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'This school belongs to the Lord'

By WAVENEY ANN MOORE
Published February 3, 2007

Esther Berry still remembers the faces of the special needs children begging on the streets of Belize.

She was there on a short-term missionary trip. She prayed that God would help her open a school for them.

The 57-year-old Clearwater woman says she has a deep concern for disabled children. Her son Bobby, 16, has Down's syndrome.

Berry's dream for a school has materialized, though not in Belize.

Berry started her school in Lealman two years ago, with two children, one of them Bobby.

This year, 20 children attend what she has named Esther's School.

Its home is at Solid Rock Christian Ministries, 4224 28th St. N in Lealman.

"The first few months, they came in two by two. News spread by word of mouth," said Berry, a member of the governor-appointed Local Advocacy Council for Citizens with Disabilities. "I have never had any doubts about this school. It was not my idea. This is a miracle school. The pastor gave me the building, everything has been donated to us, the children have been coming and excelling.

"This school belongs to the Lord."

The school's religious roots are evident. During a recent assembly, Berry sounded a shofar and led the children in the Pledge of Allegiance as well as pledges to the Christian flag and Bible. There were praise songs and prayers, with one child playing the keyboard.

Berry and her staff gently tried to keep the children in order during the half-hour session. One child was held in a teacher's lap. Another who kept wandering away was led back to the group.

Parents, some of whom had exhausted other options or despaired of getting their children into suitable programs, praise Berry.

"She's very positive and I like the attitude where she looks at the children and sees the possibilities and not the disabilities," said Faith Bennett, who has two children at Esther's School.

Bennett said her children, Kira, 13, and Thomas, 7, are happy. Kira, who has cerebral palsy and developmental delays, is learning to write, she said. "Both of them are doing extremely well," she said.

Kathy Moss Brandenburg's son, Christian, 12, started at the school with Berry's son.

Her son, who is autistic, "has really come out socially. When he was little, they told me he would never read and write and he's doing it now. He has conquered a lot of issues and it is very exciting to see that growth and development," she said.

Berry decided to start the school when her son's school relocated. At the time, she had been driving three hours a day to and from the Christian school.

She founded her school solely on faith, said Berry, who has attended college, but has no degree.

"I have a special needs child of my own, and I've worked with special needs children. I have a lot of practical training," she said.

Her staff consists of three trained teachers, three teachers aides and volunteers. One of the teachers is Berry's daughter, Natasha Griffin. The school uses an accredited Accelerated Christian Education curriculum and each child works individually at his or her own pace, Berry said.

Esther's School also is working on receiving state accreditation, she said.

"There is a need for this type of school," Berry said. "I think we have a very loving atmosphere and we teach the children self-confidence. We teach them that they are important. We treat them normally.

"The more we expect from them, the more they do."

Times staff writer Waveney Ann Moore can be reached at 892-2283 or moore@sptimes.com.

[Last modified February 2, 2007, 20:57:34]