"I am the mother of 4 boys. My second boy, Trenton, was different from the beginning. All through his early years, his father and I tried to find someone who understood what made him tick. We would describe what was going on, but no one seemed to be able to help. When he started kindergarten, his teacher saw that he had academic problems and recommended him for special education, BUT, he still did not make the progress that he seemed capable of. As he moved through the grades, he would have these "episodes" that his father and I didn’t understand. Sometimes we thought we were living with an alien. He was flunking school, was very difficult to live with and became so depressed that he was suicidal. We tried counseling and then medication, but that just made him a zombie. We did not want this for our child. He appeared to be smart, and we just wanted to know how to reach him so he could live a normal life. He would even ask why he was different from other kids. It didn’t matter who we talked to, they didn’t understand what was going on. We were beginning to feel like we were the only ones with this kind of struggle.

Finally when Trenton was in the fifth grade, we took him to the Southern Idaho Learning Center. At our first interview, it was like we had gone to heaven. The professionals at the Center understood everything we were saying and didn’t treat us like we were talking about some kind of alien. His episodes, we learned, were anxiety attacks. These "attacks" made the treatment for his learning disability more complex. The Center helped us and his teachers understand the steps we needed to take to help Trenton, and they have stayed with us providing consultation as his needs changed. Trenton is now an 8th grader. He has gained a lot of knowledge and self esteem in the last three years. He is an honor student, plays sports, is involved in the scouting program, and holds down a part-time job. His goal is to be an architect, and I know he can achieve this! I also know, that without the Southern Idaho Learning Center, we could never have made it this far. I am very grateful for everything the Center has done. I especially want to thank all of the donors for making the Center available to families like ours."  Tina Hanson

Todd Loveless

"A year and a half ago the school approached us about my son, Todd, repeating his grade. They said he lacked the skills necessary for success at the next grade level. They implied that we were not working with him enough at home, which made us feel guilty. We were trying, but we just weren’t having any success with it. We didn’t want to hold him back because he was already a year older than his class. This is when we decided to bring him to the Southern Idaho Learning Center. After attending the Center’s Learning Institute, he is now at the top of his class in reading, and more importantly reading is fun for him. He even asks to read a book in bed at night. As his reading got better, his scores increased in the other subjects. As his scores increased, so did his self-esteem. The Center has opened up a future for him. Because of Todd’s successes, Todd’s younger brothers, Sam and Kyle, pictured here, have also enrolled in the Center’s Learning Institute having shown some of the same "red flags" as their older brother. I’m impressed with how happy they are to come after a full day of school. They run out and jump in the car when it’s time to go.  I appreciate the financial underwriting of the Learning Institute, which made if financially possible for us to send the three brothers.  I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to bring the kids (to the Center)." Grant Loveless

"I knew a little but this class really opened my eyes. I will be more aware of my students now!

"I personally found the (workshops) to be the most valuable I’ve attended since starting here almost 4 years ago"

"The workshops were great in all ways… to myself as an individual, as a parent, as a teacher and as a tutor."

"The course content was excellent and relevant. The teacher was excellent and easy to listen to"

"This class was a great one. I enjoyed it and will be able to use most of the info in my class. It exceeded my expectations."

"(The instructor’s) approach to today’s teaching and students’ needs is refreshing, exciting and encouraging."

Examples of the impact of the Center on children around the Magic Valley:

Castleford - a teenager with D’s and F’s now on the honor role

Filer - a young boy who hated reading and writing and whose mother broke out in tears every time she spoke of her own school experiences was chosen first place in the Idaho Young Authors competition and asked to read his composition

Hollister - the mother of two learning disabled boys, the younger of whom received services from the SILC expresses her thanks as the younger boy has done well, but she feels like she lost the older one having not received help for him.