Everyone wants their child to succeed. But what if your child is struggling at school? What if the interventions aren’t working?
Greater Cincinnati families can turn to Springer School and Center.
Springer offers an independent school for grades 1-9 specializing in helping students and families determine what is preventing a child from success and changing the trajectory. Whether the trouble is dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or learning disabilities, Springer’s expert team is there to ensure every child meets their potential.
And Springer is changing lives every day — just ask the Bonomo family.
Dominic Bonomo was struggling. He was a very smart little boy, but even in kindergarten, he was not meeting academic standards. Dominic couldn’t read but had learned to memorize his books, “hiding” his disability. But it was taking a toll on him.
“His lips were chapped, and his fingernails were bitten off. He was so stressed,” says Wendy Bonomo, Dominic’s mother.
After multiple meetings and several rounds of testing, Dominic was diagnosed with ADHD, a severe processing disorder, and anxiety. Springer was recommended to the family.
Wendy wasn’t sure about switching schools. It would mean sending her two boys to different schools, which would be an adjustment for the family. So, Dominic tried the summer learning program, “Adventures in Summer Learning,” at Springer. After a great experience, Wendy knew that Springer School and Center was the right place for him.
Dominic started second grade at Springer as a nonreader.
“His teachers were amazing,” Wendy says. “They figured out a way to reach him. Within a month, he was reading!”
Springer has been a place for experts in the field of learning disabilities for decades. With more than 50 years as an independent school, the faculty has a wealth of knowledge and experience. In addition to rigorously trained special education teachers, Springer’s team of experts includes occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists and psychologists.
Each classroom has a teacher and an instructional assistant with a class size of 12-15 students. That means plenty of direct, individualized instruction for the student.
Springer sets itself apart further by using a curriculum effective for students with ADHD, executive function deficits, and learning disabilities including dyslexia, dyscalculia and dysgraphia. Reading instruction uses a multisensory, structured literacy approach based on the science of reading, and incorporates writing that also uses structured, multisensory instruction. This, paired with typing and handwriting, pushes students to success in all classes. Extensions of core classes include STEAM (tailored to each grade level and including favorites like programming and 3D printing), Art, Music, PE, Math Lab, and Library.
Supplemental programs such as the Maureen Wenker Artist in Residence and the Norita Aplin Musician in Residence programs provide additional fine arts opportunities with a social-emotional learning component. Combined with more than a dozen extracurriculars students have many opportunities to explore and grow.
Springer continues to expand to meet its mission of helping as many students like Dominic as it can. The school recently added a ninth grade and announced the opening of a high school. The Center has expanded services with diagnostics and tutoring open to the larger community. Springer Diagnostic Center can perform comprehensive academic and cognitive evaluations for children in grades K-12 and can also match children with Springer educators who provide tutoring and/or speech-language and occupational therapy. These are services provided to children from across the region and are especially valuable to families just beginning to uncover their child’s learning profile.
For children like Dominic, Springer is a place where magic happens.
Dominic is now a sophomore at Xavier University, taking a full course load and living in a dorm on campus. “His journey through life has been amazing to watch,” Wendy says. “He’s had so many hurdles to overcome. I’m so impressed by him.”
And while Dominic certainly did the work, Springer was the foundation of his current success.
“He would be a totally different young man if he hadn’t gone,” Wendy says. “It changed the trajectory of his life. He’s successful because of the interventions he had at Springer.”
The Bonomo family believes so strongly in the mission of Springer that Wendy is now a member of the board of trustees.
“I’m so proud he’s an alumnus of Springer,” Wendy says. “More children need Springer in their story.”
Dominic agrees. “Without Springer, I wouldn’t be where I’m at right now. You won’t find people more capable of helping your children succeed anywhere else than at Springer.”
Do you know a student who would benefit from Springer School and Center? Find out more at springer-ld.org or call 513-871-6080. Springer is located at 2121 Madison Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45208.