Testimonials

I will never forget the day I found my daughter’s diary. As I flipped through the pages, my heart shattered. Written in her innocent handwriting were words no parent ever wants to see: she felt invisible, broken, and even questioned if life was worth living. She was only a child, yet already carrying a weight far too heavy for her little shoulders. I was scared, overwhelmed, and desperate to help her. We had already been down so many paths, searching for answers. My daughter is a neurodivergent learner. Traditional schools tried, but they didn’t understand her. The constant reminders to “try harder” or “pay attention” only made her feel worse. She came home defeated, anxious, and convinced she wasn’t smart enough. Our home life was filled with stress, tears, and frustration. Watching her lose hope was one of the most painful things I have ever endured as a parent. Then, we found Renner Academy. From the very first day, everything changed. Her teachers didn’t see her as a problem to be fixed — they saw her as a bright, capable child with incredible potential. They understood how her brain works and taught her in ways that finally made sense. Slowly, we saw the light return to her eyes. She began reading with confidence, solving math problems she once feared, and most importantly, believing in herself again. At home, the difference has been nothing short of a miracle. The stress that once hung over every evening has lifted. Instead of tears at the kitchen table, we share laughter. Instead of constant battles over homework, we see her excited to show us what she has learned. The change in our family’s daily life is priceless. And then, the most beautiful gift of all: friendships. For so long, our daughter felt alone, standing on the outside looking in. At Renner, she found children who understand her, who cheer for her victories, and who accept her exactly as she is. Watching her walk into school with a smile, surrounded by true friends, is something I once feared I would never see. Renner Academy didn’t just help my daughter — it gave our family hope, healing, and joy. It gave us back the child we knew was always there but hidden under sadness and frustration. 

Renner Academy changed my daughter’s life. It changed our lives. 

With gratitude,

A Grateful Mom

Lauren Falcone

My son started Renner Academy in 2020. It’s the best decision we’ve ever made for his educational path! Due to being severely dyslexic, he has struggled so much in school, been very behind and battled with self esteem. With the amazing teaching skills and techniques at Renner Academy, he has come leaps and bounds! They’ve been able to reteach gaps and see what his individual needs were! They have even worked on his self-esteem! He’s more confident, tries to read and write more, and is showing so much progress! They are truly gifted with being able to help kiddos! Such a blessing for our family and community!  I highly recommend Renner Academy!!

My daughter learned to act like she understood and to pretend like she was paying attention. For the independent work, she would rely on peer support instead of teacher support. This is nobody’s fault in a class of 26, but she learned that school was about acting like you understood while usually not fully understanding what was being taught. Her teachers would even tell me how great she was doing, and I would insist that even though she was passing, she was not reaching her full potential. The solution that our family has found is Renner Academy. At Renner, she doesn’t get lost in the crowd. At Renner, when I talk to the teachers they describe the daughter that I know and love. They give her work at her level, and she is taught until she understands the concept fully. She can go at her own pace and have as much reteaching as she needs without feeling like she is letting the teachers down. They focus on a growth mindset, so she also learns that mistakes are valuable and nothing to be ashamed of. I have really enjoyed watching her go from surviving to thriving at Renner this year and look forward to many great years to come.

Thanks to Renner, she can not only face her challenges, but can she reach for her goals.

My children already faced learning challenges in school that were compounded by the pandemic. While homeschooling them during the pandemic, I saw they were not progressing as they should be; I knew it was time to involve professionals. 

The teachers at Renner Academy are committed to the children's' education and not just academically but socially as well. My children learn in an environment that fosters their strengths and creativity without making them feel pressured to perform on a timeline. They are relaxed and enjoy learning at their own pace. The individual approach used is priceless. I have seen my children blossom and grow in just a few months, and I am amazed at the progress they have made with more confidence, less frustration and increased curiosity, wanting to learn more. One of my children requires more individualized instruction and this school offers something no other school can,  one-to-one personalized instruction.   This academy has been life changing for my children, and I value their mission,  dedicated teachers, and all the supporting staff and board members for making this a reality. 

Before attending Renner Academy, my son, Tanner struggled academically and socially due to his hearing loss, which many schools attributed to his difficulties. Despite trying various educational settings—including public and private schools, virtual classes, and homeschooling—nothing seemed to fit his needs. In 2022, he was accepted into Renner Academy, which recognized his “other language-based learning difference.” Although Tanner had not been diagnosed with dyslexia at that time, Renner’s program proved beneficial, allowing him to thrive through individualized instruction. He gained confidence and began to actively participate in class discussions. The small class sizes and abundant educational support have truly made him feel safe, secure, and comfortable among his teachers and peers. Recently diagnosed with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and a processing disorder, Tanner's new challenges were already being addressed thanks to Renner’s attention to needs and individualized instruction. Renner Academy has been a crucial solution for Tanner’s educational journey, providing the nurturing he needed to succeed.

Andrew recently came to the Renner Academy (RA) after three-quarters of his third grade in a local public school.  In spite of his learning disabilities already being well-documented since pre-K, and the public school’s attempts to address his deficits via additional individual or small group teaching with dedicated special education teachers, Andrew was barely learning at the nominal rate. He was staying approximately two full years behind in his reading and language skills, and also at least one-year behind in math, science, and social studies (especially in the parts where these subjects are reading-based). 

Andrew deals with dyslexia and dysgraphia.  While not diagnosed clinically with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Andrew exhibits certain behaviors that suggest he also operates on the ADHD spectrum.  

As for history, Andrew failed to talk or to develop his vocabulary at the appropriate early ages, and he was then diagnosed with speech apraxia. Thus, starting at about age 42 months, Andrew has been receiving professional speech therapy continuously for his communications deficits.

Andrew comes from a single-parent and lower-income home, and his mother has three additional children in their family. Andrew’s mother very consistently holds down steady employment, so her time for “exceptional/individualized” child-education and child-rearing has been limited. One of Andrew’s oldest siblings also has ADHD, and (s)he struggled with this and related emotions through the education years.

Until Andrew was about 4 years old, we (his grandparents) were held back from most forms of involvement in our grandson’s (and his older siblings’) education and development. Andrew’s father is our son, but he and Andrew’s mother are not able to live together or to co-parent Andrew. In the past, this mother-father tension was a significant factor in our being held back from providing greater help. 

Based on the results of the spring 2025 public school special education teachers meeting with us regarding Andrew’s progress, we felt it had become imperative for us to seek out a learning environment that could meet Andrew’s special needs to a much, much greater extent.  Accordingly, we researched and located the Renner Academy (RA) and applied for Andrew to be accepted at RA starting after 2025’s spring break. 

Importantly, over the time since spring break, various meetings with the RA teachers and staff have given us multiple assurances that Andrew is already benefiting academically, and he applies himself well and that he is an excellent candidate to continue his recent academic improvement. Plus, he continues to be well-behaved in his classes and is well-liked - Andrew expresses that he truly likes and prefers being schooled at the Renner Academy.  

Because we believe Andrew’s educational needs exceeded what he was receiving in public schools, we are extremely grateful to have found the Renner Academy and its ‘exceptional’ abilities to meet Andrew’s needs.

By Betsy and Alan

Sponsoring grandparents