A Parent’s Perspective: The Impact of LEAD Neely’s Bend
Finding a school that is the right fit for a child is essential to their ability to succeed. Parents need a school that meets their child’s needs academically, socially, and emotionally–and that’s what Jeimy López has found at LEAD Neely’s Bend for her son, Iker Pinto López.
“[LEAD Neely’s Bend] is an excellent school, especially when I compare it to other schools that I have been able to visit before,” said López. “Even though we no longer live in the Neely’s Bend area, I have made it possible for my kid to keep going to LEAD Neely’s Bend because he didn’t want to transfer to the school near our house.”
Not only has López seen an improvement in her son’s behavior since attending LEAD Neely’s Bend, she’s also seen a change in him academically. He’s taken a new interest in his classes, especially math–which is now his favorite subject. López appreciates being able to stay informed about how her son is doing at school through weekly performance updates she receives from his teachers.
“As his mother, I especially like the way I am treated by the staff when I want to know about my son’s status,” said López. “They have always been attentive, kind, and welcoming.”
As a mom, one of López’s favorite things about her son’s experience at LEAD Neely’s Bend is how it has helped him master English. “We come from a country where English is not spoken, but he has learned the language and he has learned how to function effectively in society–that has been very special,” said López.
Despite only being in middle school, López’s son is already planning for what he wants to do after he graduates from high school–a new focus López has noticed since her son started at LEAD Neely’s Bend.
“Unlike before, now he thinks about his future,” said López. “For example, he thinks a lot about what he wants to do when he grows up. His dream has always been to join the army.”
This focus on the future has López excited about what’s next for her son, and she feels his experience at LEAD Neely’s Bend is going to help him achieve success.
“He tells me that if I support him, he will keep studying as long as he can and he’ll aim for higher levels of education,” said López. “I think Neely’s Bend is helping him to be prepared for high school and for college.”