At one time in Jewish history, teaching was an indisputably male domain. Today, not only do females flourish in the field of teaching, they are sought-after administrators. Horizon Academy has chosen two highly respected Jewish women in the field of special education — Vicki Asher and Julie Altman — to lead its school. Horizon Academy just might be the only school — public or private — in the Kansas City area to have Jewish women serving in its top two leadership positions.
Horizon Academy, located in Roeland Park, opened to 12 students in 1999 with both Asher and Altman on the small staff. {mprestriction ids="1,3"}Today Asher said Horizon Academy “is the only fully accredited school specializing in serving children with learning disabilities in the Kansas City area.”
According to Asher the school prides itself on educating students with learning disabilities utilizing evidenced-based strategies and methodologies. It serves students in a 75-mile radius of the Kansas City area in grades one through 12 with diagnosed learning and/or attention challenges. Horizon Academy features small classes — there are never more than nine students in a classroom with a teacher and a teacher’s assistant. The school’s goal is for each student to experience a high degree of success, both socially and academically.
Both women have worked at Horizon since the beginning, when it first held classes at Congregation Beth Torah. In fact that’s how Altman, a member of Beth Torah and a special education specialist for more than 30 years, learned of the school.
For the first time Asher is moving from the classroom to serve as Head of School; she also served as the upper school assistant principal for three years. Altman, who is now the school’s principal, has served as its assistant principal of the elementary and middle school for the past three years.
Both women have been recognized by their peers as outstanding educators. Last year Asher was awarded the Special Educator of the Year in Kansas by the Council for Exceptional Children. Altman received the same honor in 2012.
Asher is excited about her new position.
“Our former director, Sharyl Kennedy, founded the school 17 years ago and left a pretty firm foundation,” said Asher, explaining that her new job includes anything from hiring teachers, professional development, strategic planning as well as being an instructional leader and instructional coach.
“I think because we are a small establishment we wear a lot of hats. I believe my primary position is to lead the school, whether that is working with our students, our staff, or our board of directors,” Asher said.
As principal, Altman will directly oversee the staff by observing the classrooms and making sure all the staff “is using our programs with fidelity and that our students are receiving everything that they need.”
“Another part of my job is to make sure the students, parents and staff are happy,” Altman continued.
A big part of Altman’s job is serving as the admission’s director. She personally takes prospective parents on tours and is the lead person who screens prospective students.
The two positions are intertwined in many ways and both women think they will work well together.
“Julie and I have worked together since 1999, and I think we have a unique partnership. We share some responsibilities and we discuss all aspects of the school together,” said Asher. “Our main goal is the same: To provide the best services we possibly can for the students that we serve.”
For the upcoming school year, which begins Aug. 18, Horizon Academy expects its largest enrollment to date.
“Right now we have 78 committed and we have another half dozen that we are waiting to hear if they plan to enroll. That will put us over the 81 mark that we have been striving for,” Asher said.
The school hired another teacher this year, so its capacity is now 90. Asher hopes additions to its administrative staff, including a new development coordinator and a new marketing/communications coordinator, will help move the school forward and expand its reach.
Horizon Academy has rolling enrollment, which means if there’s room they accept students anytime throughout the year.
“Oftentimes when the first report cards come out in October, Julie’s phone starts ringing off the hook. The same happens in January when progress reports come out again and students’ needs are not being met,” Asher said.
Several Jewish students — including one recent graduate — have attended Horizon Academy over the years, but right now no Jewish students are enrolled.
Asher said Horizon Academy is unique in its response to learning disabilities.
“We provide the intensive care that only a very small percentage of students in a traditional school will get,” Asher said.
Horizon Academy uses direct instruction that is multi-sensory and evidenced-based to meet the needs of students struggling with learning disabilities. Those learning disabilities include dyslexia, dysgraphia (difficulty with writing), dyscalculia (difficulty with numbers) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
“We meet the needs of students struggling with any one or a combination of those learning disabilities,” Asher said.
“And a lot of our kids struggle with anxiety after years of struggling in an environment where their needs were not being met. They come with a lot of anxiety and fear, which also impedes their ability to learn,” she continued.
Once students enroll at Horizon Academy, the staff focuses on the whole child by teaching strategies, so they can realize the best way they can learn and how to access the curriculum.
Asher pointed out that Horizon Academy is a transition school, meaning students don’t spend their entire careers at the private school.
“They come; they get the intensive care that they need. They stay for two, three or four years or whatever it may take, and then when they leave, they have the skills to be successful in a traditional school setting. We also coach students to self-advocate, so they can access the curriculum or get what they need in other situations where they may be having trouble being successful,” Asher said.
Altman said Horizon’s staff looks at four areas to determine whether the student is ready to transition to a different learning environment:
• Academics — being as close to or on grade level as possible
• Organizations skills — are they able to organize their assignment notebook and their papers and keep them all together and turn them in
• Self-advocacy — asking for help when they need it, telling their teachers how they learn best, which can be something as simple as asking to sit up front
• Social skills — being able to make friends, keep friends and have a conversation with others
Asher, Altman and the entire Horizon Academy staff are currently undergoing Orton-Gillingham training, which is the premier approach to teaching students who struggle with dyslexia. Currently there are only 13 schools in the nation that are Orton-Gillingham Academies.
“This certification would allow us to reach even further into the community to help parents, students and teachers,” Asher said.
For more information about Horizon Academy, contact Altman at 913-789-9443.{/mprestriction}
