SPIRIT

WINTER / SPRING ISSUE

2014-2015

THE SPIRIT OF ETON ACADEMY

H E A D O F S C H O O L M E S S A G E

Dear Friends:

In 2011, the Eton Academy Board of Trustees made a bold decision. One that would begin to transform Eton Academy from a small, special needs school that supports approximately 200 students per year, to an organization and school committed to changing the landscape of how different learners are served in Michigan. This ambitious vision was inspired by Eton’s Board of Trustees and school community who are passionate about helping students with learning challenges reach their true potential and find a lifetime of success.

The Board’s pioneering vision for Eton is being realized in the Teach Reach Grow Campaign that we publicly launched in September of 2014. The $3 million project includes the addition of eight classrooms for the lower school program, the creation of the LaNeve Family & Friends Welcome Center to direct visitors to the main school entry, and the construction of new space for the Eton-Hartmann Center for Teaching and Learning that supports Eton’s efforts to help non-Eton students, teachers, and schools in the surrounding communities. With these architectural changes to Eton’s campus footprint, the school will be able to enroll 50% more students and support hundreds more outside the school via tutoring, teacher training, and educational consulting.

The decision to support more students through campus and program expansion was done thoughtfully, carefully, and courageously. Once we established the fundraising plan and financial modeling, the project was ready for launch. What has kept Eton’s Board and community focused on completing this important school initiative is the understanding of the following startling facts about different learners and the obstacles they face:

• The high school dropout rate for students with learning challenges is significantly higher than the general student population.

• Students with learning challenges are 85% less likely to attend college.

• It is estimated that nearly 20% of the school population are impacted by a language or reading-based learning difference.

• Although ADHD is not considered a “learning disability”, up to 10% of

the student population is impacted by ADHD symptoms.

• Students with learning challenges are three to five times more likely to make a poor

decision in school.

• Students diagnosed with ADHD are frequently excluded from advanced courses.

• Adults with learning challenges are more likely to be unemployed compared to the general population.

• It is estimated that up to 80% of incarcerated men and women have a language-based or speech learning challenge.

Over 30 years ago, a few determined educators, students, and parents came together to start a tutorial program to support different learners that has now evolved into Eton Academy. At the time, it was an ambitious plan that required determination, commitment, support, and vision. Now, decades later, Eton Academy is taking another bold and vitally important step to support more students and families in need.

I would like to take this moment to thank the extraordinary leaders from Eton’s past to the present who have helped lay the foundation for the school. We are in Phase I of the Teach Reach Grow Campaign for Eton. There remains more fundraising work to complete in order to reach our goal of $3 million. Please take a moment to consider helping Eton cross the campaign finish line by making a contribution to the campaign. We cannot do it without you.

Warm Regards,

Pete Pullen

Head of School

2014-2015 Eton Board of Trustees“The People Behind the Mission”

Dr. Jeffrey Zanetti, PresidentMr. Mike Stankard, Vice President

Mr. Michael Plotzke, TreasurerMr. Lawrence Bluth, Secretary

Dr. Richard BushMs. Maria Chirco

Mr. Mark GoodmanMr. Jim Gwaltney

Mrs. Pat HartmannMr. Paul KenneyMr. Mark LaNeveMrs. Amy Loepp

Mrs. Sonia Ajluni PastoreMrs. Victoria StewardMr. Bill Weatherston

Mr. Alex J. Zanetti

Mr. Pete Pullen, Head of SchoolMs. Anne Nicholson,

PSO Representative for 2014/15

Teach Reach Grow … Together!

In September, Eton Academy publicly launched Phase 1 of the Teach Reach Grow campaign and announced gifts raised in excess of $2.4 million. We are now 83% of the way to our $3M goal—thanks to YOUR generosity.

As we look towards the future, we have some exciting news to share. The City of Birmingham approved all

zoning requirements and Eton began demolition and construction on March 9, 2015! Currently, we are on schedule to have our first group of students starting in new, specially designed classrooms by the fall 2015 school year.

