The BEAM Story Begins Here
BEAM was born from a simple truth: every child deserves to belong.
The BEAM Team, Karen Bures, Liv Roberts, and Emmy Young, began as educators leading an offsite intensive behavior program for Central Oregon elementary students. From the outset, we knew the students in that program deserved more than what they were being given. They deserved an education, not just supervision. They deserved social and emotional support, not isolation. They deserved to be seen, celebrated, and valued, not hidden away in a program where success was measured by compliance rather than connection.
We started pushing back on the system. We began implementing social-emotional learning and collaborative problem-solving approaches. We started listening – really listening – to our students and incorporating their voices into every decision.
What many people don’t realize is that programs like these have historically relied heavily on restraining students and/or secluding them to force compliance.
We knew there was a better way.
How BEAM Began
Then came a pivotal moment.
A dysregulated student was having a hard time and an administrator directed Karen to restrain them - a child, deeply impacted by trauma, who was not an imminent danger to others but was struggling to regulate.
As Karen looked down, she saw tears falling down his face. Something in her broke open. He wasn’t a threat. He was a little boy in pain overwhelmed by feelings too large to manage. The restraint didn’t make him safer, it deepened his trauma. In debriefing the incident that day, we knew something had to change.
From that point forward, we committed to doing better for him and for every child like him. We listened, we learned, we failed, and kept trying. We adapted and created a space where relationships, trust, and regulation came first. We started to see significant changes.
Unsafe behaviors dropped dramatically, kids were learning again, and many transitioned successfully back to their home schools. When we spoke out against restraint and seclusion practices, the system pushed back hard. We had seen too much to go back. We knew what real change needed to look like, and we were ready to build it ourselves.
So we built something better. BEAM was founded to continue supporting our community’s most vulnerable kids outside of the traditional system – the kids who had been hurt by it, excluded from it, or forgotten within it. BEAM steps in to do what traditional systems won’t – meet kids where they are with compassion instead of control.
We began as an after-school program focused on building regulation skills, closing academic gaps, and creating belonging. Since then, BEAM has grown into a trusted community partner serving over 25 impacted students each year. Our students are reconnecting with learning, building friendships, and thriving in ways once thought impossible. But our students deserve even more. They deserve an alternative school placement built specifically for them. They deserve extended services like tutoring, small-group learning, and mental-health support. They deserve a place designed with their needs at the center – a place where every student belongs.
No exceptions.
Every child who walks through our doors carries a story that includes rejection. At BEAM, we re-write those stories with hope and belonging.
Our Team
Karen Bures
Karen (she/her) brings over 20 years of experience in behavioral health, with extensive work in both clinical and educational settings. She holds a master’s degree in Trauma-Informed Education and is licensed in Special Education, specializing in supporting students with intensive behavioral needs. Karen is passionate about utilizing social-emotional learning and developing trauma-responsive curriculum to engage and empower all types of learners.As Executive Director, Karen leads BEAM’s curriculum development and instructional design and serves as the program’s lead instructor. She oversees day-to-day programming and student support, designs individualized behavior plans, and facilitates BEAM’s tutoring program. Karen also develops BEAM’s service expansion strategy and leads professional development, training, and consultation services for schools and community organizations.
Executive Director,
Co-Founder
Liv Roberts
Liv (they/he) brings over 10 years of experience supporting youth in therapeutic and educational settings across Central Oregon. With a strong foundation in behavior support and de-escalation strategies, Liv is especially skilled at helping students navigate moments of dysregulation with compassion and care. Their therapeutic approach centers on connection, safety, and honoring the full range of emotions students may experience.
As BEAM’s Operations Director, Liv is the backbone of our internal systems—managing logistics, refining materials, and ensuring that everything behind the scenes runs smoothly. Liv plans to pursue additional education to offer counseling services at BEAM in the future, further expanding the depth of support available to students.
Director of Operations,
Co-Founder
Emmy Young
Emmy (she/her) brings a calming and grounding presence to the BEAM community, offering consistent support, guidance, and validation to students, families, and staff. With 10 years of experience working across a range of settings—from early childhood education to supporting adults with disabilities—Emmy brings a deep understanding of human development and inclusive support practices.
As BEAM’s Family Liaison, Emmy attends Wraparound and IEP meetings to advocate for and empower families navigating complex systems. She plays a key role in identifying funding opportunities, supporting grant writing efforts, and cultivating relationships with community donors and partners. Emmy also helps coordinate BEAM-hosted events and supports the delivery of staff training and professional development.
Director of Community Engagement,
Co-Founder
Sheila Kerley
Sheila (she/her) brings 17 years of experience leading youth programs throughout Central Oregon. Known for her kind, curious, and nonjudgmental presence, Sheila creates a welcoming space where students feel seen, connected, and supported.
In addition to her role at BEAM, Sheila works as a paraprofessional serving students with disabilities, bringing valuable expertise and a strengths-based mindset to every interaction. Her positivity and deep experience help solidify BEAM’s model of inclusive, relationship-centered support.
Behavior Support Specialist
Our Board
BEAM’s Board Members are the bright lights who help guide our vision forward. Each one brings passion, perspective, and purpose to ensure BEAM continues to grow with integrity, sustainability, and heart.
Brett Allen
President,
Treasurer
Sara Culp
Vice President
Ian Kaye
Secretary
Kim Nase
Parent Board Officer
GET INVOLVED
GET INVOLVED
Enroll Your Child
Ready to explore BEAM for your family? Fill out our registration packet to share your child’s story with us. We’ll review each application with care and follow up with next steps for placement and connection.
Your support helps BEAM continue to grow—funding scholarships, programs, and spaces where children can thrive. Join our community of donors and local sponsors to make belonging possible for all.
Become a Sponsor or Donor
