Lucia Frohling shares the story of her children’s educational journey and how everything changed when she found Trinity School at Edgemere. Trinity is a private school that educates students with learning differences, each according to their specific needs, in a supportive and encouraging environment. Most students are supported by Oklahoma’s school choice programs, including the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship, Equal Opportunity Scholarships and the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit.
Lucia’s children participate in the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship and the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit programs.
Dawson and Ansley started in pre-K in the public school system, and I thought, were doing pretty great. We noticed in first grade that Ainsley was struggling, so we requested a full evaluation. The school psychologist said she had anxiety, and she was placed on a 504 plan. The following year we realized that her twin brother was struggling. He was identified as being dyslexic, dysgraphic, as well as having hyperactivity.
I sobbed because I realized I could either keep him in public school where he would not be taught in a way that worked for him, we could tutor him after school and he wouldn’t get to be a kid, or I would need to look somewhere else to find a school that fit his needs.
I researched and found Trinity School at Edgemere. We were so blessed that they had space for him the following year. He started that Fall and just was flourishing. He was like, I actually know how to read these words now. Before, he wouldn’t read aloud to us. And then he was reading Captain Underpants and Dog Man, laughing hysterically at all the jokes.
We realized while watching Dawson grow, his twin sister, who was still in public school, was just going downhill. We needed to move Ansley to be with her brother. She was a little hesitant at first. She didn’t want to leave her friends. I told her, we’ll just try it and see. She went to Summer Off, which is Trinity’s summer program, and came home excited. She said, “I can deal with being in the same class as my twin brother if it means I’ll be able to read.”
At Trinity they meet the kids where they are and raise the expectation. They take what they’re good at and help them grow in that area. Before, she felt completely defeated in public school. At Trinity she realized that she did have strengths and that she wasn’t stupid. She wasn’t an idiot. She is uniquely and wonderfully made by God.
With the parental choice tax credit, before we could not really afford the extra expense of annually getting the therapy she needed. And now we can. That is such a blessing for us to be able to do for her because she needs it.
At Trinity they have just come into who they are, that they are so smart, they do know how to read, and that their teachers here. It’s a family. They truly care.
