ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Kellen Burke

How long were you at Groves Academy and what were a few key things you learned?

I attended Groves Academy from 1st through 6th grade (2003-2008).

Groves Academy gave me the frame of mind that there was more than one way to learn. At Groves there was an environment to experiment and succeed despite my learning disabilities. Groves Academy is different from other learning institutions in that Groves doesn’t just teach you -- they teach you how to learn. While dyslexia and ADD still affect my personal and professional life, the skills Groves equipped me with have helped me find success despite my challenges.

What did you do after Groves?

After leaving Groves, I graduated from Orono High School, then went on to graduate with honors from University of Colorado Boulder with a degree in Political Science and Business. I have since gone on to work in the software industry for a number of international technology companies.

How did your time at Groves prepare you for your next steps?

Groves gave me the personalized tools necessary to learn and to continue to do so. For people with dyslexia, ADD, or any number of learning differences, standard schooling does not always cut it. Groves gave me a framework and the individual attention to look at education differently. Because of my time at Groves, I know how I best absorb and digest information and this allows me to approach education from a different angle and still find equal or better success.

What are some of your favorite memories of Groves?

Favorite memories from my time at Groves are playing “Medic” (a Groves variation of dodgeball) in the gym and skateboarding during recess. Groves constantly encouraged healthy forms of expression and despite my lack of skill on a skateboard -- I was sure to get a round of applause from the teachers on recess duty.

Why do you think Groves is an important asset to the Twin Cities community?

Groves offers the individualized attention and treatment that other learning institutions just can’t match. Groves knows that not everyone learns the same way and helps those with learning differences realize their full potential. Groves doesn’t boil intelligence down to a test score or a letter grade but instead expands the horizons of what learning truly looks like for each individual. If everyone had access to the resources you can find at Groves, I truly believe that traditional notions of education would be a thing of the past.

What would you tell a student who was new to Groves about the school?

I’d tell them, “Don’t be discouraged that just because you don’t understand something right now doesn’t mean you never will. Learning takes time, it takes work, and it doesn’t always come naturally. Don’t let a few tough subjects kill your curiosity and desire to learn. Groves is a place where everyone learns differently. Embrace this difference as it will lead you down some really interesting paths."

Anything else you would like to share with the Groves community?

One thing I'd love to stress with the Groves community is how important it is to draw attention to learning disabilities not just in Minnesota, but nationally. So many other bright children around this country are not fortunate enough to have a place like Groves to realize their full potential. Raising awareness outside of this community can lead to systematic changes in the way we think about educating students. Traditional education standards in this country are often a one size fits all policy. I think it's incredibly important to start changing this.

Mallory Taylor

How long were you at Groves Academy and what were a few key things you learned?

I was at Groves for four years during my high school grades 9-12. I learned how to get organized, how to make my ADHD work for me instead of against me, how to advocate for myself, and how to research and to find resources to help with my dyslexia.

What did you do after Groves?

After Groves, I attended college at the University of Minnesota, Morris. It was a perfect fit for me because it was a small school that came with all of the resources of the U of M system. Yet the smaller teacher to student ratio helped, and the Director of Student Disabilities who received training from Groves was super helpful with tips to get through college. The accommodations were amazing and they helped me choose classes and manage my workload.

How did your time at Groves prepare you for your next steps?

Learning how to advocate for myself prepared me for college and the workplace. I was confident and prepared to speak with my professors, colleagues, and leaders at my job. Because of the help and tools I received at Groves, I am able to describe my unique challenges and what tools I need to use to be successful.

What are some of your favorite memories of Groves?

There are many great memories! Being able to paint the murals at Groves (the big G in the Upper School and the big Griffin) were a lot of fun. The junior/senior camping trip where we got to do science experiments and have fun together was awesome!

Why do you think Groves is an important asset to the Twin Cities community?

