Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandy Larrance.
Please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have an older brother that was in Special Education. My brother struggled throughout school. He was teased relentlessly and bullied in junior high and high school. His peers referred to him as “quirky” or “dumb.” School was a horrible struggle for him.
I always knew I wanted to work with students with special needs. I knew this when I would sit with my brother and his friends at the “SpEd” table during lunch and my “friends” would yell across the table, “Brandy is in love with retards.” I knew that this was my passion because I did not move from that table. I stayed there all year, despite the taunting and teasing from my friends.
Working with students with Special Needs is so much my passion that I now own NewHope Academy, a school that services students with special needs, specifically students with Aspergers and Emotional Disabilities. I started here as a teacher in 2003, became the Principal in 2005, and owner in 2010. There is never a day that I wish I was doing something else. I am blessed to be able to make a difference every day. I am in awe of the people I work with and how wonderful they are. I am proud of my students and how resilient they are. I believe in NewHope, our mission, and all of the students that walk through our doors.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Being a mom, educator, and small business owner of such a specialized school has been a struggle. There have been many times that I have had to prove myself, whether it was because of my age, gender or education. I have 2 of my own children plus 70 more at NewHope. I am absolutely blessed to have support from my husband, we share in the ownership of NewHope. My kids understand about my school and students and are often here on weekends helping us.
As a mom and director of a school, I have missed many of my own children’s room parties and school functions. I remember a time when I took my son to a birthday party and the other moms asked who I was. When I told them I was Vann’s mom they said- “Wow, we did not know Vann had a mom.” Yikes!
I don’t think people know what goes into an owning a small business. I know more about leasing, rent, insurance, payroll, 401K, human resources than I EVER wanted to. My degree is in Special Education, so this was definitely a learning curve.
We recently moved from Niles of Arlington Heights and it really was a family affair. Everyone worked for days straight moving furniture, unpacking boxes and setting up the school. I also consider many of my staff family. We have worked together for 13+ years. It is an honor to work with them and be part of something great with people I love.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with NewHope Academy – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
NewHope Academy is a therapeutic day school serving the needs of students with Emotional Disabilities, Autism/Aspergers, Other Health Impairments, and Specific Learning Disabilities. Since its inception in September of 2000, over 500 students have utilized our program acquiring coping skills ensuring their success whether returning to their home school, continuing their education, or entering the job market.
NewHope Academy’s mission is to provide students with a safe, therapeutic, and educational environment where they develop skills to become effective learners, gain personal insight, and acquire coping strategies to not only earn school credit but achieve their intellectual and social-emotional potential.
OUR GENERAL PHILOSOPHY
At NewHope, we provide students with a small, safe, and supportive educational environment where we treat them with respect and protect their privacy. Academic and personal success at NewHope is based on:
• Appreciation of individual differences and support for the development of the student’s individual goals
• Discovering the student’s strengths and understanding his/her challenges in learning how to advocate in an effective manner
• The application of a concept we call the “Principle of Time and Place”
NewHope is best known for our rigorous academic standards and advanced therapeutic care. I am most proud of the environment we have created. Everyone that comes in comments on the caring atmosphere and “homey” feel. Kids feel good here.
How do you, personally, define success? What’s your criteria, the markers you’re looking out for, etc?
Everyone who knows me can tell you the most important thing to me is to work hard and be nice. If you do that- you are successful.
We all need some markers to ensure we are on the right path- I wake up every day and want to go to work. When I receive a call from a parent telling me NHA has saved their child’s life that is amazing. When a past student comes to visit me with children of their own or calls me to tall me how amazing they are doing- that definitely tells me we are doing good things!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nhaweb.com
- Phone: 847-588-0463
- Email: brandyl@nhaweb.com
Image Credit:
TSL
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