Sam has always been a bright and curious kid—but every day at school felt like a battle. In his public elementary school, his autism and ADHD made it hard to sit through lessons, and his teacher often sent him out of class in an attempt to manage his behavior. Instead of thriving, Sam was falling behind. His parents, Amy and Kory, knew he didn’t need discipline—he needed understanding, support, and a different approach to learning. So, they started looking for alternatives that could help Sam.
Everything changed for the better when Amy and Kory found Sheppard Pratt School in Rockville. From day one, they noticed a difference. “Today, he’s sitting through his classes and he gets straight As,” shares Amy. “He’s a completely different kid; he’s had so much growth. I’m just amazed. Before he started at Sheppard Pratt, he couldn’t access learning because of his behavior. But all of that has changed—and underneath, he’s still Sam.”
Blaine Cellurale, the primary science and technology teacher at Sheppard Pratt School in Rockville’s high school program, has known Sam since sixth grade. “He started out very rigid in how he processed things—this ‘my way or the highway’ thinking was really getting in the way of him learning. We customize learning to each student, and we needed to make it his idea to learn. I started presenting things as a challenge for him to overcome as opposed to a lesson, and that worked well with his competitive nature,” Cellurale recalls.
As Sam progressed through high school, he began taking on new challenges. Now in his senior year, he starts his day at Sheppard Pratt and then goes to Thomas Edison High School of Technology for the Network Operations Program—preparing for Montgomery College in the fall, where he’ll study for a career in IT. He’s the first student in eight years to split his time this way, something he’s very proud of.
“A phoenix rising from the ashes”
Today, Sam is accomplishing things he and his parents never thought possible. At Edison, he ran for officer in the school’s SkillsUSA group, a workforce development program for students. The process was completely outside of his comfort zone: Sam made a video, completed an interview, and even gave a speech in front of hundreds of students at a pep rally—a daunting feat for anyone! Crystal Wyser, school behavior specialist at Sheppard Pratt, was especially impressed. “He’s putting himself out there and being a completely different person; Sam has developed so much flexibility and advocates for himself. He’s like a phoenix rising from the ashes.”
Back at Sheppard Pratt, Sam’s efforts earned him acceptance into the National Honor Society and recognition with the school’s Phoenix Award, a quarterly award celebrating behavioral and academic progress.
“Sam excels in procedural fluency types of problems,” says Boaz Lee, high school math teacher. “He’s very good at breaking down the steps and figuring out solutions.” Lee adds, “It’s amazing to see his mindset shifting in terms of being more confident and challenging himself both academically and socially. I’m encouraged seeing him put himself out there, and to see the growth that’s gotten him to where he is today.”
Outside of school, Sam enjoys exploring his interests. He likes to play video games, collect action figures, and listen to music; he’s even been to his favorite artist’s concert twice and met him before the show. Sam is currently learning to drive—another step toward independence.
Embarking on new adventures
“The support and communication from the school have been amazing. I’m very big on communication, and we would always take a team approach,” Amy reflects. “Our whole family has felt supported. Sheppard Pratt School in Rockville helped him develop the skills he needs [to thrive], and now at Edison, he can put them into practice before he goes to college in the fall.”
Says Cellurale, “I’m just really proud of him. Even when he would say, ‘I hate everything about this,’ he would still come to school every day and follow expectations—really showing his ability to overcome adversity. Sam has really blossomed, and it’s been incredible to see that change and willingness to move out of his comfort zone and explore new avenues."
Thriving at school
Sam’s journey shows what happens when students get the right support, encouragement, and opportunities to thrive. At Sheppard Pratt Schools, every child’s potential is nurtured through individualized learning; a team approach; and a commitment to helping students grow academically, socially, and emotionally.