Porter Academy
What Parents Say about the Porter Academy
“Claudia Porter is a genius. Her insight into the minds and souls of children has that magical quality that defies understanding and analysis. It is a gift like great musical or artistic ability. Her staff are equally brilliant with the children. Our daughter responds to them in a way she has never responded to anyone else.”
"Today is the first day of school for my son – a new school, a new challenge. Because of the strong start he got with The Porter School, I know he will be fine.”
“The truth is, I didn’t really believe my daughter could be taught to read until I saw Claudia do it. I watched my shy, fearful child blossom and grow in confidence under Claudia’s care. She believes in each and every child and loves them, and they know it.”
“My daughter joined The Porter School in 1st grade as a scared, puzzled, timid and lost child. She just finished 3rd grade and her self esteem has made a 180 degree change. She is completely empowered to live life to the fullest. She now searches for adventure and is willing to try new things.”
“My son had been in public school for 4 years and still did not read beyond a pre-k level. When he left The Porter School, he had progressed to the 10th grade in reading and 4th grade in math. You will try one method after the other to reach your students instead of re-teaching the same method. It is wonderful to know that children with learning challenges can and do learn with the right teaching models.”
“The teaching staff is loving, warm and patient. The family participation that surrounds the school is like no other. Our daughter never feels threatened or afraid to be herself. The children work in a team environment to help ensure success on a daily basis. We will be forever grateful for Claudia and her wonderful staff. They have made such a positive impression on our daughter’s mind, heart and soul.”
“Mrs. Porter, you create a magical balance of inspiring the students to achieve while motivating them to accept responsibility for themselves. My son enjoys being at The Porter School because he believes that he is an integral part of it. The strong sense of community within the school is so rare that the students instinctively advocate for each other.”
“The Porter School has given my son an environment of acceptance and support that he could not have attained from the public schools. Students are recognized for their individual strengths and are taught to view the other children in terms of their strengths.”
“This is the first environment which has enabled my daughter to be successful in so many ways. She knows herself that she is learning and improving academically. I have never come across such a dedicated and resourceful group of people. I believe that my daughter’s future prospects have brightened tremendously due directly to The Porter School.”
“Claudia has touched so many lives. She has helped students learn about their strengths. She lets them know they are special people and should not be ashamed of who they are.”
“You really prepared my son for a great year at middle school. He made all A’s and one B, played Jr. Varsity soccer and is a member of the chess club.”
This
is a picture of our son, Ryan. At an early age, it was apparent that he was 
having difficulties in group
settings. In preschool and at church, Ryan often got in trouble because he
could not sit still. When other kids were singing and making hand motions to go
along with the songs, Ryan was diving under tables trying to avoid the
activity. He frequently refused to participate in groups. In many ways, Ryan
did not seem to fit in, and he was frequently punished for what was seen as his
misbehavior.
When Ryan was four years old, he was evaluated by a psychiatrist specializing in child development issues; the information we learned from that experience changed Ryan’s life completely. We learned that, instead of being a problem child, Ryan is a child with problems. He suffers from motor dyspraxia (which is the inability to plan motor movements). Thus, when the other kids were making hand motions to go with the songs they were singing, Ryan was not being “bad” by diving under the table: he was trying to hide his embarrassment at not being able to figure out the motions. We learned that Ryan did not like to participate in groups because he knew he could not keep up with many of the others, and he did not want to look bad in comparison. Ryan also suffers from a fine motor delay and from a Sensory Integration Disorder (SID), which is the inability to properly integrate sensory information from the environment. Individuals with SID can be either over or under stimulated by sensory information. In Ryan’s case, he does not get enough sensory information from the environment, which cases him to need to move and to “attack” life. For example, Ryan frequently breaks crayons when using them because he needs to hold them tightly to get the sensation of holding them. You can imagine how many times Ryan has been chastised for breaking crayons and other objects, when he was simply trying to hold them as best he could!
Children like Ryan are often labeled “bad” or “misfits”. Unfortunately, without appropriate intervention, these children often live up to those labels. Many public schools lack the knowledge or the resources to adequately address these issues.
That is where the Porter School comes in. The Porter School is an accredited elementary school dedicated to children with atypical learning styles who have not been successful in a regular classroom. Some of these atypical learning issues can include ADD, ADHD, Sensory Integration Dysfunction, Language Processing issues, motor dyspraxia, poor fine and gross motor skills, and dyslexia. While the number of children with these problems is increasing, there are few schools focusing specifically on their education. The Porter School provides a magical experience where these children learn to overcome their difficulties and reach their full potential.
Today, Ryan is a bright and happy first grader at The Porter School. He is at the top of his class in all academic areas, and he thrives in group activities. He gets very upset when his academic and behavioral record for each day is not perfect! He participates in Cub Scouting and church activities, loves trying new things, and often reaches out to other kids to draw them into his group of friends. As one woman from my church remarked, “He’s like a different child!”
What made the difference? Early intervention by knowledgeable and caring individuals at the Porter School are helping Ryan overcome his difficulties and achieve his full potential. I am scared to think what Ryan’s life could have been like had he continued being labeled as a “problem child”. With the help provided by the Porter School, Ryan’s future is so bright!
Do you know any Ryans? There are many, many children like Ryan, which is why it is so important to keep schools likes the Porter School alive.