Dear Prospective Parents,

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Thank you so much for your interest in the SOAR program. 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 450 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 beyond daily academic frustrations.

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SOAR began 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, an educational psychologist. The purpose was to find a way to intervene educationally 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 model. Our students participate in all the normal elective activities that BCS offers while receiving specialized instruction in their core classes. 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 Lower Campus (grades 1-5) SOAR consists of reading specialists Ms. Rachel Carroll and Mrs. Shelby Prince, bible/history/science teacher Mrs. Holly Brummette, math teacher Mrs. Christy Clapp, and ​ELA teacher Mrs. Beth Parker. 

The Upper Campus (grades 6-12) academic support teachers include Mrs. Sarah Clarke, Mrs. Rachel Bloom, and Mrs. Tiffany Keyes.  Mrs. Pam Duncan is the program director. 

 

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. Pam Duncan, Director 

(865) 521-6054 ex. 433

pamduncan@berean.me