Lakeview Academy Announces New Dyslexia Support Program

According to The International Dyslexia Association, nearly seven percent of the school-aged population in the United States receives some form of accommodation for language-based learning differences. However, as high as 20 percent of the overall population experiences one or more of the symptoms of dyslexia, including challenges with reading, writing, or mixing up words. Learning differences like dyslexia can impact some of the brightest and most creative learners, who often excel in fields such as physics, engineering, architecture, math, and art.

“The kids in The Keystone Program are first and foremost Lakeview students,” said Program Director Kelly Fields, “they are incredibly bright but due to their learning differences, have not had the opportunity to demonstrate their intelligence within the limitations of the traditional classroom setting. Our goal is to meet students where they are as learners and provide them the tools to be confident in the classroom.” The Keystone Program at Lakeview Academy is grounded in this belief that providing students with the appropriate support during their formative years will not only lead to positive academic growth but will help students build the self-confidence necessary to thrive as teenagers and young adults.

Lakeview Academy’s Assistant Head of School, Dr. Wade Hanse, said of the program, “We are being incredibly intentional with our implementation of this project. We want Keystone to be a world-class program for Lakeview Academy, the Gainesville community, and all of Northeast Georgia. We are leaving no stone unturned. From the academic approach to the classroom design, we want to provide the absolute best learning experience for students.”

As a part of the school’s intentional implementation, Lakeview Academy is piloting The Keystone Program with a small group of elementary students for the 2024-25 school year. Mrs. Fields said of the pilot, “Our focus at Keystone is student-first. The pilot program is an incredibly valuable opportunity for our team to fine-tune our approach so our students can experience the academic success they have not yet had the chance to elsewhere.”

Even though The Keystone Program is only early in its pilot phase, it is already significantly impacting its students. “We cannot say enough about what Keystone has meant to our family,” said the parents of a current pilot student. “Last year, our child would be so frustrated reading that they would literally be in tears, which, as a parent absolutely kills you inside. Now, he is excited to go to school. He wants to come home and read. It’s not just been the academics. In all areas, he is just a much more confident child.”

On September 19, Lakeview Academy hosted several area medical professionals, including pediatric psychologists, occupational therapists, and pediatricians, for a special Keystone open house and program preview. Dr. Hanse said, “If Keystone is going to be successful for the students we serve, we absolutely must build relationships in the community. We have incredible resources in the Greater Hall-Gainesville area, and the onus is on us to leverage and learn from those resources to benefit our young learners.”

Beginning in October 2024, Lakeview Academy will formally open enrollment for The Keystone Program for the 2025-26 school year for students in Grades 1 through 5.

Specific highlights of The Keystone Program include:

In the coming years, Lakeview plans to add middle school students to The Keystone Program with a specific emphasis on developing literacy, comprehension, and executive functioning.   

Lakeview is excited about the opportunity the Keystone Program will provide the surrounding community. Lakeview’s Head of School, John Simpson, declared, “The Keystone Program has been a dream of mine for some time. I truly believe that this program is something that this community needs, and I am just excited that we are now better able to serve students and meet their needs.”

For anyone interested in learning more, Lakeview invites you to visit the newly added Dyslexia Support section of their website (www.lakeviewacademy.com/keystone).