Dear Prospective Parents,

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Thank you so much for your interest in SOAR. Allow me to share why SOAR was created and what we strive to accomplish through it.

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Berean Christian School is a PreK-12 private Christian school of approximately 400 students, located in Knoxville, Tennessee. Our SOAR program is an educational solution for students with dyslexia and related learning difficulties. Before we ever taught a class, two years of research, planning, and preparation went into the idea of SOAR. On the first day of the program, we were excited to watch students approach the experience with the first glimmer of hope and a little uncertainty. But soon they began to see new horizons what had been beyond daily frustrations.

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SOAR was begun in 2010 through the efforts of Dr. Bob Core (then principal of Berean Christian High School), Mr. George Waller (then headmaster of Berean Christian School), and Dr. Elizabeth Cox, educational psychologist. The purpose was to find a way with educational methods to intervene in the lives of students who as early as 1st grade had exhibited reading difficulties. The plan was to address those problems with an intensive program designed for grades 2nd-4th. From the outset, we wanted to have a school within a school. Our students participate in all the normal activities that BCS offers. Dr. Core remains with SOAR as a consultant and Dr. Cox continues to confer with the administration, teachers, families, and students on a regular basis.

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SOAR has grown to encompass students in grades 1st-12th. Please see the bereanchristian.org website for more details.

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Currently, the staff of SOAR consists of Lower Campus (grades 1-5) Director Mrs. Liz Palmer, reading specialist Ms. Rachel Cannon, teachers Mrs. Holly Brummette and Mrs. Christy Clapp, and four part-time aides.

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The Upper Campus (grades 6-12) Director is Mrs. Pam Duncan. Mrs. Rachel Foshee serves as an instructor/tutor.

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Please contact us with any questions. We would be happy to meet with you and give you a tour of our campus.

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Put simply, SOAR is the only program of its kind in East Tennessee. We believe that every child deserves the same opportunity to learn and thrive. Let us, partner, with you as you seek the best education for your child.

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Mrs. Liz Palmer, Director

(865) 521-6054 ex. 103