In the hushed stillness of a Borrego Springs classroom, every pair of eyes fixed intently on T.J., whose name has been changed here to protect his privacy. His eyes were clouded with doubt as he faced a moment that felt like the last inning of a tied baseball game, the entire room holding its breath. Clutching his copy of Paletero Man tightly, he hesitated over the sentence, the weight of his classmates’ knowing support settling around him. Slowly, he began sounding out the last tricky words—“pal-eh-toh… pal-eh-ros”—his voice trembling but steadying with each syllable. Then, at last, he read the sentence aloud without a stumble. The classroom erupted with quiet gasps and whispered pride, an eruption of encouragement that turned what could have been just another page into a triumph. Watching this, Tania Fuerte, who once sat nervously where these children now sit, felt that familiar spark, the reason she returns each summer to help her community’s children find their voices through reading.
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This moment of individual triumph is just one chapter in the larger story of BASIC’s Learning Academy, a program that has been transforming young lives in Borrego Springs since 2016. This July, Tania will mark a decade of service at the Academy, the only original staff member who has taught there every year since the program began. Scholarships opened the door, education gave her the tools, and coming home each summer has become her way of paying that gift forward to the community that has given her so much.

Tania’s journey is a story of resilience and dedication. “I arrived in the United States at the age of seven from Guanajuato, Mexico , and I am a proud daughter of immigrant parents,” she shares. “I am a first-generation college student and the first in my family to attend college and graduate, paving the way for others.” 

This foundation of determination led to a pivotal milestone in Tania’s life. Tania still remembers the phone call that changed her path: the moment she learned she had received the BASIC scholarship. That invitation led to a meet‑and‑greet at a board member’s home where scholarship recipients gathered and shared their dreams. “I felt an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment,” she says, recalling the laughter, the hopeful conversation, and the sense that possibilities suddenly felt real.

The impact of those scholarships extended far beyond financial support. For Tania, those scholarships did more than cover expenses; they opened doors. They allowed her to complete her undergraduate degree at San Francisco State University and later to earn a teaching credential from California State University, Long Beach. Along the way, she kept in touch with BASIC, sending updates and sharing milestones. “As a scholar, one of my favorite memories was writing to BASIC to share my college experiences and accomplishments. I also fondly remember receiving the letters informing me that I had once again been awarded a scholarship,” she says. Each exchange was another confirmation that her community stood behind its students.

Teaching was always on Tania’s horizon, and BASIC’s scholarships and early opportunities helped make that path possible. Her teaching career began modestly after she started college, “I began as a teacher’s aide, then quickly became the lead reading teacher,” she says. “The Learning Academy was my classroom and my laboratory. Those years helped me grow professionally and personally.” Before that, while still in high school, her mentor, Tracey Lee McFarland, played a pivotal role in guiding her college journey, driving her to college tours and helping with scholarship essays. “Many evenings, we stayed at the high school library until 6 p.m., writing essays and filling out applications. I deeply admire Tracey for going above and beyond for her students. She began as my AVID teacher, later became my vice principal and high school counselor, and is now a dear friend.”

Tania’s journey highlights a profound truth about the power of community: when financial support, mentorship, and quality reading instruction come together, they do more than build skills, they cultivate confidence, engagement, and lasting opportunities for students. “BASIC’s board members, staff, and volunteers are a dedicated group of caring individuals who go above and beyond to ensure each student has the chance to pursue their dreams,” Tania says. “And perhaps most beautifully, they’re planting the seeds for those students to one day return and give back to the very community that believed in them.” She adds, “BASIC makes such a wonderful difference in our students’ lives. When they can read well, they dive into classwork with excitement and open doors to higher education.”

During the school year, Tania teaches English Language Arts in Los Angeles County and returns each summer to Borrego Springs with fresh methods and renewed enthusiasm. As a first-generation immigrant and college graduate, she deeply understands the challenges her students face, many of whom come from Spanish-speaking homes like her own family. Drawing on both her formal training and lived experience, she emphasizes that emotional safety is just as vital as literacy. She fosters this by starting each day with a simple but powerful ritual: every student selects an emoji from a feelings board and shares why they chose it. All students use small emoji plushies to express themselves, turning the routine into a fun, inclusive way to build confidence and encourage open communication. This daily practice fosters trust, centers the class, and prepares students to engage fully in learning. “When students feel safe, they read with confidence,” Tania says.