Goal

: $3,

000,

000 90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

100%

Dan & Amy Loepp Inspire through Matching Gift ChallengeMaking a difference in the lives of Eton students is a role the Loepp family has taken to heart. When Eton launched the Teach Reach Grow Campaign, Dan Loepp, current parent and President and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, joined Mark LaNeve, VP - U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service at Ford Motor Company, as Co-Chair of the campaign. With the ambitious goal of raising $3 million for a major expansion, Dan and his wife, Eton Board of Trustee Amy Loepp, announced their philanthropic investment of $250,000. Additionally, the Loepps issued a matching gift challenge that doubles each new campaign donation made by May 31, 2015, up to an additional $250,000.

The Loepp’s generosity was inspired by their personal experience at Eton, along with a strong desire to help different learners succeed. Dan and Amy noted that over the last two years, Eton has had a profound impact on 7th grader, Patrick. “He has increased self esteem, the ability to learn, and the hope of significant

Continued on next page

possibilities going forward.”

The first phase of the Teach Reach Grow campaign will:

• increase optimal learning space

• create the LaNeve Family and Friends Welcome Center

• grow scholarships and financial aid

• establish the Eton-Hartmann Center for Teaching and Learning.

The Loepp’s see the incredible value this campaign

Matching Gift Challenge Continued

Parents Campaign Donor Spotlight

dollars, they have the satisfaction of knowing that their contribution will be doubled.” We are grateful for Dan and Amy’s generous support and are humbled by their efforts to help Eton educate more students. Dan and Amy’s message is clear--- “Each person can give what they can afford, and it will help get Eton over the finish line. This will inspire more people to give, and in the end, it will put a huge dent in the campaign.”

When you contribute to the Teach Reach Grow Campaign before May 31, 2015, your gift goes twice as far in making the future brighter for different learners, their families, the community, and beyond.

will have for current Eton students and for different learners throughout our community. “We have a great opportunity to teach 100 additional students but we also recognize that with the Eton-Hartmann Center for Teaching and Learning we have an opportunity to instruct teachers in the community and beyond. Think about it, if we can educate 300 teachers a year, what would be the impact of that? I say that it will have a considerable impact on thousands of student’s lives.”

After their initial campaign gift, the Loepp’s wanted to inspire new donors to give to Eton through a matching gift opportunity. Dan shared that he believes “matching gift campaigns can be highly successful and we wanted to try it for this campaign. One of our goals with the match is to inspire people to give more. Whether someone gives $10 or thousands of

“I think that it is important to give to Eton because Eton gave me back something that I never thought would be possible- peace in the house. My daughter and I would fight daily about her schoolwork and I stayed up until 10:00 every night helping her with homework. The teachers know how to handle the students and they have somehow been able to take me out of that part of the equation; and for that I am thankful. Eton saved our family, and with the expansion, I want more families to have the same opportunity to experience the peace that comes from being at Eton.”

Continued from page 3

VERA JONES

“This one-of-a-kind educational establishment is so badly needed in our community. The number of students with special learning requirements over the past years has substantially increased and Eton Academy is in the position to help this need by expanding its footprint. Eton will also be able to educate local teachers on the “Eton Approach” so that this conceptual “whole student” instruction can flow into other areas of our community. We feel that contributing to such a necessary cause can only help our son’s future and the many other different learners.”

TONYA CHISHOLM

Teacher and Staff Campaign Donor Spotlight

“It is an exciting time for Eton as we expand not only our campus but our programs: the Eton Approach and Tutor Pros. I believe in our mission and I feel honored to be a part of the Eton family. Every contribution benefits not only our students and families, but the community and our colleagues. United we stand together as we reach the mutual goal of making a difference in the lives of different learners and their families. I gave to Eton because I believe that the expansion will provide our students with even more tools to be successful, confident and life-long learners.”

ETON STAFF: JAN DAHL

“I donated to the campaign because I believe in our mission, staff and most importantly our students. Eton Academy has been my home for 9 years and I am excited to watch it grow. I am proud to give to Eton to help expand our community and serve more families in need. I am eagerly anticipating our new building and can’t wait for the contractors to break ground!”

ETON UPPER SCHOOL TEACHER: MARY BETH CASEY

Josie McClenaghan (4th grade) – “Having the new space means that it will be easier to go back and forth between classes.”

