Louisiana specialized school to focus on the needs of students with learning disabilities

From WWL-TV in New Orleans:

NEW ORLEANS – It is every parents desire to provide the best education for their kids. But when the best situation isn't readily available, how many are willing to drop everything they do to take a leap of faith?

It’s a rare treat to watch someone's dream become a reality, and as the doors opened on the new Beacon Prep School in Robert, Louisiana, Barbara McGowan had realized hers.

“It was totally overwhelming, I mean this has been a dream for years,” McGowan said.

Four years ago her son John was diagnosed autistic, and that meant searching for schools and therapies that would allow him to excel at his pace. But finding that right combination proved difficult.

“And for years I kept finding things that worked, and it was proven around the country. Different schools would be doing a portion of it, and it was working. And I just kept thinking, if someone only would? why doesn't someone?”

So five years ago McGowan, a Metairie mother of three, decided she would be that someone. She would open up a school for all kids, but one that would specialize in kids with autism and learning disabilities.

“As far as I'm concerned every child has special needs. They're all very unique, they're all very different, and if we can find each child’s gifts and talents and help them discover that and then help them understand their weaknesses, we're all going to have some challenges"

At Beacon Prep the curriculum will be geared towards each child. The individualized attention will allow them to learn at their own level.

Heidi Davis, a teacher in private and public education for 12 years, is Beacon Prep’s first teacher. But as a startup school, she's not getting paid yet.

“Its not your typical classroom. It’s not your typical school. We want to be your anti-typical in every way. You come in, you feel like home, you're a part of a team. You’re a part of a group,” Davis said.

The setting and educational environment were perfect for Laura Ballay, whose daughter Sarah had tried several schools, even homeschooling.

“I mean look how beautiful it is out here, and also with the small numbers I feel like my child will be safe. And I feel like she will learn a lot.The education will be hands on to a great extent,” Ballay said.

There's a pond and eight acres of property, so there’s plenty of room to grow for Beacon Prep. They're also going to have horses and a petting zoo – tools to help these kids with a hands-on education.

Dr. Bob Newsome, a Metairie chiropractor, will volunteer his time once a week to provide exercises that can help special needs kids focus and stay on task.

There will also be an occupational therapist and speech therapist as well. Kids will have outdoor classrooms and lifestyle activities – the idea is one school with many services.

“The beauty of this school is its central resource – even people who will not be able to send their children here as students will be able to benefit from the fact that there's a single clearinghouse that will help them find so many of the resources that are necessary to help their child,” Newsome said.

Beacon Prep opened with four students, but McGowan expects by the end of the year to have 15 or 20. And already there are 10 kids enrolled to start next year.

“Parents were calling, saying can you please get something started next year? My child has nowhere to go. It had to happen. I couldn't turn away from it,” McGowan said.

And because she didn't turn away, kids who've been turned away before will have a new school to call home.

McGowan said the "big picture" vision is a community development surrounding the school and a maximum of 600 students, serving pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.