‘The finest school of its kind.’ Mercer breaks ground on academy for dyslexic students

Mercer University held a ceremonial groundbreaking for Roberts Academy, which will serve as a transitional school for children with dyslexia, Thursday on Linden Avenue in Macon.

The Roberts Academy will be the first school of its kind in Georgia outside of Atlanta and will serve up to 90 students in second through fifth grades. It was made possible by a gift from Hal and Marjorie Roberts, who established a similar school in Florida after seeing their grandchildren struggle with dyslexia.

Mercer Board of Trustees chairman Thad Warren said the school will have a tremendous impact on students in the community, adding he was diagnosed with dyslexia when he was in school.

“I know firsthand what this project will mean to scores and scores of children in the Middle Georgia area,” Warren said. “It’s going to change lives.”

The school will be modeled after Roberts Academy at Florida Southern College. In addition to following state education standards, the school will also teach the Orton-Gillingham approach to its students, according to a press release.

Mercer’s Tift College of Education dean Thomas Koballa also addressed what Roberts Academy will mean to the local community.

“The Academy will be the hope of Middle Georgia children with dyslexia at a professional learning site for aspiring and experienced educators desiring to enhance their abilities to support children with dyslexia,” Koballa said.

The school will be headed by Joy Wood, who has worked in specialized schools for students with dyslexia.

“I am sincerely honored and grateful to serve as the founding head of Roberts Academy at Mercer University,” Wood said. “The school’s mission is to prepare students with dyslexia to achieve academic success through dynamic educational programs. The partnership with Mercer University is invaluable to implementing the mission and will allow us to provide significant opportunities in all program areas.”

Mercer president Bill Underwood said the students at Roberts Academy will also have access to all the resources of Mercer University.

“We intend for this to be the finest school of its kind anywhere,” Underwood said.

The school is expected to open in the fall of 2024.