Tina,
I am writing to you with a heavy heart and lots of sadness, but at the same time, lots of hope and encouragement. I am having a hard time coming up with the words to adequately express my appreciation for all you and your amazing teachers have done for our children.
We came to Pathways very vulnerable and skeptical based on our previous experiences. You became my lifeline and my glimmer of hope for a better future for my boys. You all re-built A** from the ground back up again. You made him strong and confident and gave him wings to fly. My heart is filled with so many emotions because without you and your school we would be looking at a very different future for A**.
Again, Pathways took us in and gave our boys a chance when no one else would. We will be forever grateful to you. We now have two boys with amazing self-confidence, a strong academic foundation and great hope without limitations for their futures.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all you did for our kids but more importantly, thanks for what you did for our family.
Forever grateful, Mr. & Mrs. H….
Hi,
I have been meaning to write to you earlier about J**. I am sure this story is told over and over from every family at Pathways; you just need to change the names! Anyway, J**’s “mantra” has always been, “I hate school!” “I hate to read!” “Reading is stupid!” “Books are dumb!” I have heard these statements since first grade…until now! I don’t know what you are doing at school, but this is the first time that J** has read a chapter book, two as of today, on his own and is so proud of it! He told me last week that the class had free time to either do puzzles or play a game or read. He said that he was the only one who read! I wasn’t sure I picked up the right kid at school. 
He is already talking about reading the third book in this series! I went to the bookstore last weekend and casually asked him if he wanted me to get him any books, expecting him to say, “No, why would I want any books?!” Instead he asked for the rest of the books in the Captain Underpants series. I remember J**’s 2nd grade teacher telling the parents at the beginning of the school year that sometimes you just need to find the right book for your child to enjoy reading. I had already introduced him to Captain Underpants before then. But at that time, he was not going to enjoy reading. He only liked to be read to. Now, it seems he is enjoying these books, and I know there is comprehension there because he is telling me all about the books.
So, whatever is going on in your school, keep it up!! It is so exciting to hear him talk about how many chapters he has read, and I can see how proud he is. He also told me that “nonsense” words are easy now!
Thanks for all you do.
J**
