Fredericksburg Parent

10 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • February 2023 WRITTEN BY EMILY FREEHLING Ask the Expert a sk t h e e x p e rt Every child can learn. That belief motivated Christina Carson to take a leap of faith in 2002 and open a tutoring center to help children with learning differences. Carson's business, Learning Enhancement Centers, grew so quickly that she soon left her full-time teaching job to expand her tutoring work. Four years later, she opened the Marshall School in Spotsylvania County to provide a supportive, individualized learning environment where children in grades K through 12 can overcome learning challenges, find their gifts, and unlock their true potential. The Marshall School was born out of frustration that Carson experienced as a special education teacher in public schools. She saw schools using Band- Aid approaches to pass children through grades while never addressing the underlying issues that were causing them to struggle with academics. "Whereas the public schools accommodate and modify the activities for the student, we are trying to fix what is causing the problem in the first place," Carson says. "We are trying to correct the problem, not just treat the symptom. If they can't read, we aren't just reading the material to them. We are identifying the specific breakdown that is interfering with their ability to read and working to improve that area. That is the most important thing that distinguishes us." The Marshall School has grown out of a quest to help students with diverse learning styles Every year, more families are learning what a dif- ference this approach can make for their children. Since 2019, the school has grown from 37 to more than 100 students. It has added a second campus for grades 7-12 in the Salem Church area of Spotsylvania County. Amid this growth, the school maintains a 1-to-3 ratio of teachers to students. The growth brings more social opportunities for students, as well as leadership opportunities such as clubs and student government. But the school's small size still ensures that every student is seen for his or her individual gifts, needs, and contributions. This shows up in everything from the one-on-one help students get with learning challenges to the fact that no student can walk down the hall without being greeted by name. "You are definitely known in this space," Carson says of her school. Read on to find out whether the Marshall School may be a fit for your child.

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