Madison Peddle was a poor reader as a child, and by the time she was in fourth grade, she was causing even greater problems.
Her father watched with heartbreak as his little girl, diagnosed with dyslexia, exploded after school, unable to finish her homework, and lost her sunny spirit.
“We were on the brink of collapse,” said West University Place resident Paul Peddle.
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Madison was fed up too, and one day almost three months ago she walked down the street from her elementary school to find a white-shaded building and a woman on a mission to help students like her. .
“I really need your help,” the girl proclaimed to Tammy Spencer of Houston’s Dyslexia School.
Madison is now one of dozens of students in classes at the school. The school provides screening, assessment and specialized face-to-face instruction for students with dyslexia, a common learning disability characterized by reading difficulties.
Peddle said she was amazed at her daughter’s progress, especially her self-confidence and emotional health.
“In less than a week, the flowers have just bloomed,” he said. “There is something special about Tammy and what she does.”
Tammy Spencer, founder of the Dyslexia School of Houston, practices the alphabet with students at her school at West University Place on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022.
John Shapley/Staff Photographer
Tammy Spencer, founder of the Dyslexia School of Houston, hugs students as they arrive at her school at West University Place, Wednesday, December 21, 2022.
John Shapley/Staff Photographer
Tammy Spencer practices the alphabet with students at her school at West University Place on Wednesday, December 21, 2022. / Spencer hugs a student as they arrive at school. (John Shapley/Staff Photographer)
Spencer started a dyslexia school over two years ago. Classrooms closed and schools turned to online classes during the pandemic, exacerbating challenges for many students with learning disabilities.
When her parents and teachers told her of their desperation, the former public school educator had an idea. She wanted to open a face-to-face school for dyslexic children. She decided to do it from her own garage.
“I took bold risks and said, ‘I’m going to do what I know is best. That’s what I teach my kids,'” she said.
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According to the International Dyslexia Association, dyslexia is a neurological condition unrelated to a person’s intelligence.
There is no cure for this condition, but most people can learn to read well with the right instructions and coping strategies, according to the Society.
An educator-turned-entrepreneur, Spencer transformed an apartment above a single-family garage from a bedroom into a classroom with whiteboards, folding tables, and card-table chairs, where metropolitan kids sat and learned. .
Among the first group of students was Katie’s first grader.
Kanisha Aikin was concerned about her son Carter’s reading ability, but said her concerns were not well received at his school. His first grade teacher narrowed it down to his behavior and attention issues. Aiken knew it was something deeper.
After desperately searching for the right resource for her son, she eventually found a post about Spencer’s new school on Facebook.
The mother immediately called Spencer. The pair talked for over an hour. Soon, Aiken arranged a carpool with Katie’s other parents to take the kids to Houston every day.
“It completely changed everything for him,” she said of the impact school had on her son. Instead, his confidence blossomed.”
Two students play the card game “Uno” at the Dyslexia School of Houston at West University Place on Wednesday, December 21, 2022.
John Shapley/Staff PhotographerCarter is currently in fourth grade at Katie’s King Elementary School. He reads at grade level and teachers praise him for the responsible and smart use of accommodations for his learning disability.
“(Spencer) gave them confidence that dyslexia wasn’t a disability, but a superpower,” his mother said.
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The dyslexia school has since moved to the nearby West University Place building and has over 50 enrolled students. The school offers pre- and after-school sessions for school-age children to supplement their education. Spencer says it’s aimed at children ages 4 through her 15.
Spencer has had a decades-long career in public education, most recently at the Houston ISD as an administrator overseeing dyslexia services.
Spencer said the public education system is “broken” and students with dyslexia and other learning disabilities usually don’t get the support they need.
“I no longer want to be part of the problem. I want to be the solution,” she said. “This isn’t brand new, but that’s how we behave.”
The stakes are high. Spencer said people with undiagnosed and untreated dyslexia may not be able to read or write. can suffer serious challenges.
“Reading is everything,” said Spencer. “How do you get from high school to the next level if you can’t read? How do you get a job if you can’t fill out the application?”
Spencer said he hopes to expand beyond the West University Place location to reach more students who can’t afford the program. By offering additional scholarships or support. She also started a non-profit called The Code Academy to help some students attend a tuition-based dyslexia school.
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“Right now, I can only reach out to people who can afford this,” she said.
The school focuses on prevention for young children, but trained teachers also offer intervention services.
“There are a lot of kids in our middle school who are illiterate or very poor at reading because they were part of this broken system,” she said. continued to fall.”
Peddle said her daughter had “very few” dyslexia services in public schools and few other resources.
Madison has improved her reading and school performance in the last few months and has told her parents that she hopes to one day become an entrepreneur.
She recently ran for student council and campaigned with a promise to support fellow students with dyslexia.
“She confidently says, ‘I’m dyslexic and sometimes I need help,'” her father said. “It’s unreal, change and growth.”
anna.bauman@chron.com
