Today we’d like to introduce you to Betsy Box.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Betsy. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I always wanted to be a teacher and help children who struggled learning to read. When I attended college in 1971, there was no major in Special Education or Learning Disabilities so I majored in Elementary Education. I started working in the summers for Dr. Charles Shedd who was doing research on dyslexia.
After graduation from Samford University I pioneered the Dyslexia Clinic at Woodward Academy, a private school in College Park. I also started a residential summer program, Squirrel Hollow Camp. After a few years, a group of parents approached me with the need of a full-time school for learning disabilities on the southside of Atlanta. I started The Bedford School in the fall of 1985 with 36 students in a church basement.
After 5 years, we outgrew the space and moved to an unused building on the campus of Atlanta Christian College in East Point (now Point University). After 10 more years, we outgrew the space and purchased 45 acres of land and built a campus in Fairburn, GA, 15 miles south of the Atlanta Airport.
We currently serve 150 students in grades 1-9 who represent 12 counties. We also serve 72 students in our summer program.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Our Board of Directors has helped make this a smooth road. Our biggest challenge is the cost for providing services. We work hard to keep tuition as affordable as possible while still providing small classes and specialized instruction. Our scholarship fund is a high priority right now. We want to assist parents of children with learning disabilities and help them get access to the appropriate interventions.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the The Bedford School story. Tell us more about the business.
The mission of The Bedford School is to maximize the potential in students with learning differences and provide foundations for success. Our statement, Maximizing Potential, Maximizes Success, summarizes our goal. We believe that every student should have the opportunity to become the very best person possible.
For the child with a learning disability, this is impossible with intervention. We accomplish this goal through small class, specialized instruction and a dedicated staff. Our program includes academics, character building, art, drama, and athletics. We have an extensive Challenge Course we use to help develop teamwork, responsibility, encouragement and effort (TREE). Our academic program is remedial as well as developmental; our students go on to tradition college-prep high schools after they leave us. We are most proud of our former students; they are able to achieve whatever they could have done without the learning disability only better!
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t know that “luck” has played a big role. As a dyslexic person myself, I was blessed to have a mom who didn’t give up on me. My parents also instilled in me the importance of education, character, and perseverance. When I decided to start the school, I sought guidance from my Sunday School teacher, Jimmy Collins, who was the CEO of the Chick fil-A Corporation. He asked me. “Number one, is there a need for a school like this on the south side of Atlanta?” I replied, “Yes.” He asked, “In all humility, do you feel that you are the best person to fill this need?” I again replied, “Yes.” He said, “Take it as a green light from God and pray that he will stop you if it’s not what He wants you to do.” It’s been 32 years now, and He stopped us yet. He continues to bless our efforts and allow us to continue to make a difference.
Contact Info:
- Address: The Bedford School
5665 Milam Rd.,
Fairburn, GA 30213 - Website: www.thebedfordschool.org
- Phone: 770-774-8001
- Email: bbox@thebedfordschool.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Bedford-School-231130943629971/
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