Neurodivergent students often face challenges that can make their potential difficult to recognize. In a world that values quick results and standardized progress, the unique ways these students learn and grow are sometimes misunderstood or overlooked. I want to share a story with you about Chinese Bamboo. A farmer went to the market and purchased some seeds to grow the bamboo. He asked the merchant, “What do I need to do to grow this bamboo?” The merchant replied, “Plant these seeds in the ground, water them, and fertilize them every day. If you do that, your bamboo will grow.”

Private School Specializing in One-to-One Instruction for 1st-12th Grade Students National — Brightmont Academy, a nationally accredited private school offering one-to-one instruction, has officially launched a compelling new podcast series that’s now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Released monthly, the podcast serves as both an educational resource and a platform to highlight the transformative impact of individualized instruction, particularly for students navigating ADHD, anxiety, or other learning differences. Each episode explores what makes Brightmont Academy’s approach so distinctive, through personal stories and conversations with campus directors and educational leaders. The podcast is hosted by Griffin Rouse, an ADHD specialist and engaging presenter known for his ability to connect with audiences and break down complex topics into practical strategies for parents and educators. “It’s really rewarding to have the opportunity to talk with Brightmont’s educators about their unique approach to supporting students with ADHD,” said Rouse. “In my work with kids and families, my goal is always to make sure the child feels heard and the parents feel supported and equipped with tools to succeed. This podcast is giving me—and Brightmont—the chance to help a lot of families.” Keith Jackson, Marketing Director at Brightmont Academy, emphasized the mission behind the project. “At Brightmont Academy, we believe every student has a story — and this podcast is our way of amplifying those voices,” Jackson said. “We’ve partnered with Griffin Rouse, who is a dynamic presenter as well as an amazing ADHD expert. He is doing great at shining the light on Brightmont and how different our education is.” Recent guests have included Michelle Platt, Campus Director in Minnesota; Monica Torres, Campus Director in Miami; and Karen Buckner, CEO of Brightmont Academy, each offering a unique perspective on the power of one-to-one instruction. “This podcast is more than a conversation—it’s a look inside how personalized education changes lives,” Jackson added. “Griffin is kind of pulling back the curtain on ADHD and giving people tips and tricks to help their child navigate life and their schooling. It’s important for us to show as many people as possible what one-to-one instruction really means for students, families, and the future of learning.” With each episode, Brightmont Academy continues its mission to serve students through personalized education and build meaningful connections with families across the country. Brightmont Academy is located in eight states and is currently accepting enrollments. Brightmont Academy is an accredited private school that provides one-to-one instruction. One experienced teacher works with one student throughout every learning session. Customized full-time programs and individual courses are offered for grades 1-12. Students can also receive individualized tutoring for all 1-12 subjects, study skills, and test prep. Brightmont Academy has served thousands of students since 1999 and has 20 campuses in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Washington. For more information call 1-888-521-0887 or visit: www.brightmontacademy.com . Watch our video: Brightmont Academy - The One-to-One Flexible school - 1st through 12th RSVP to our next podcast.

Private School in Plymouth Specializing in One-to-One Instruction for 1st-12th Grade Students Plymouth, MN — Approximately 1 in 5 school-aged children in the U.S. lives with a chronic medical condition. For many of these students, the effects are more than physical—about one-third experience symptoms serious enough to interrupt their ability to attend or fully participate in school. Brightmont Academy, a nationally accredited private school offering one-to-one instruction, is uniquely positioned to meet these students where they are. With its one-to-one instruction model and year-round scheduling, Brightmont can tailor academic plans to each student’s individual needs, offering consistency and compassion when traditional schools fall short. “Childhood medical issues are a big deal,” said Karen Buckner, CEO of Brightmont. “Families often want to keep medical concerns private, but these students are fatigued. Staying through an eight-hour school day is incredibly taxing. Brightmont is a great reprieve from a traditional schedule. We’re a place families can turn to when a long day in a crowded school just isn’t manageable, and we’ve been able to help.” This flexible and individualized approach has made a life-changing difference for many students. Jenny Sorenson, Campus Director at Brightmont’s Plymouth location, shared the story of a student who arrived after months of school avoidance. “The one-on-one model made an immediate difference. She started attending regularly and making steady academic progress,” Sorenson recalled. “Later, she faced personal difficulties that required treatment. We put her classes on hold, and when she returned, she picked up right where she left off. With the ability to school year-round, we had solutions when she needed them.” For one Brightmont parent, this personalized structure brought hope in an overwhelming situation. “We chose Brightmont for our daughter because she was struggling in public school,” the parent shared. “She has social anxiety, ADHD, Autism, and OCD. She was missing a lot of school and failing her classes. The one-to-one teaching meant she could go at her own pace and didn’t have to face the anxiety of entering a building with 2,000 peers every day.” Brightmont Academy is located at 2855 Glacier Lane N., Suite 200 in Plymouth and is currently accepting enrollments. Families and professionals are invited to attend an Open House event on Thursday, July 17th, 2025, between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Brightmont Academy is an accredited private school that provides one-to-one instruction. One experienced teacher works with one student throughout every learning session. Customized full-time programs and individual courses are offered for grades 1-12. Students can also receive individualized tutoring for all 1-12 subjects, study skills, and test prep. Brightmont Academy has served thousands of students since 1999 and has 20 campuses in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Washington. For more information call 1-888-521-0887 or visit: www.brightmontacademy.com . Watch our video: Brightmont Academy - The One-to-One Flexible school - 1st through 12th

