Forman School
| Forman School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
 | |
12 Norfolk Road , | |
| Information | |
| Type | boarding school, day school |
| Established | 1930 |
| Faculty | 60 |
| Grades | 9-12, + post-graduate |
| Enrollment | 210 |
| Color(s) | Green & White |
| Mascot | Lions |
| Website | FormanSchool.org |
The Forman School is a co-educational boarding and day school in Litchfield, Connecticut, USA offering a college preparatory program in grades 9 to 12 and a postgraduate program (PG) exclusively for students with learning differences such as ADD/ADHD and dyslexia. Forman School offers a 4-week summer program for students with learning disabilities.
History
The school was founded in 1930 by John and Julie Ripley Forman, who started the school in Litchfield with three students who hadn't had a history of academic success. The school grew over the years into a gateway to college for learning disabled students, and in recent years has seen 100% college acceptance. Most of the students are bright with language-based disabilities, most notably dyslexia, attention deficit disorders (ADHD), and executive function disorders.
The Formans were committed to utilizing the best available resources and latest research-driven techniques to address the specific learning differences of their students, a tradition that has continued throughout the school’s history. They turned to Dr. Samuel T. Orton, a pioneer in reading methodologies and a mentor of John Forman, to determine how to teach the fundamentals of reading. The Formans established the Remedial English Department and employed the Orton-Gillingham method of teaching reading phonics. They were also awarded a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation to conduct research in teaching reading.
As a graduate of Princeton University, one of John Forman’s contacts was Professor Albert Einstein, who had faced reading challenges of his own as a student. This relationship led to Dr. Einstein joining The Forman School’s Academic Board of Advisors and his input to the school’s groundbreaking curriculum.
In the 1980s, Forman was the subject of a Time magazine profile highlighting its success with dyslectics.[1]
Mark B. Perkins, a former dean of students at Holderness School, was head of Forman from 1995 to 2008. In November 2008, Adam K. Man, academic dean at St. Timothy's School in Stevenson, Maryland, was appointed the next head of school and assumed the position on July 1, 2008.[2]
Athletics
Athletics at Forman are an integral part of community life. All students have the option to participate in either a competitive interscholastic league or recreational sport. Forman competes with schools in the Housatonic Valley Athletic League and the Hudson Valley League.
Forman offers a teacher/coach model in which classroom teachers have the opportunity to work with students on the playing fields, thereby expanding the understanding and support that has proven to increase success and confidence in both areas. All Forman coaches are certified by the Positive Coaching Alliance.[3]
Sports offered include alpine ski team, baseball, basketball, crew, cross-country, dance, equestrian, football, golf, ice hockey, kayaking, lacrosse, recreational skiing, rock climbing, snowboarding, soccer, tennis, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, and wrestling.
Professional development
The school has an extensive professional development program that includes work with the Center for Research on Learning at the University of Kansas and All Kinds of Minds' Schools Attuned program. Recent campus speakers include Dr. Robert Brooks, Dr. George McClosky, Ned Hallowell, and Rick Lavoie. The school focuses strongly on translating research into practice and employs state-of-the-art assistive technologies.
Notable people
Alumni
- Eli Morgan Gesner, designer and creative genius behind Baby Phat, Zoo York, and HBO's "How to make it in America."
- Annette Jenner,[4] Ph.D. Harvard University, neuroscientist and researcher, professor at Syracuse University
- John Seward Johnson II, bronze sculptor[5]
- Blake Miller,[6] professional lacrosse player
- David Rublin, bass player of American Authors
- David Walter, inventor of Aldus PageMaker, the first desktop publishing program, as well as Visio, drawing software
Former faculty
- Joe Bouchard, founding member of the Blue Öyster Cult rock band[7][failed verification]