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by Cecelia Wilson Success is gauged using many different measuring sticks for the developmentally disabled children and adults who attend Sunshine School. After all, each student has varying degrees of challenges involving reading skills, functionality and development. With that in mind, each individual has unique goals to which their parents and teachers strive and, as a result, there are uniquely individual program plans designed for each student. Sharing accomplishments is motivating for everyone involved, and at staff meetings each teacher relates one positive thing that happened in class that week. Sometimes, though, those success stories hit home even more profoundly. At a recent United Way of White County meeting (from where contributions are used as a match to generate funds and augment the school's services), a former Sunshine School student was in attendance. The student had graduated from the school's program, had been a hard worker at the Sheltered Workshop and then gone on to become an employee within the community. At the end of the United Way meeting, the former student signed a pledge card. No doubt, that signature spelled the pinnacle of success for both the school and its former student. It was the ultimate act of giving back. The school's beginnings are as modest as its facilities. In 1964, the Searcy Jr. Auxiliary began a Mother's Day Out for families with handicapped children for a couple of hours each week. Housed in converted Army barracks, the program boasted two rooms, one bathroom and had a monthly tuition of $10 if the family could pay. Days off during winter were simple: if the water in the gold fish bowl froze, classes were cancelled. By the early 70's, the school desperately hoped to receive a state construction grant. It just so happened that one student attending during that period was from Kensett, U.S. Representative Wilbur D. Mills' hometown. He was invited to the school and while he was there, the sun truly shone on Sunshine School. The student climbed up in the Congressman's lap and stayed there the entire visit. Needless to say, his heart was touched because an update on the status of the grant money some time later was met with the assurance that Rep. Mills had made his wishes known. The Sunshine School received the grant. Enter Mary-Lou Dunn, the current Director. As a senior at Searcy High School, Mary-Lou had an extra study hall and an older sister in the Jr. Auxiliary. Because the Auxiliary was so involved with Sunshine School, her sister convinced Mary-Lou to volunteer there. It would be an experience that would change the aspiring teacher's life. One day while Mary-Lou was helping a young child tie his shoes, another volunteer looked on with a smile. "Hey," she called to Mary-Lou, "I hear you're going to go into special education!" "That's right," Mary-Lou answered automatically. "Where did that come from?" Mary-Lou wondered, but she knew instantly that she had, in fact, found her calling. That decision didn't fade with time. Memories of working with the students and teachers at the school stayed with her during her undergrad years at UCA, at Harding where she received her Masters and during the seven years she taught special education for 4th - 6th grades at Searcy's McRae Elementary. She served five years on the Sunshine School Board and then, in 1978, Mary-Lou accepted the position as the school's director. Thirty-one years later, she still relishes each day. "It is never dull," Dunn says of her work week and confides, "I'm doing what I love." She does so with a staff of 18 which includes teachers, aides, bus drivers and two full-time speech therapists. Though staff turnover is sometimes high in similar schools, Sunshine School is fortunate to have, in addition to Director Dunn's 31 years, other employees with tenures of up to 20 years. That type of tenure can't help but translate to caring individuals and a healthy educational environment. Despite its humble start, the school now accepts students for seven classes encompassing preschool students, school-aged students and adults. The current enrollment is 60, drawing from not only Searcy, but Augusta, Pangburn, Kensett, Des Arc and Hazen, to name a few. The school also works with the Sheltered Workshop for part-time placement of adult students. As Mary-Lou is glad to relate, the goal of the school's programs is very simple: "We want to work with every individual student at their current level so they can function at their maximum level within their family and their community." It probably goes without saying that the growth of the school has created an extensive waiting list for potential students and a need for expansion in the school's facilities. As for those modest facilities the school is situated behind Southwest Middle School in two unpretentious buildings, forcing classes to be split between the two structures. With the exception of the playground equipment on one side of the property and the metal block lettering proclaiming the school's name on the main building's front facade, there is nothing spectacular that beckons the passerby. They have, quite literally, outgrown their locale and that's where the fundraiser, "Raising the Roof on the Sunshine School," comes into play. On December 3 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., a host of dedicated volunteers headed by Deandra Gibson and Janet Crain have gathered their forces to raise the funds (and literally the roof) on a new building for Sunshine School. To be held in downtown Searcy, the streets will be closed off for the fun-filled, family-friendly fundraiser that will feature food, entertainment, a style show and a silent auction. The Governor and Mrs. Beebe will be stopping by and there will also be a special appearance by Santa Claus. Tickets will be available ($25 for adults; $10 for students) in November at the Sunshine School and KWCK Country 99.9 radio station, as well as at the door the day of the fundraiser. Though invitations are being sent out, everyone is invited and White County residents will learn more about the festivities as the date approaches. Land has generously been donated across from the airport by Realtor Letain DeVore and $635,000 has already been donated for the new building project. But, before they may begin breaking ground on the construction of the new school, $1,000,000 is required with an ultimate goal to build and furnish the entire project of $2,000,000. Those daunting sums can only be raised by the efforts of parents, families and friends of the students, as well as community leaders from Searcy and all surrounding townships, who owe so much to Sunshine School. The call is out to raise the roof on the Sunshine School and, just as the former student who pledged to give back, it is time for White County to give back as well. Once the money is raised, the new facility will be one that meets everyone's needs under a single roof with room for expansion, style and state-of-the-art functionality. And while the new school will be a great achievement for all involved, Mary-Lou Dunn knows that success isn't measured in dollars and cents, but in the little milestones she sees each week. Remembering one particular child who was failing to bond with his family, Dunn and her staff worried over his behavioral challenges. That changed when she watched the young boy help another child off the school bus and heard what could only be deemed success in his statement. "It's okay," he said, as he encouraged the younger child off the bus and toward the Sunshine School front doors. "This is the place where they're glad you're here." Go Back to Contents Go to SearcyLiving.com |
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