Sgt. Jordan connected Pace with Sgt. Joseph T. Duncan and project “Any Soldier” to get the parcels to soldiers in Afghanistan. According to Sgt. Duncan, “Getting packages with anything – letters, food, clothes make their day!” He says it is very harsh over there during this time. Some have new born babies and others have families and pets that they have to leave with others and not see sometimes a year or more.  They have only their brothers (other soldiers) to spend time with.

The students are learning that whatever their personal challenges, helping other people can make them feel good about themselves.  Plans are already underway to have Council members visit residents of a senior care center in the coming months.

During the race many of our chapter members were paired up with a faculty member or staff of the school and over the course of the event all of us came to gain a tremendous respect for their dedication. In my own experience Ms. Burgman, the music teacher, displayed an incredible passion for her students, and unwavering pride when they succeed. I realized from her short stories that teaching at Pace is not typical, but the reward from serving these children in need makes up for any challenge.

The race itself went flawlessly, and the enthusiasm from everyone was electric. The dogs and children brightened up the days of every brother in attendance. Even those racing thanked us for being there, and it was truly mutually beneficial for us. When everyone finally returned to the bus it was unanimous that this was an incredible experience, superior event and a cause worth serving.

As a haven for students with exceptional need, Pace stands out for its commitment to caring and serving those students who need them most.

~

John Schieman
Global Business Brigades- Senior VP
Delta Sigma Pi – VP Service Activities
Professional Business Fraternity

Farmer School of Business

Miami University

As a recent consultant to our Partial Hospitalization Program recently observed “you don’t have any easy cases.”  The challenges our children face are complex and on-going.  That staff are able to stand by them day after day providing caring structure and effective practices is nothing short of amazing.

The real tribute to just how terrific they are individually and as a community is the stories of success that we celebrate all too infrequently.

One child arrived with challenges that masked his true capacity so well that his IQ score was measured at the borderline of intellectual disability.  After a year of steady interventions, this student has overcome those barriers and on retesting he was found to have an IQ in the average range.  His intelligence didn’t really change – the team that supported him transformed his ability to access that native intelligence.

Another young man in the 4^th grade came to us as a non-reader.  He would simply not engage in reading instruction and used disruptive behaviors to avoid doing this very difficult task.  Through intensive one-on-one instruction and the most effective reading interventions, his team engaged him in new ways.  Using drills that offered rewards and iPad apps that made learning fun, this young man became so engaged in learning to read, that he was willing to give up recess time to do drills for fluency and sight word recognition. His pride at being able to read makes every challenge easier to face.

On any given day, it’s tough to look beyond the immediate behaviors and challenges that our very special students present.  It’s tough to maintain the faith that even in the most difficult home and community circumstances, our interventions are making a difference.  But when you step back and watch and listen to the stories, as I have the privilege to do, you can see that…

Pace’s professionals are creating a future for children.

When I first came to Pace Learning Center I didn’t want to be here. There were only a couple of kids, but i got a lot of attention and made some friends. I had a bad temper and always was getting held at the YMCA before and after school.

I really like my teachers here and am really good at doing my work, especially math. So I finished kindergarten and first grade, then I got a new teacher at PLC for second grade. My mom really wanted me to go back to my public school and I wanted to go back too.

So I started to go there for a half day in the afternoon for a couple of weeks. Things went really good and right after Thanksgiving I went back to my public school permanently. At PLC I learned to control my anger and be a positive role model to the little kids. I only needed to be restrained one time the whole time I was at PLC. I also learned to be safe and to use my safety plan when I get mad.

~PLC student

Goodbye.

~written by a Pace School student

Miss H helps by reminding us to use our safety plans when we are upset. Mr. B tells us to “take-5” when we get frustrated.  Mr. P listens to what we say.  I help keep our classroom safe by reminding everybody to just ignore the negative stuff.

—  Pace Student

— Pace Student