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An Educational Dream Team

We have four children ages 4 to 10 who attended one of the best schools in Georgia. However, if a child did not fall into the “normal” box, whether gifted or needing special services, the climate was just not acceptable. For years, we kept saying “this would never happen in Connecticut” (where I was raised). When the opportunity to work from home arose, we decided to move back to Connecticut and hired an educational advocate to help us choose the best town for our family. Our criteria was clear: good schools with special education services, along the shoreline, and a reasonable commute to the office. We were given three towns, one of which was Guilford. The data on the schools showed promise, however we were concerned with the dropping home values.

We decided to take the plunge with Guilford and never looked back. Our teachers have been an amazing team. They make recommendations, citing resources and experience and are available day and night. They are in a league of their own. Our special ed team poured through three, three-inch binders of records and found discrepancies between test results and plans. They fixed the goals and accommodations. And our principal is vigilant on every level, sensitive to every child in his care. They are an educational dream team.

Finding and retaining a talent pool of this magnitude is outright impressive. Our children are finally thriving, improving our quality of life! I am eternally grateful.

I would like to openly thank our superintendent of Schools, Dr. Paul Freeman. His methodology and plans for now and the future is transparent and enlightening, based off of research and results. I am excited for our children’s future and eager to support Dr. Freeman’s and the BOE’s plan for Guilford’s schools on April 18 with a “Yes” vote on the budget.

Jennifer Labbadia-Colon

Guilford