South Walton Academy was founded by a mother’s passion to see her children and clients thrive. Calley Middlebrooks, an Early Intervention Therapist and mother to three children, saw a need in Walton County for a school that valued individualized curriculum and inclusion for children of all abilities.
“My son was diagnosed with Autism at the age of four,” Calley said. As a professional, helping families and personally, as a mother seeking services for my son, I have seen the challenges we face as a community with the difficulties of finding available services, specifically for those with Autism and other related learning disabilities.”
Calley explained that in addition to an education system that includes curriculum specifically designed to meet the needs of every student, she sought to found a school that brought in therapy support for students as well as inclusive classrooms that allowed for integration of both neurotypical and neurodivergent students.
So in January of 2016, with the help of Director Jennifer Filippone and several other colleagues, therapists, South Walton Academy was founded with a mission to meet the needs of all students.
“We offer small class sizes, individualized curriculums, and offer private, one-on-one therapy services for students who need additional accommodations,” Calley said when asked what sets South Walton Academy apart. “We offer a range of educational and therapeutic opportunities and have a focus on development, health, and conversation, which sets us aside from other therapy and academic programs.”
By implementing knowledge gained through her work as a developmental therapist, Calley has created an atmosphere that encourages children to learn in a way that matches their natural developmental stage.
“I believe when working with a child you have to look at overall development which inspired the concept of educating teachers on development including therapy skills,” Calley said. “Taking this concept through all aspects of academics, it’s easier for children to learn, which increases success. When children are successful they are more interested in learning and will ask questions, do research, and independently develop new skills in their area of interest.”
In the past eight years, South Walton Academy has seen growth from 5 to 150 students. Last year, the school built a 12,000-square-foot building that provides students and the community with an indoor, multi-sensory, play space for all abilities. This year, the school has added special emphasis on environmental education, experiential learning, and environmental stewardship.
“We use the Guy Harvey curriculum for our Marine Biology course, which has been a wonderful addition in helping with our conservation efforts as well as teaching our students about the environment,” Calley said. “We also have a Farm-To-Table Program where we have chickens and gardening. This helps our students learn how to care for animals, they get to collect eggs, they have the opportunity to plant different fruits and vegetables learning about different and healthy foods.”
However, amid all the growth and expansion, Calley said that the new school year has come with some challenges in the financial realm. Funding that normally comes in readily from the state has been slower to come in, causing a strain on the school’s finances.
"Over the past year, the state of Florida has been significantly delayed with their scholarship funding which has caused a financial strain on our program," Calley said. "We are thankful for our community and all of the support we continue to receive. We have an amazing staff filled with therapists, teachers, and various specialists, but we wouldn’t be here today without the families who have entrusted us with their children."
For more information about giving visit www.southwaltonacademy.com.
"When children are successful they are more interested in learning and will ask questions, do research, and independently develop new skills in their area of interest.” Calley Middlebrooks.