Building on this foundation of emotional safety and inclusive learning, Tania also celebrates the unique strengths that bilingualism brings to her students’ education. Last year at the 2025 Learning Academy Closing Ceremony, she marked this with a memorable class project where every student, regardless of language background, wore superhero capes and masks. Together, they read a bilingual book aloud and then turned to reveal capes that spelled out “Bilingual” to an audience of proud parents. This joyful moment reflected how embracing bilingualism builds pride, confidence, and a deep sense of community, helping students see their unique skills as keys to success

Tania’s holistic teaching approach fosters both confidence and skills, leading to significant academic growth and lasting community benefits. In her summer sessions, students achieve impressive results, with an average improvement of over 90 percent in word-reading fluency and reading comprehension. Additionally, between 75 and 90 percent of participants finish the summer at or above grade level year after year. Those results translate into higher confidence, stronger classroom performance, and new opportunities for further education. For many first‑generation learners like herself, that opening can change entire family trajectories. Tania and BASIC’s investment in students becomes a community investment in return, as alumni are then able to come back to teach, volunteer, or support the next generation.

Ken Collard, Dean of Students for BASIC’s Summer Learning Academy, shares his appreciation: “I’d like to thank Tania for her hard work and dedication to the Learning Academy. During my first four years teaching at BASIC, my mentor was Tania. She was the rock-solid go-to person, having been with us since the very first summer session. She grew with the program and shared her deep knowledge of its beginnings, helping shape it into what it is today. Our 2026 program will proudly recognize her as a founding faculty member who is giving back to Borrego Springs, her hometown!”

Tania’s ten years with the Learning Academy represent more than a milestone; they embody the heart of a small, tight-knit community that rallies around its children. It now costs $4,100 to support one child for a summer session, up from previous years due to rising costs, and BASIC can’t do it alone. Without sufficient funds, we risk turning away kids like Tania and T.J., children who deserve a chance to grow their confidence and their futures. Borrego Springs is a small, unincorporated town, and much of the support comes from within—from neighbors and friends who believe in giving back. This July, as BASIC and Borrego Springs prepare to celebrate Tania’s tenth summer, they invite everyone to join this vital effort: a celebration of perseverance, generosity, and opportunity. Together, we can help more children take their first confident steps into reading and into their own stories of success. Visit www.borregobasic.org or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fl6hJacEInE&t=1s to learn how to give, volunteer, or celebrate with us. From Tania’s story to every child's future, thank you for standing with us.

​This summer, 37 local students participated in BASIC’s 2025 Summer Learning Academy, a
transformative four-week program designed to boost academic achievement and build
confidence for Borrego Springs youth. Held at the Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert
Research Center, the Academy ran from July 2 to July 30 and offered 100+ hours of targeted
instruction in reading and math for both elementary and middle school students.

​All 37 students met the program’s rigorous attendance requirement—missing no more than one
day out of the 20-day session—and were rewarded with a free laptop to support their continued
learning. The program’s structure included elementary and middle school reading classes and
elementary and middle school math classes, each tailored to meet learners where they are and
help them grow.

Students developed essential skills in:

• Phonemic awareness and reading fluency
• Comprehension and vocabulary building
• Number sense, problem-solving, and math reasoning
• Writing structure and expression

​For many Borrego Springs learners, this program is more than a summer boost. It’s a bridge to
long-term success. By focusing on foundational literacy and numeracy, the Academy helps
students “learn to read” in early grades and “read to learn” as they advance, a critical shift for
academic achievement.

​Enrichment activities added creativity and community connection. The Anime & Graphic Art
class, offered in partnership with the Borrego Springs Branch of the San Diego County
Library, gave students a chance to explore storytelling through visual media. Students also
signed up for the Library’s Summer Reading Challenge, offering incentives for reading,
access to free books, and opportunities to participate in fun literacy-based activities throughout
the summer. Other highlights included Kids Ready 2 Help, a FEMA-based emergency
preparedness workshop, and Art with OLAC, hosted by Ed & Joan White, blending creativity
with healing and history via a painting medium.

​The Academy culminated in a celebratory Closing Ceremony on July 30th, where families,
educators, and community members gathered to honor the hard work and growth of each student.
The event featured a vibrant display of student projects, each reflecting the creativity,
confidence, and learning nurtured throughout the program. In the Elementary Reading class,
students performed a skit inspired by a children’s book, proudly wearing capes and masks to
show that being bilingual is their superpower. The Elementary Math class engineered bridges out
of popsicle sticks, testing their strength with weights and calculating how many sticks each
structure required, combining hands-on experimentation with math-based analysis to determine
the winning design. Middle School Reading students created a video play that took audiences on
a time-traveling journey through the books they explored over the summer, while Middle School
Math students built miniature homes, applying geometry and measurement skills to bring their
designs to life. Smiles and proud moments filled the room as students received certificates of
completion and their new laptops, a gift symbolizing continued learning beyond the summer.

