21 - Colegio NUEVA GRANADA

35 years
serving students
with special needs:
cng’s learning center
Colegio NUEVA GRANADA December 2012
32
by: Annie de Acevedo
Learning Center Director
Around 40 years ago, some students were referred from the U.S.
to CNG with an IEP (Individualized Educational Plan) and were also
diagnosed as Learning Disabled. In order to attend to the needs of
these few children a teacher was hired. It was the beginning of the
Learning Center.
The Learning Center was the where children with learning differences
were first served. It started out as a small service managed
by two teachers. Slowly the needs of these students grew as well as
the number of students diagnosed with some kind of learning disorder.
Initially only U.S. native speakers of English qualified for the
program of special needs. As the school population grew, more and
more children, some of them native Spanish speakers, were also diagnosed
with some kind of learning issue, which made learning the
traditional way, very hard for them. CNG, then hired a tester more
L.D. teachers and specialists, in order to help the growing population
of students who were experiencing learning difficulties. The service
was a pull out program and helped only primary and elementary
students. Soon it became apparent that M.S. and H.S. students continued
to need support. CNG accepted this challenge and started a
program called SSP – “Students Support Program”. This was done
through a course, an elective where the student earned a credit and
were able to continue their education at CNG. 10-15% of the population
needed various levels of learning support. Once it was clear
we wanted to educate all this children, our services multiplied in
size and sophistication. A language therapist and an occupational
therapist were hired. As the years went by, CNG became known as
the school who was willing to help the Learning Disabled. The U.S.
Embassy through the State Department gave us some grants and
our services became highly successful and many of the L.D. children
were able to graduate and go to college and become contributing
members of society. Once again we were sent children from the U.S.
embassy and multinational companies with severe difficulties such
as autism, cerebral palsy, psychiatric disorders, and other disorders
and CNG rase to the occasion by developing a shadow or co-teacher
model in order to include this model in the classroom. It proved to be
so successful that now we have 26 students with severe disabilities,
making their way through our school. Our other population also
benefited greatly from sharing with our special needs population.
They have become more compassionate, more empathetic and in
general better human beings. Today we have a pull-out program
(K-12), and an inclusion (push-in) program (K-12) with wonderful results.
We are extremely proud of the services, and we offer and also
share them with schools all over the world. For example this week
we will be receiving a visit from Quito, Ecuador. CNG has made a
tremendous difference in many children’s lives. It has made many
dreams come true! We have made a contribution to the world!
Dear Annie,
Last week you told us that you are leaving CNG. So many things came to
my mind that I would like to express them all in this short letter.
I have had the honor to work with you for the past 8 years. You can’t
imagine all the miracles I have seen, all the lives you have touched, and
all the people you have given hope to.
One of the things that I admire the most about you is that you NEVER
give up !!! Not even in the most complicated scenarios I saw you quitting!!
I remember words like “Don’t worry we can do it! This case is hard
but WE are strong and capable!”
You have always been very generous sharing your knowledge; you always
help us out to find the potential of our students, and the most important
thing is that you taught all the CNG community a value that we
will never forget: FAIRNESS IS NOT GIVING ALL THE STUDENTS THE
SAME, IT IS GIVING THEM WHAT THEY NEED!
I admire your decision making, your leadership, intuition, and
ENORMOUS heart. You are an example of determination, vision, and
hard work. You are going to be deeply missed!!
Lastly, I want to thank you in the name of my students the opportunity
you gave them. Most of them are regular classroom students or professionals
because YOU gave them the chance to be at CNG.
A child with Diamond Syndrome, currently a regular third grade student
A child with Auditory Processing Disorder, currently a third grade student
A child with Cognitive Impairment who is now a book writer
A child with Down Syndrome, currently a bilingual secretary
A child with Cerebral Palsy who has become an entrepreneur
My list can go on and go on, but the last case I want you to remember
is the following:
About twenty three years ago, an 11 year old girl went to your private
practice. Her mom was desperately looking for answers because this girl
couldn’t read a single word, add, or subtract. You told that mom “Don’t
worry. She is very smart. She has dyslexia.” You taught that girl to read
and write and she was able to attend to a regular school in Colombia.
That girl is now 34 years old, has a master’s degree, a specialization, and
is currently a teacher at CNG…… that girl is me!!
I personally experienced all the light, support, and caring that you have
given to the families that have children with special needs, and we are
so grateful for that.
Thank you Annie, for all you have given us!! We are going to miss you
very, very, much !!!!!!
You have all my respect, admiration and love,
a special tribute
Claudia Mora
Learning Center Specialist
STUDENT
SERVICES
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