When Macy Jewett reflects on her daughter Belle’s early elementary years, she remembers a child who was trying her hardest but falling further behind.
“It was extremely tough for her to learn in her previous school,” Jewett said. “No matter how hard she tried, the tools and pace just weren’t designed for the way her brain learns best. She was putting in so much effort, but it often felt like she was making no progress.”
Belle, now a sixth-grader at Roberts Academy at Mercer University, struggled in a traditional classroom environment that was not built for students with dyslexia. At home, the emotional toll was just as evident as the academic one.
Jewett said the turning point came when conversations about her daughter’s future shifted in a direction she could not accept.
“I decided a change was necessary when her teachers began suggesting retention rather than providing the individualized help and interventions that would allow her to succeed,” she said.
Rather than repeat a grade without targeted support, Jewett began searching for a school designed specifically for students with dyslexia. She learned about Roberts Academy through her mother, an educator.
“She had been hearing wonderful things since it opened,” Jewett said.
Each student who applies for admission to Roberts Academy must complete a shadow at the school, where they will experience first-hand what a typical day at the Academy entails.
For Belle, the shadow day was the defining moment in her family’s decision to ultimately enroll her.
“After her very first shadow day, she felt completely at ease and excited about school in a way I hadn’t seen in a long time. She even told me she didn’t want to go back to public school, not even to say goodbye to her friends,” Jewett said. “That moment made it clear that Roberts was right for her.”
Since enrolling, Jewett said Belle has grown both academically and emotionally.
The changes extend beyond the classroom. At home, the shift has been palpable.
“Her confidence has gone through the roof, and her reading ability has improved dramatically,” she said. “She now approaches schoolwork with excitement instead of fear. She is also more willing to try new things because she finally believes she can succeed.”
“Our home life has improved dramatically,” Jewett said. “She no longer comes home feeling defeated and exhausted. Instead, she’s energized and always has exciting stories from her day to share.”
One moment stands out above the rest.
“One of the most memorable moments in our journey was hearing her read an entire page to her grandma without any help,” Jewett said. “She used to need support with basically every other word. Listening to her read so confidently is incredibly emotional. It was something I once wondered if she’d ever be able to do, and seeing it happen is an answered prayer.”
For families questioning whether a specialized setting can truly make a difference, Jewett offers a clear answer.
“Roberts Academy has truly changed my daughter’s life,” she said. “She’s gaining skills and confidence that will stay with her for the rest of her life.”
Looking back, she describes the school as more than an academic placement. It represents a turning point.
“Roberts Academy represents the incredible journey of seeing our daughter go from not receiving the help she needed and feeling overwhelmed at school to becoming a child who can tackle her work with confidence and actually looks forward to school,” Jewett said.
For parents of children with dyslexia who see effort without progress and frustration without support, Jewett’s story underscores what can happen when instruction matches the way a child’s brain learns. At Roberts Academy, that alignment has meant not just stronger reading skills for Belle, but renewed confidence, and a family no longer wondering if their child will ever feel successful in school.
Roberts Academy at Mercer University is the only transitional elementary school of its kind in Georgia outside of Metro Atlanta. The mission of the Academy is to prepare students with dyslexia to achieve academic success through dynamic educational programs.
The Academy teaches a comprehensive curriculum designed for grades 2 through 6 using the Orton-Gillingham approach, a specialized learning method clinically proven to help students with dyslexia. Students attend the Academy until they have mastered the skills to accommodate their learning differences and are prepared to succeed in a traditional school setting.
For more information and to schedule an admissions tour, visit www.robertsacademy.org
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