​For many families, the impact was deeply personal. “My daughter actually looked forward to
going every day. She only missed one day and that was because she was sick,” shared Ana, a
parent whose daughter gained confidence in multiplication. “She’s gotten better with her
multiplications. I’ll keep working with her using her multiplication cards.”

​Other caregivers echoed the program’s emotional and academic value. “My daughter wanted to
enjoy her summer break, but she chose to go to school for a month, and I know it was worth it,”
said Jazmine, parent of a math student. “She learned extra math and it will help her.” Parent
Rosalinda added, “Every day when I picked her up, she was happy. She loved what she learned
and the time with her teachers.”

​Even students found their voices through the experience. One elementary reading student shared,
“Reading in class is not scary anymore. Thank you, Ms. Fuerte.” Reflections like this echoed
throughout the evening, capturing the spirit of growth and belonging that defined the Academy.
The ceremony also featured heartfelt remarks from instructors and BASIC’s Dean of Students,
honoring the dedication of students and families whose commitment made the program a true
success.

​This summer’s Academy was more than a learning experience—it was a celebration of
possibility. From joyful breakthroughs to meaningful connections, every moment reflected the
power of a community united by purpose and heart. None of it would have been possible without
the generosity, time, and talent of those who believe in BASIC’s mission.

Thank You to Our Generous Funders

This program was made possible by the support of:

• David Copley Foundation
• San Diego Foundation
• Borrego Valley Endowment Fund (BVEF)
• Zable Foundation
• McGrory Family Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation
• The Thomas Ackerman Foundation
• San Diego County, Neighborhood Reinvestment Program
• Borrego Springs Civic Foundation
• BSE Foundation
• Rebecca Lent
• San Diego County Employees’ Charitable Organization
• Borrego Springs Rotary
• Caterpillar Foundation
• Borrego Ministers Association
• Rams Hill Golf Course
• Post 853 American Legion
• Joann Stang
• Eric Mustonen and Amelia Wood

In-Kind Contributors and Volunteers

We also thank those who volunteered or donated supplies, food, or transportation:

• Borrego Springs Unified School District
• Borrego Springs Library / Kids Ready 2 Help
• Borrego Springs Library / Anime Class with Carlos
• Art with OLAC
• Carol Haller
• Covington School, Kathleen Kearns
• Mary Watkins
• Jim Wall
• Ty White

For more information or to support future programs, visit BASIC at www.borregobasic.org.

Borrego Springs, CA – July 2, 2025 — The sun wasn’t the only thing shining in Borrego Springs this week--BASIC’s summer Learning Academy launched its 9th year with a vibrant Parent Orientation that filled the UCI Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center with excitement, gratitude, and anticipation.

Families arrived to a warm welcome and left with backpacks stuffed with program t-shirts, water bottles to beat the desert heat, and free books to spark summer reading at home. Students and parents toured classrooms, met their teachers, and asked thoughtful questions about the month ahead.

“It’s always inspiring to see families so engaged from day one,” said Ken Collard, BASIC’s new Learning Academy Dean of Students. “This program is about more than academics—it’s about building confidence, connection, and momentum for the school year ahead. We’re not only closing gaps, we’re moving students steadily toward grade-level success—and that can change the entire trajectory of their education.”

You've likely seen small donation boxes at checkout counters around town—but did you know they’re fueling a brighter future for Borrego Springs students?

Borrego Springs businesses are stepping up to support local education, and you can be part of the movement! Through a simple act of generosity, shoppers now have the opportunity to invest in the future of Borrego’s students—right at the register.

Basic Assistance to Students in the Community (BASIC) has teamed up with local businesses to place donation boxes where every dollar makes a difference. From Early Education programs to the Learning Academy and Scholarships, these contributions fuel life-changing opportunities for students of all ages.

By shopping local and dropping a donation into the BASIC box, customers help ensure young learners in Borrego Springs receive the support they need to succeed – from Cradle to Graduation! This initiative fosters a community-wide commitment to education, making every purchase more than just a transaction—it’s an investment in the future.