Groves is more than just a school; it is a community of people who want to help. So many teachers and resources that Groves offers help people from many different organizations and places. The community workshops are beneficial to so many. Because the Director of Student Disabilities at the U of M Morris received training from Groves, she was able to help everyone who wanted help at Morris. Groves’ outreach is not just for those in the building it is for the entire state and beyond!

What would you tell a student who was new to Groves about the school?

I would tell a new student that Groves is a lot more fun than you might think it is. Groves is different from any other school community. On my visit day, I toured with Sarah Anderson and we became great friends. She is going to be the maid of honor in my wedding this fall!

Anything else you would like to share with the Groves community?

I am forever grateful to Groves for helping my family and me. What Groves gave to me in life is beyond amazing.

Are you a Groves Alum? We'd love to hear from you. Let us know how you're doing! Please contact Ashley Gotreau at 952.915.4258 or gotreaua@grovesacademy.org.

Don't forget to join the Groves Academy Alumni Association on Facebook!

Kyle Cleary

How long were you at Groves Academy and what were a few key things you learned?

I attended Groves Academy from 7th grade through graduation. I learned so much at Groves about myself, how to interact with people, and how to learn. Recently I looked at my yearly standardized test scores which had measurable improvements year-over-year while at Groves. In my first year at Groves my scores increased 20% from the previous year in my public school!

What did you do after Groves?

After graduating from Groves, I spent the summer working on a golf course in northern Wisconsin then started college at Winona State University. At Winona, I worked through my four years then graduated with a double major in Business Administration and Human Resources and a minor in Business Management. After college graduation I spent the summer hiking in Japan before starting my professional career at C.H. Robinson where I have been working for more than three years.

How did Groves prepare you for your next steps?

Groves prepared me well. With the small class sizes, individualized attention from teachers, and flexibility I was able to develop the skills I needed for learning at my own pace. This was not something I experienced in the public school system where I felt every year I was getting further behind in my studies, overlooked and pushed to the corner. The consequence of this was that I left public school with very little self-confidence. After just one year at Groves I felt better about myself in social situations and in my ability to manage schoolwork.

A key lesson I learned at Groves was that while it may take me longer to do an assignment, as long as I was willing to put in the time, I could get grades at the same level as my peers. This ended up being a critical lesson that helped me get through college.

What are some of your favorite memories of Groves?

The class trips were the most memorable experiences for me. The end of year bike trip to a local park and the junior/ senior camping trip come to mind. The camping trip was the first time I slept in a tent and it may have been the good weather or the good food, but this sparked a growing affection for camping. Now I choose to spend my weekends camping on the North Shore or in Wisconsin, all rooted in my first camping trip with Groves. Also, my reading and writing class with Ms. Dinapoli was memorable and ended up having a large impact on who I am today. I did not know it at the time, but Ms. Dinapoli’s class showed me that reading could be enjoyable even though it was my most challenging subject coming into Groves. The lessons learned in her class created the foundation for me to go from avoiding reading at all costs to now reading being one of my favorite hobbies.

Why do you think Groves is an important asset to the Twin Cities community?

Groves may appear to be just another school building that many people would recognize as they drive down Highway 100, but do not realize the importance of the school to the students, families, and teachers inside. Groves is a place where parents and children who feel lost or at a dead end with school can find hope at a new school. My hope is that with stories like mine and other alumni profiles, families will see that Groves is much more than just another school in the Twin Cities. Groves is a game-changer.

What would you tell a student who was new to Groves about the school?

My advice would be to take advantage of this unique environment by making friends with students who have diverse interests and backgrounds. Groves has this ability to create a unique atmosphere by pulling students that may have felt like the “outsider” in another school to a place they can feel welcome and normalized. This creates a social setting with far fewer individual cliques, so it is easier to make friends between groups with different interests.

Anything else you would like to share with the Groves community?

The effect Groves has had on my personal life and career is hard to articulate in a few paragraphs, but I would like to share my appreciation. I am extremely thankful to the founding Groves families for starting a school like this. I am also thankful to the individual teachers, faculty, my parents, and other students who did so much for me during my years at Groves.