A Letter From Lisa J. Williams, Oakland Parent
The following letter by Oakland parent Lisa Williams represents one testimony of hundreds like it—stories that illuminate how truly life-changing an Oakland School education can be. Oakland is proud of our 76-year legacy, and we continue to strive for more, ensuring that all of our students who are depending on us to help guide their path forward can find their way—and thrive. This journey is not always a quick one, but each step we take together brings us closer to making a profound difference in a young learner’s life.
Dear Oakland School Community,
My name is Lisa, and our daughter’s name is Niyah. Niyah’s nickname is BUG (Beautifully Unique Girl), a name she was given within 24 hours of coming into the world. Little did we know how truly unique she would become. Niyah is 12 years old and in the sixth grade. She loves school and animals, is extremely creative, and is passionate about supporting younger kids in their school experience. Her dream is to become a special education teacher for non-verbal children and to live on a farm with animals.
Niyah also has triple deficit dyslexia, which affects her ability to write (dysgraphia) and process math symbols (dyscalculia). Despite having a high average IQ and strong cognitive processing abilities, this combination made it nearly impossible for the public school system to support her learning. She attended school every day, with over 58 accommodations in her IEP, did everything the teachers asked of her, and received A’s and B’s on her report cards. Nonetheless, she couldn’t read beyond the 1st-grade level, couldn’t write her name, and didn’t know the days of the week, months of the year, or the dates of major holidays. Bullying became relentless as her classmates began to understand what accommodations looked like and that she couldn’t read or write anywhere near grade level.
When Niyah was in fourth grade, we hired a certified academic language therapist (CALT), and she finally learned the alphabet, could write her name, and began to understand that the problem wasn’t her – it was how she had been taught. Her struggles morphed at this point, as she was old enough to realize that the school wasn’t taking her needs into account. Her weight was piling on, she often had stomach aches and headaches, and she was always at the nurse’s office. By the end of fourth grade, she asked if she could see a therapist, so we arranged for weekly sessions as she entered fifth grade in the fall of 2023.
On the way to our oldest daughter’s lacrosse game in January of 2024, Niyah said, “Mommy, this summer I’ll do summer school, but can you please find me a place where I can also go to sleepaway camp?” Her older sister had been going to sleepaway camp for the previous three summers, but because Niyah had been attending school every summer, she hadn’t had the chance. Determined to find something, I started searching for camps while sitting at the lacrosse game that morning at The St. James sports complex in Fairfax. That’s when Oakland popped up. I couldn’t believe my eyes, and couldn’t believe I hadn’t found them during my previous years of research. When I got home, I filled out the interest form, and Annie called me the following Monday.
By the end of that week, Niyah was enrolled for camp, and the summer of 2024 was the beginning of a new lease on life for Niyah and for our family. She LOVED summer camp, and in September 2024, she started as a full-time student at Oakland. In just six months, as I write this letter, Niyah is reading at the beginning of a third-grade level – two grade levels higher in just six months. She is writing clearly and legibly on a line. In math, she is mastering the gaps she had and is almost at grade level. She’s become a leader to the younger children and a teacher’s helper. She has lost 10 pounds, sees her therapist every two weeks, and has recently said that she might switch to once a month. She hasn’t had a headache or stomach ache since October 2024. I will never forget the day I picked her up in October 2024 and she said, “Mommy, is this what school is supposed to be like? Have fun, learn, and no one is making fun of you or picking on you? Ms. Katheryn said that it was, but this is different.”
Ms. Katheryn, Mr. James, Mr. John, and the animals – I will forever be grateful to them. They restored Niyah’s trust in teachers and provided the support and love she needed to heal and become a happy, balanced child again. I’m sure each child at Oakland has their special person or people, but I am also sure it’s everything about Oakland that has allowed Niyah to find happiness and joy in learning. The culture, the customized instruction, the acres of land, and the community. They see the children for who they are – strengths first, and then they find the opportunity to support their developmental needs.
Thank you, Oakland.
Lisa J. Williams
Oakland Parent