Dyer Difference Award honors history, heritage, and the many ways we learn
At Baron Academy for differently-abled learners, the philosophy of Norwegian-American clinical psychologist and professor Ole Ivar Lovaas is very clear, “If they can’t learn the way we teach, we teach the way they learn.” And while the statement seems so simple to anyone with just a smidge of common sense, most of us know that for many generations and until this century, the educational system wasn’t exactly flexible enough to comprehend what Dr. Lovaas so simply stated. At Baron Academy, a nonprofit organization in St. Lucie County which provides customized education for children who might otherwise fall through the cracks in a typical school setting. Children learn best when they are nurtured and supported, and at Baron Academy, students from kindergarten to eighth grade are supported academically, socially, and behaviorally, and the results for the 50 families whose children are enrolled are astoundingly positive. The January Dyer Difference Award in St. Lucie County will assist Baron Academy in creating an eight-week summer program to provide continued educational, physical, social, and recreational activities for students who might not be able to attend because of family financial limitations, helping to ensure that all students will have access to a fun and engaging summer program regardless of their differing abilities, whether mental, physical, or financial.
In Indian River County, January is a great time to ring in the new year and also to celebrate the rich heritage of the community we’ve chosen to call home. The Vero Beach Heritage Center and Indian River Citrus Museum, smack-dab in the heart of Vero Beach, is dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich cultural and agricultural history through educational exhibits, events, and outreach which help create a deeper understanding and appreciation for our heritage and legacy. People from around the state and indeed, around the globe, visit the area annually to learn more about our community, its roots in citrus agriculture, and its deep pride and character. To help ensure that the Vero Beach Heritage Center, the Indian River Citrus Museum, and the rich history they help to preserve and promote continue to be a source of pride for generations to come, the staff at Dyer is proud to present Vero Heritage and its members with the January Dyer Difference Award in Indian River County.
The Dyer Difference Award is all about celebrating the beauty and kindness in our midst. For the Dyer family and the members of the Dyer staff, the award and the $6,000 in donations made monthly between the St. Lucie and Indian River Counties are all about helping to make a positive difference in the community. For the recipients, it’s an acknowledgement of their tireless efforts to do the same and a much-needed financial boost to help further their missions. If you’d like to nominate a non-profit organization for the Dyer Difference Award, please visit www.dyerdifference.org or find Dyer Difference on Facebook.
Treasure Coast Business is a news service and magazine published in print, via e-newsletter and online at tcbusiness.com by Indian River Media Group. For more information or to report news email news@indianrivermedia.com