Mention artificial intelligence (AI) to today’s teachers, and many respond with grimaces and groans. It leads to cheating, they say. Students don’t really think when they use AI, others add. A recent Pew Research Center survey revealed that 25 percent of teachers believe AI “does more harm than good.” According to the same survey, nearly half (47 percent) of all teachers are in a quandary: they don’t know if AI is good for education or not.

Private School in Seattle Specializing in One-to-One Instruction for 1st-12th Grade Students Seattle, WA — Brightmont Academy’s Seattle campus is expanding its grade school program, with plans to open new classrooms in September 2025. Known for its one-to-one instructional model, Brightmont is extending its support to even more elementary-aged students, offering a personalized, nurturing environment that helps young learners thrive both academically and socially. “Expanding our grade school program gives us the opportunity to support students right from the start with strong academic instruction that builds a solid foundation,” said Tony Beals, Campus Director of Brightmont Seattle. “Just as importantly, it allows children to grow socially and emotionally in a smaller, more supportive setting where they can build confidence, friendships, and essential life skills.” Brightmont is uniquely positioned to serve younger students thanks to its individualized approach. “Brightmont serves grade school students exceptionally well because of our one-to-one instruction, which allows us to build each child’s academic foundation with care and without gaps,” Beals added. “At the same time, our small group activities like art and PE offer a safe and supportive space for students to develop social skills and build positive peer connections.” This expansion responds to growing demand from families seeking alternatives to larger classroom environments. Brightmont’s tailored approach is especially beneficial for students with ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, or anxiety. “Our program is a great fit for parents of elementary-age students who may be navigating ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, or anxiety,” Beals explained. “Brightmont provides a nurturing environment where students can develop confidence, self-awareness, and the skills they need to succeed—both academically and socially—before they risk feeling misunderstood or overwhelmed in a larger school setting.” Parents interested in learning more about the expanded grade school program are encouraged to contact the Seattle campus directly. Brightmont Academy is located at 115 NE 100th St, Ste 200 in Seattle and is currently accepting enrollments. Families and professionals are invited to attend an Open House event on Thursday, June 12th, 2025, between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Brightmont Academy is an accredited private school that provides one-to-one instruction. One experienced teacher works with one student throughout every learning session. Customized full-time programs and individual courses are offered for grades 1-12. Students can also receive individualized tutoring for all 1-12 subjects, study skills, and test prep. Brightmont Academy has served thousands of students since 1999 and has 20 campuses in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Washington. For more information call 1-888-521-0887 or visit: www.brightmontacademy.com . Watch our video: Brightmont Academy - The One-to-One Flexible school - 1st through 12th

