Sally Smith
Encyclopedia
Sally Liberman Smith was an American educator. Smith founded the Lab School
for children with learning difficulties in 1967. Inspired by her background in education and dance as well as her own youngest son's experience with learning difficulties, Smith built up the Lab School and a curriculum infused with the arts. All the while Smith also served the students of the American University
for 30 years as a professor in the School of Education and the Head of the Graduate Program in Special Education until the time of her death.
in Vermont – at the time an all women's institution. At Bennington Smith studied dance under acclaimed modern dancer, Martha Graham
. Smith also studied under Erich Fromm
in the area of psychoanalytics. Her first published book was born under Fromm's guidance: A Child's Guide to a Parent's Mind, 1951. Smith continued on to receive a Masters degree in Education from New York University in 1955. Smith then became a professor at the School of Education at the American University and ran the Masters Program focused on learning disabilities.
and lived abroad, moving with Robert Smith who was in the Foreign Service. While traveling she wrote her second book: Nobody Said It's Easy: Can the Years Between 13 and 19 Be the Best Year's of a Child's Life?, 1965. In 1967, when Smith's youngest son Gary was in first grade Smith discovered the extent of Gary's learning disabilities that were hindering him from excelling in school in the same way as his peers. Motivated by the lack of services for talented minds like Gary's, Smith started the Lab School
with a few children from her neighborhood. Smith observed her son's interaction and progress during the themed birthday parties she would throw. She used this idea and technique to create and interactive classroom. The Academic Club Method was born and fleshed out by Smith during the first years of the Lab School as more and more parents dropped their children at her doorstep. As Smith became the director of the Lab School she also took on the role of professor and head of the Learning Disabilities Masters program at the American University
in Washington. In 1983 the Lab School moved to a more permanent residence and the success gave birth to a fund raising campaign in 1984 connecting famous figures with learning disabilities to supporting the school's efforts. In 2000 another campus of the Lab School opened in Baltimore to accommodate the growing interest of parents with learning disabled children. Following the Lab School's success Smith established the Academic Club Teaching Service (ACTS) in 2005 to train educators at other intuitions in the Academic Club Method.
Smith was also featured in numerous publications:
A second Lab School
was founded in 2000 in Baltimore,MD
Lab School of Washington
The Lab School of Washington is a school for students with learning difficulties, founded by Sally Lieberman Smith, an American educator who taught at American University, where she directed the since 1976 to 2007 after her death. Katherine Schantz, then directed the school from 2007–present...
for children with learning difficulties in 1967. Inspired by her background in education and dance as well as her own youngest son's experience with learning difficulties, Smith built up the Lab School and a curriculum infused with the arts. All the while Smith also served the students of the American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
for 30 years as a professor in the School of Education and the Head of the Graduate Program in Special Education until the time of her death.
Early years
Smith was born in New York City to Isaac and Bertha Liberman on Tuesday May 7, 1929. She was the youngest of four daughters in the Liberman family and grew up in New York. Her father, Isaac, was the president of a department store, Arnold Constable and Co.Education
In 1950 Smith graduated from Bennington CollegeBennington College
Bennington College is a liberal arts college located in Bennington, Vermont, USA. The college was founded in 1932 as a women's college and became co-educational in 1969.-History:-Early years:...
in Vermont – at the time an all women's institution. At Bennington Smith studied dance under acclaimed modern dancer, Martha Graham
Martha Graham
Martha Graham was an American modern dancer and choreographer whose influence on dance has been compared with the influence Picasso had on modern visual arts, Stravinsky had on music, or Frank Lloyd Wright had on architecture.She danced and choreographed for over seventy years...
. Smith also studied under Erich Fromm
Erich Fromm
Erich Seligmann Fromm was a Jewish German-American social psychologist, psychoanalyst, sociologist, humanistic philosopher, and democratic socialist. He was associated with what became known as the Frankfurt School of critical theory.-Life:Erich Fromm was born on March 23, 1900, at Frankfurt am...
in the area of psychoanalytics. Her first published book was born under Fromm's guidance: A Child's Guide to a Parent's Mind, 1951. Smith continued on to receive a Masters degree in Education from New York University in 1955. Smith then became a professor at the School of Education at the American University and ran the Masters Program focused on learning disabilities.
Family
Sally Liberman married Robert Smith and became the mother of three sons: Randall, Nick, and Gary. Her marriage with Robert Smith ended in divorce.Professional life
After receiving her Masters degree Smith worked for the World Health OrganizationWorld Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
and lived abroad, moving with Robert Smith who was in the Foreign Service. While traveling she wrote her second book: Nobody Said It's Easy: Can the Years Between 13 and 19 Be the Best Year's of a Child's Life?, 1965. In 1967, when Smith's youngest son Gary was in first grade Smith discovered the extent of Gary's learning disabilities that were hindering him from excelling in school in the same way as his peers. Motivated by the lack of services for talented minds like Gary's, Smith started the Lab School
Lab School of Washington
The Lab School of Washington is a school for students with learning difficulties, founded by Sally Lieberman Smith, an American educator who taught at American University, where she directed the since 1976 to 2007 after her death. Katherine Schantz, then directed the school from 2007–present...
with a few children from her neighborhood. Smith observed her son's interaction and progress during the themed birthday parties she would throw. She used this idea and technique to create and interactive classroom. The Academic Club Method was born and fleshed out by Smith during the first years of the Lab School as more and more parents dropped their children at her doorstep. As Smith became the director of the Lab School she also took on the role of professor and head of the Learning Disabilities Masters program at the American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
in Washington. In 1983 the Lab School moved to a more permanent residence and the success gave birth to a fund raising campaign in 1984 connecting famous figures with learning disabilities to supporting the school's efforts. In 2000 another campus of the Lab School opened in Baltimore to accommodate the growing interest of parents with learning disabled children. Following the Lab School's success Smith established the Academic Club Teaching Service (ACTS) in 2005 to train educators at other intuitions in the Academic Club Method.
