My name is JoAnn Walthour. My husband, Jeff, and I have five children. Our first three children were born during the time we served as missionaries in Nigeria, West Africa. Our other two children were adopted from Ethiopia in 2009 after we had moved back to the U.S. They are siblings and were 9 and 10 years old when they joined our family. We had no idea what an adventure education would become for us. Having school choice was incredibly important in enabling us to provide an education that met each of our children’s individual needs.
Having lived internationally, we had a healthy respect for cultural differences and what they could mean. We read books and watched videos before bringing our children home. We thought we were prepared, but even with all that preparation, the transition was intense and lasted for several years. Our kids had to learn a new language, get used to a new culture, and become part of a new family with whom they had no history. There was anger, tantrums, and confusion. We were trying so hard, but it was exhausting and felt like uncharted territory.
In the midst of these challenges, it quickly became clear that our daughter, Eyerusalem, had significant gaps in her previous education and faced serious academic hurdles. We initially tried homeschooling, but we didn’t see much progress. I’m a trained teacher and could identify some of the issues, but it just wasn’t working for me to be both mom and teacher. We needed to find a learning environment that could accommodate her unique needs.
As she was approaching junior high, we began to feel desperate—we knew time was running out for her. We considered our local public school and a local public charter school, but when we visited, the class sizes and the environment felt socially and academically overwhelming. Eyerusalem was very shy and hesitant in new situations. Junior high can be brutal even in the best of circumstances. We were afraid she would not thrive in a large, potentially confusing environment where she didn’t know anyone.
Around that time, we discovered a special needs school choice program that enabled us to enroll Eyerusalem in a small private school near our home. At this school, class sizes were smaller, and she was able to attend some small-group classes in a resource room. We sat down with the director and created a truly individualized education plan for her. Her plan included tools for learning English as a second language and a differentiated curriculum based on state standards. She was learning what her peers were learning, but in a way that she could access and succeed in.
In the small group classes, she made friends and developed a sincere empathy for other students with learning differences. This educational experience helped her grow into a whole person. Academics did not motivate Eyerusalem, but interactions with teachers and classmates helped her recognize and develop her unique strengths. In that environment, she built confidence and courage. She not only received training in job skills and work attitudes but was also encouraged to pursue training in an area she enjoyed – fashion and cosmetology.
The small school setting also allowed her to join the girls’ soccer team, which she enjoyed and which taught her discipline and how to work as part of a team. A school choice scholarship enabled Eyerusalem to attend a school that was the best match for her unique needs.
