The Siena School

Hi my name is Lisa and I am in my second year as a Siena parent. Since starting at Siena, we have seen a tremendous change in my son over the past year and a half. While he was reluctant at first, he now sees his learning as not a chore, he is open to using all the tools and strategies; he self-advocates, and he has really found his way. Just the other day the teacher was working with another student on long division and she asked if my child wanted to listen in on the extra support. He agreed and attended this extra session, where he listened and asked questions! He is now willing to participate, very comfortable, and knows when he should ask questions. He also will stick with something longer until he gets it and doesn't give up as easily as he did before. We are really proud of the education he is receiving and all the progress he has made. It is clear that the staff truly care about him and his success. This success story is not unique to my child. This is the type of story you hear time and time again from the students and parents who attend Siena.

I truly cannot imagine what our lives would have looked like without Siena. Our extremely bright, extremely dyslexic kid would likely have been "pulled out" for "special help" as if they need to be fixed. We would have spent hundreds (thousands?) of dollars on tutors, removing up all our free time and effectively punishing our child for learning differently. Instead, at Siena, our child was celebrated and supported and every aspect of their education was tailored to their interests and strengths. That's right, STRENGTHS. Learning disabilities are learning differences, not simply flaws, or deficits. There are so many ways of accessing and processing and retaining and using information; Siena helped my child unlock their special ways of learning -- their unique brilliance. My kid will be going to a great college next year, knowing how they learn, and knowing how to advocate for themselves. Most importantly, they will go to college knowing that they do NOT need to be "fixed"-- they are NOT stupid or slow, they are a very smart person with a learning disability, Some things are still weirdly hard for them but there are workarounds and they don't have to detract from the joy of learning. Thank you, Siena!

The Siena School has been great for our son. It is completely focused on kids with dyslexia, is rigorous, and innovative in its teaching methods. Our son has struggled with reading fluency but has real gifts in math and science. The teachers have encouraged his interests while still addressing his needs. He is actually picking up books for fun, which he hasn`t done since he was first trying to learn to read.