Philosophy
Sally Smith held a strong belief in the ability of all children to learn and discover their talents. Traditional education reaches a certain sector of the population but innovative methods are needed to help unlock the talent within children with learning abilities outside of that spectrum. The Lab School model uses art-infused academic coursework in such a way as to address the specific neurological passageways in the brains of students with learning disabilities. Smith found that often these children have a higher I.Q. than their peers and, thus, require stimulation for critical thinking and logic-based approaches to learning. Smith also believed highly in the importance of enjoyment in the learning process and often spoke of the joy expressed by her students in coming to the Lab School.Publications
Sally Smith authored ten books, numerous articles, and appeared in several videos on the Lab School and teaching methods for students with learning disabilities.Books
- A Child's Guide to a Parent's Mind – Schuman, 1951
- Nobody Said It's Easy: Can the Years Between 13 and 19 Be the Best Years of a Child's Life? – The Macmillan Company, 1965
- Succeeding Against the Odds: How the Learning-Disabled Child Can Realize Their Promise – Tarcher/Perigee, 1993
- Different Is Not Bad, Different Is the World: A Book About Disabilities – Sopris West, 1994
- No Easy Answers: The Learning Disabled Child At Home and At School – Bantam new edition February, 1995 and Sin Respuestas Simples: El Niño con Problemas de Aprendizaje En El Hogar Y En La Escuela – Editorial Plaza Mayor, Inc., 1999
- The Power of the Arts: Creative Strategies for Teaching Exceptional Learners – Paul H Brookes Publishing, 2001
- Live It, Learn It: The Academic Club Methodology For Students With Learning Disabilities and ADHD – Brookes Publishing, 2005
Articles
- "What Do Parents of Children with Learning Disabilities, ADHD, and Related Disorders Deal With?" – Pediatric Nursing, May/June 2002 issue
- "Learning Disabilities" – Encyclopædia BritannicaEncyclopædia BritannicaThe Encyclopædia Britannica , published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia that is available in print, as a DVD, and on the Internet. It is written and continuously updated by about 100 full-time editors and more than 4,000 expert...
, 1985 Medical and Health Annual
Video
- Teach Me Different – PBS series, 2002
- Lab School: Sally Smith – Today Show, 2007
Smith was also featured in numerous publications:
- Creativity and Learning Disabilities – National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD), 2002
- Extraordinary Women: Fantasies Revealed 58 Women of Accomplishment Portray Hidden Dreams and Real Hopes – Stewart, Tobari, and Chang, 2005
- Teaching, Schools, and Society (8th Edition) – David Miller Sadker, Myra Pollack Sadker, Karen R. Zittleman, 2007
- Baltimore Sun, Smart Woman, Washington Home and Garden MagazineWashington Home and Garden MagazineWashington Home and Garden Magazine is a local publication that focuses on beautiful homes and gardens around the Washington Metro Area, including much of Maryland and Northern Virginia. The magazine comes out four times a year: early spring, late spring, early fall and late fall...
, American, the magazine of American UniversityAmerican UniversityAmerican University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
, Washington's Finest magazine, Education UpdateEducation UpdateEducation Update is a non-profit monthly newspaper published in New York City. It focusses on issues related to education and has a circulation of approximately 200,000. The publisher, retired education professor Pola Rosen, began the newspaper at the age of 54, delivering the paper door to door...
and ChildChild (magazine)Child is a discontinued American parenting magazine founded by Jackie Leo and MaryAnn Sommers in 1986 and published through 2007. It was originally backed by Italian publishers, then sold to The New York Times Magazine Group which published it until 1995 along with its other women’s magazines,...
magazine.
Accolades
- Living Legacy Award: Women's International Center – 1990
- LDA Award: Learning Disabilities of Association of America – 1993
- Principal of Excellence: Washington Post – 1999
- 25 Years of Outstanding Service: American University – 2001
- Mentor of the Month: Learning Disabled Online – June 2003
The Lab School
Founded by Sally Smith in 1967 the Lab School is a K-12 school for students with learning disabilities and ADHD.A second Lab School
Lab School of Baltimore
Lab School of Baltimore is a private separate day school for children in grades 1-12. Baltimore Lab School provides for students with moderate-to-severe learning disabilities. Baltimore Lab School is located in Baltimore, Maryland in Goucher Hall built by renowned architect Stanford White...
was founded in 2000 in Baltimore,MD
See also
- The Lab School of WashingtonLab School of WashingtonThe Lab School of Washington is a school for students with learning difficulties, founded by Sally Lieberman Smith, an American educator who taught at American University, where she directed the since 1976 to 2007 after her death. Katherine Schantz, then directed the school from 2007–present...
- Lab School of BaltimoreLab School of BaltimoreLab School of Baltimore is a private separate day school for children in grades 1-12. Baltimore Lab School provides for students with moderate-to-severe learning disabilities. Baltimore Lab School is located in Baltimore, Maryland in Goucher Hall built by renowned architect Stanford White...
- Baltimore Lab School
External links
- http://www.labschool.org/content/aboutsallysmith
- http://www.labschool.org/
- http://www.american.edu/
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DInS0e4aJDU
- http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16880570
- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/03/AR2007120301954.html