Every child needs a champion who sees their strengths first.

In this episode, Barry Davis, Head of the McLean School of Maryland, and Cathy Patterson, Director of Enrollment, discuss how bright students with learning differences can thrive when education emphasizes their abilities rather than their deficits. They emphasize the importance of building confidence, celebrating talents, and sharing test results openly so that students understand both their strengths and challenges. Small class sizes, strong teacher-student relationships, and safe, supportive environments are presented as essential for encouraging risk-taking and growth. The guests also explore evidence-based literacy instruction, such as Orton-Gillingham, explicit writing instruction, handwriting, and word study, alongside mindfulness practices that reduce anxiety and open space for learning. Enrichment opportunities in arts, sports, and robotics further allow students to shine, while testing is framed as a tool to guide instruction and help children face challenges with optimism.

Tune in and learn how to unlock the potential of twice-exceptional learners through strengths-based education, evidence-based practices, and meaningful connections!

Resources:

• Follow and connect with Cathy Patterson on LinkedIn.

• Learn more about the McLean School of Maryland on their LinkedIn and website.

SC Nealy, LPC, CCMHC, ACS, NCC, MA, MA
(Pronouns: they/she)

With over 16 years in the mental health field, SC Nealy is a queer, gender fluid psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, and group practice owner in Arlington, VA called LGBT+ Counseling Collaborative. SC operates a team of all gay and trans-identifying therapists with the focus of bringing clinicians with lived experiences to the queer community and their families. They also work locally and nationally to advocate for queer rights, accessible mental health care, and bringing more awareness to the needs of the queer community. Their upcoming book published by Bloomsbury Academics, Healing Sacred Wounds, focuses on giving folx a guide map for processing and exploring their experiences in religious or spiritual trauma. As a therapist, they specialize in religious trauma, lesbian and sapphic identities, sapphic and genderfluid-identifying couples counseling, mixed orientation marriages, transitioning genders within a relationship, complex-PTSD, Borderline Personality Disorder, interpersonal process group therapy, and non-faith based premarital counseling. In their personal life, they are a parent to two children, happily partnered, and have written over 30+ romance novels for fun.

Learn more at lgtbcounselingdmv.com.

lgbtcounselingdmv.com
instagram.com/scnealy
instagram.com/lgbtcounselingdmv
facebook.com/lgbtcounselingdmv
facebook.com/booksbysarahrobinson
linkedin.com/in/sarahnealy/

The Loper App homepage https://www.getloper.com/
Eric and Sam are spotlighted as innovative Georgetown Alums https://alumni.georgetown.edu/alumni-spotlight-eric-menna-sfs18-sam-bernstein-c18-co-founders-of-loper/