Myles’ Mission…Accomplished

Myles’ story is one to which many parents of children with behavioral challenges can relate. Frequent suspensions from school. Weekly incidents that require early school pickups. Rearranged work schedules to accommodate these disruptions. Missed events or appointments to stay home with the child. This is simply reality, a way of life, for these parents.

But it doesn’t have to be. Schools like the High Road School of Harford County can change everything.

The timing wasn’t ideal. Myles began attending the High Road School of Harford County shortly before COVID-19 shut the world down in March 2020. So, in addition to the challenge of navigating a new school, Myles had to do so in a remote learning environment. This situation, coupled with Myles’ anxiety and behavioral issues, led to a rocky beginning with the school. 

High Road Schools across the country take family relationships very seriously and see the involvement of families as a solid indicator of a student’s success within the program. After a tricky initial transition, which included in-person visits to their home, Myles’ family became more and more involved with the school and the program, especially after students returned to the school building. And that’s when it all began to click for Myles. 

Backed by plenty of support and participation from his parents, and fueled by his own hard work, Myles showed amazing improvement in both his behavior as well as his studies. His mom, Diana, attributes the transformation to the school’s methods and philosophies. “They had small class sizes, and they catered to him and his learning style,” explained Diana. “He wasn’t just lumped into a group of kids and labeled. He was seen as an individual kid with so much potential.” 

The teachers at the High Road School of Harford County, through hard work with Myles as well as collaboration with his parents, were able to address his behavioral and anxiety issues, which resulted in major changes both within the classroom and at home. “There are very special teachers [at the High Road School of Harford County] who care so deeply about Myles,” said Diana. At home, “he began to really tell us what he was feeling and what he needed to help him. He has been apologizing if he overreacts to something…and his overreactions are nothing like they used to be.” 

Last year, when Myles was in seventh grade, he expressed to his parents that he wanted to transition back to his previous school, despite his prior experiences there. Knowing how well the High Road School of Harford County’s staff prepared Myles for this moment, they went ahead with this plan and enrolled him in his public school in time to start eighth grade. “They were so extremely supportive,” said Diana. “They helped him set goals and get him to where he needed to be emotionally and academically.” Myles’ family is grateful for the High Road School of Harford County and everything they did to help Myles attain his goal. According to Diana, “High Road School was exactly what Myles needed!” And she wants other families in similar situations to experience the same success as hers did. “Do it…it will change your life, and you will only be mad at yourself that you didn’t do it sooner!”