Samarth is also partnering with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and National Math Stars, a Texas organization that funds the academic journeys of extraordinary elementary school children from underserved communities, to expand his nonprofit’s reach.
“I see ESSAM becoming a mainstream nonprofit across the country and possibly opening up multiple chapters across the country,” he says. “Additionally, I am seeking funding for ESSAM to expand our reach to more students and schools.”
Regardless, he’ll continue to provide opportunities to those in need.
“My husband and I both came to this country as immigrants, and today, although we are very fortunate to have had the kind of opportunities we’ve had over the years, they didn’t come easily for us,” Swapna says. “Both of our boys realize that they are privileged to have an excellent support system at school and home, and probably not everybody within the community has the same access to quality education and the opportunities they have.”