MACON, Ga. — Dyslexia can create a whole different set of challenges for students. A new school promises to meet those challenges.
Henry Dickson can't wait for his first day at Roberts Academy at Mercer University. And the future fifth grader already knows the new building well.
"My favorite part is probably the STEAM room,” he said. “I really like the STEAM room. Science is my favorite topic."
The STEAM room is one of many in the school with lots of colors, geography maps and chairs to help keep students focused. Regular classes are limited to 12 students and reading classes only have six students.
Elizabeth Eidson said building confidence in students is key to their growth.
"Your weakness is now your strength at Roberts, and we're really going to hone in on that,” she said. “And through that, we're really going to have our students shine."
Roberts Academy moves at a slower pace, and they won't use standardized testing as a measurement for student success. Instead, sensory exercises and over an hour of reading a day will hopefully take students to the next level.
"It's going to help me a lot with pronouncing words and hopefully remembering what I just read," Dickson said.
Joy Wood is the head of school at Roberts Academy. She said watching students overcome their reading challenges is the best part of her job.
"When they learn how to read and realize that they too can read, it is so powerful and so transformative that — as an educator — it's the most exciting thing I've ever seen," she said.
Mercer University students in the education program will also have the chance to do student-teaching at Roberts Academy.
“That is amazing because that is where we need to reach the teachers and the educators is in the college level,” Wood said. “That is super important before they go into public school or private school to teach... They need to understand what dyslexia is and what it isn’t. They need to participate in how a dyslexic student learns.”
According to Wood, the Roberts family funds the operational costs of the school. She said that helps the tuition cost for families stay between $10,000 and $12,000.
“That makes it affordable, accessible for these students and for any student, not just those with means to come to a private school,” she said.
While the main floor is ready for students and teachers to walk through, the second floor of the building needs more work before it’s completely done. Wood said it will be ready before Roberts Academy is ready to expand the grade levels offered.
“We don’t need to grow just to put people in the seats,” she said. “We want to grow with integrity to make sure that our teachers are trained properly and that our students have the time to be here so that they can become fully remediated, overcome the obstacles that stand in their way in learning.”
Dickson is definitely ready for that future expansion.
"I'm excited for if they have a 6th grade. That way, I can go for two years instead of one,” he said. “That'd be even better."
Roberts Academy is at capacity for its fourth-grade class. But, there's still space for more second, third and fifth graders. You can apply here.
The first day of school is Aug. 14.