Private School Specializing in One-to-One Instruction for 1st-12th Grade Students National — While many students find the classroom to be a place of connection and learning, students with misophonia may experience it as a source of daily distress. Misophonia is a condition that causes strong emotional reactions to everyday sounds that most people overlook, such as chewing, breathing, or typing. These trigger sounds can provoke intense discomfort, anger, or panic, leading students to avoid social and academic settings altogether. Often undiagnosed and misunderstood, misophonia tends to emerge around age 12 and can severely impact mental health and academic progress. At Brightmont Academy, a nationally accredited private school offering one-to-one instruction, students with misophonia are finally finding the understanding and support they need. One such student had a life-changing experience after enrolling at Brightmont, as Karen Buckner, CEO of Brightmont, recalls: “I had an opportunity to meet a family and a student who was just about to start high school in a larger school environment. Misophonia is a disorder in which not only classroom noise but even everyday sounds, like typing on a keyboard or repetitive movements, can cause huge anxiety.” Recognizing how triggering a traditional school setting can be, Brightmont took deliberate steps to create a customized, quiet learning environment. The student was encouraged to wear noise-canceling headphones throughout the day without fear of judgment or misunderstanding. Brightmont provided a special mouse and keyboard designed to be nearly silent. “The student grabs both of those from the desk as soon as she walks in and knows how to plug them into our computer,” Buckner explained. “We’ve worked with teachers to make sure no one is typing in her presence. Either she’ll step out, or the teacher will leave the room while she sets up her keyboard. It’s teamwork, and it’s really about putting the student first.” At Brightmont, accommodations like these aren’t exceptions; they’re part of the school’s commitment to meeting every student where they are. For those suffering in silence due to conditions like misophonia, this support can be life-changing. “Sound can make school difficult for the student. We want to provide an environment where these students can be successful,” said Buckner. Brightmont Academy is located in eight states and is currently accepting enrollments. Brightmont Academy is an accredited private school that provides one-to-one instruction. One experienced teacher works with one student throughout every learning session. Customized full-time programs and individual courses are offered for grades 1-12. Students can also receive individualized tutoring for all 1-12 subjects, study skills, and test prep. Brightmont Academy has served thousands of students since 1999 and has 20 campuses in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Washington. For more information call 1-888-521-0887 or visit: www.brightmontacademy.com . Watch our video: Brightmont Academy - The One-to-One Flexible school - 1st through 12th

In an August 2024 interview with People magazine , Minnesota governor and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz shared how his son, Gus, has a “secret power.” That is how the Walz family has come to describe Gus’s diagnosis with multiple learning challenges, including ADHD. The Walzes are not alone in seeing neurodiversity’s benefits. Many families, along with teaching and mental health professionals, are now commonly referring to these benefits as “superpowers.” In fact, neurodiversity often proves itself not only advantageous to those directly affected but also necessary to the workings of the world.

Private School in Scottsdale, AZ. Providing One-to-One Instruction for 1st-12th Grade Students Scottsdale, AZ — One study found that 74% of students identify homework as a source of stress. At Brightmont Academy, a nationally accredited private school offering one-to-one instruction, the Homework Studio (HWS) is turning that stress into success by offering a uniquely supportive and collaborative environment where students thrive, not just academically, but emotionally and socially. Unlike traditional study halls, the HWS at Brightmont functions as a dynamic space for academic and personal growth. Staffed by a team of four dedicated educators, the studio is active throughout the day, helping students manage assignments and much more. “They work as a team to run our campus HWS, which is a pretty busy place throughout the day,” said Sarah Horton, Campus Director of Scottsdale. “In addition to supporting our students with managing and completing their homework assignments, they help our students in a number of other ways. They provide executive functioning skills guidance, show students how to communicate effectively with their instructors, and lead social emotional learning activities.” Each teacher brings a unique perspective, but all are united by a shared passion for student success. “I have been working at Brightmont as a HWS teacher for a little over two years. The dynamics are always changing, and our team is quick to adapt to the changes,” said Madison Overholt, one of the studio’s educators. “We work well together because we come from different backgrounds, but we all have the same heart and intentions. Our students face so many challenges and barriers in education, so it is incredible to see their resilience at work in our environment.” For Jessica Kalicki, another member of the HWS team, working one-on-one with students has renewed her love for teaching. “The HWS is an amazing place to work, and I am excited to be at work every day,” Kalicki said. “Working one-on-one with the students as they need has reignited my passion for teaching. Every hour is different, with a different group and a different dynamic, but the structure, community, and positivity stay the same, and I have to say that it is thanks to the 3 other amazing HWS teachers I work with. Brightmont Academy is located at 6990 E. Shea Blvd, Suite 120 in Scottsdale and is currently accepting enrollments. Families and professionals are invited to attend an Open House event on Thursday, July 17th, 2025, between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Brightmont Academy is an accredited private school providing one-to-one instruction. One student works with one experienced teacher throughout every learning session. Full-time customized programs and individual courses are offered for grades 1-12. Students can also receive individualized tutoring for all subjects, test prep and study skills. Since 1999, Brightmont Academy has served thousands of students and has 20 campuses in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Washington. For more information, call 1-888-521-0887 or visit: www.brightmontacademy.com . Watch our video here: Brightmont Academy - The One-to-One Flexible school - 1st through 12th