First Middle Georgia school for dyslexic students opens this week

This will be the first Georgia school prioritizing dyslexic students outside of metro Atlanta.

August 12, 2024

Taylor Gilchrist,

Thumbnail Vosot00 00 18 00still001 — (Photo Credit: Taylor Gilchrist/41NBC)

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Roberts Academy at Mercer University will begin classes on Wednesday. The new academy is a transitional school for 2nd through 5th grade students with dyslexia.

This will be the first Georgia school prioritizing dyslexic students outside of metro Atlanta. Head of School Joy Wood says the academy will prepare students for a return to a traditional school setting.

“They come into our school, we remediate them, we teach them how to read,” Wood said. “It’s a very structured environment and safe environment but also a very diagnostic environment, so we meet them where they are so that they can move at the pace in which they need to move.”

Roberts Academy at Mercer University has the lowest tuition for a specialized school for dyslexia in Georgia. Class sizes will not exceed 12 students, ensuring that each student gets the proper attention they need. Students applied for admission, with 31 being accepted for this school year.

Personal experiences with dyslexia brought some of the teachers to the classroom as well. Teresa Kalmbach will be teaching fifth grade students at Roberts Academy. Kalmbach’s son was diagnosed with dyslexia when he was in the fourth grade.

“I was able to do a lot of practicing on him when I was first learning about dyslexia,” Kalmbach said. “I specialize in dyslexia instruction, and so I look forward to being able to provide specialized instruction in all content areas to my students.”

According to Mercer University, dyslexia affects 20% of the population and represents 80-90% of all learning disabilities. Kalmbach says she’s excited for the opportunity to make an impact on this important issue in her community.

“This is a need in our community,” Kalmbach said. “And I’m so thankful to be able to help and support these students because we want to have them college and career ready, and we want them to have successful lives.”