Sarah Wagner, Director of Academic Support at Shortridge Academy co-presented a session at this year's Small Boarding Schools Association conference hosted by Grand River Academy. The presentation focused on an area specifically integrated at Shortridge by way of our therapeutic classroom approach.
The presentation, entitled "Bright, Underachieving and Struggling: Understanding the Cognitive, Social and Emotional Landscape of Processing Deficits" focused on students with slow processing speed who have a tendency to struggle in school socially and emotionally, as well as academically, especially by the time they get to high school. Sarah's presentation investigated the concept of the "twice-exceptional" student, one who is gifted, yet struggles with processing deficits, and explored a number of related issues, such as: what is processing speed, how is it measured, the relationship between processing deficits and other DSM-IV diagnoses and how slow processing impacts academics, social skills and emotional processes.
There was a discussion as to how schools and programs can work effectively with students with slower processing by utilizing a strengths-based approach that focuses on the development of essential skills and strategies, including self-advocacy, which will assist students in being successful in traditional academic environments. Finally, an investigation and discussion of potential interventions that could improve speed of processing for students, including cognitive training and neurofeedback was had.
Sarah Wagner is a founding faculty of Shortridge Academy and in her relatively new role as Director of Academic Support, Sarah works with her peer, Dr. Anne Downey, Director of Studies to implement, with supports, our NEASC accredited curriculum and therapeutically integrated academic program. Sarah oversees the academic advisors and related services including tutoring, special education services, guidance counseling and academic counseling.
Shortridge Academyis a year round, college preparatory, therapeutic boarding school for young men and women ages 14-18 years old, grades 9-12. Shortridge Academy is one of only a few therapeutic boarding schools in the Northeast accredited by the rigorous New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and the only school of its kind that explicitly utilizes the evidenced-based Positive Youth Development (PYD) philosophy to guide the individualized therapeutic programming for students. Since 2002, Shortridge Academy has been helping students and families who are struggling with academic performance, loss of interest in activities and increased conflict in family or peer relationships.