Many kids flourish no matter where you plant them. Why not Colleen? Why can't she spell? Why can't she answer questions in class? We had had her tested in kindergarten and hoped she would grow out of her difficulties. In fact, a few professionals said she would. Meanwhile, I drove her to tutors, therapists and summer school. Every September we hoped that this year she would be stronger and by October we would get the call from the new teacher stating her concerns.

In middle school, we had maximized any and all accommodations that her school could provide. She was a trooper through it all. We could not believe how much was being asked of her and how hard she worked to improve just a little. Her strengths are her organizational skills and her emotional resilience. She needed all of it to cross the finish line of eighth grade.

We visited our local high school to find out more about their program. My husband and I worried about the additional demands of high school. I just could not see my daughter flourishing in a school that is the size of a small town. Colleen's engine had already been "revving hot" just to make it through middle school. The uphill struggle, the Herculean efforts to barely keep up and the lack of coordination between teachers and administrators became more overwhelming every year. Enough.

Fortunately, her tutor told me about Sterne School. To be honest, I did not want to go visit. It was thirty miles from our house. And it was "Special Ed". My daughter may struggle to read and write, but she is normal in every other respect. But I went despite my reservations. I am so glad I did. I saw other students like my daughter who had also spent excessive hours on homework at their other schools. I met patient teachers who understood the struggle. I met people who wanted to teach my daughter and welcomed her at Sterne School.

Sterne School is the learning environment my daughter ne

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