Stone Rolston (4th grade) – “We currently have a hallway, but with the expansion we will have a building… this is going to be an awesome school!”

Caroline Davis (3rd grade) – “The more kids that can come to Eton, the more friends I can make.”

Livia Moray (3rd grade) – “Eton can help more kids because we know how to help people with learning challenges. I am so lucky that we will have a school for just the lower school students.”

Dickson Mogaka (8th grade) – “I view the expansion as an opportunity to make new friends, and for more kids with learning challenges to come to Eton.”

Jacob Peterson (11th grade) –“The Upper and Middle School expansion means that Eton can help a lot more students with learning challenges. I think it’s better to expand what we have than to build a brand new school. Eton is a safe, loving, and friendly environment, and for more people to be able to come is a great thing.”

Haley Sutton (10th grade) – “The new building means that there will be more space for new students to attend and get the help they need from Eton.”

Helen Fischer (10th grade) – “With the new addition, it will be possible for students to take new subjects, and it will benefit the teachers by having more workspace. The new building will positively change Eton’s image in the community- providing a bright new place to learn and study!”

Students give their thoughts on the building expansion

Teacher Training at Eton AcademyIn the early days of Eton Academy, Pat Hartmann, founding Board of Trustees member, remembered the school being comprised of two students, a teacher, and a rented classroom. Although Eton looked very different then, the roots of the school program remain focused on specialized teaching

designed specifically for students who learn differently.

Eton’s teacher training and the delivery of instruction has developed, expanded, and has become highly systematic, structured, and more heavily research and evidence based to align with the Eton

Approach™ methodology. At the foundation of Eton’s instructional philosophy is the belief that high impact, direct and explicit instruction by a highly trained teacher is the most effective way to improve student achievement. This belief is supported by research, by leading experts and educational institutions around the world. Penelope Christianson Hewer, Head of Academic Programs, explains, “Teacher training at Eton is the backbone of the school program along with our teachers’ unshakable belief in each student.”

According to Dr. Sally Shaywtiz, a leading expert in reading instruction, the best schools for students with language-based learning challenges are those that embrace a multi-sensory approach to instruction. In addition, Dr. Rick Lavoie, internationally known for his work with students with specific learning disabilities and who consulted Eton during our program development, advocates strongly for schools to connect the social and emotional aspects of child development with academic instruction.

Over the past several years, Eton Academy has developed arguably, the most robust and strong teacher training and coaching program in

Michigan. Eton’s program is focused on multi-sensory and evidence-based instructional methods and a commitment to whole child development. In 2013, Eton launched the Training, Learning, and Coaching Division (TLC) to better coordinate the numerous comprehensive teacher trainings such as neurodevelopmental profile training, Spell IT! strategic instruction training, and reading comprehension training. The TLC Division is led by Director, Sara Trotter, and includes teacher trainers and coaches who work specifically with teachers to improve instruction. Eton teachers engage in teacher trainings throughout the year, in the summer, and at the beginning and end of each school year. Trainings build upon one another as teachers strive toward mastery. An integral part of teacher training is instructional coaching that gives teachers an opportunity to refine their teaching techniques.

Pete Pullen, Head of School, explains, “Students with learning differences require instruction that is designed specifically for their learning profile. Eton’s teacher training and coaching program is

designed to give educators at Eton the instructional tools to relentlessly pursue the teaching methods that best serve each individual student.”

Eton Academy’s long and rich history and commitment to great teaching continues to set the school apart from others, but most importantly, provides exactly what each student at Eton needs to find success in school and life.

What’s Happening at Eton

“I really felt that I had a lot to take away from this training in terms of making my instruction

as informed as possible to support my students at their individual level.”

“This training was well organized and

relevant to our students needs. It gave teachers a

chance to connect assessment with

instruction.”

“This was a great opportunity to gain insight to assessments and to think like our students.

It was also very helpful to work with other content teachers on how this can data can

inform our instruction.”

“Loved listening to how other teachers use iPads to support learning in a creative way. I enjoyed having time to quickly explore a variety of tools to support my instruction. This exposure helped jumpstart my

thinking- it was great!”

“Thanks for the time to collaborate and share ideas with other teachers- so helpful to see everyone’s thinking!”

Eton Academy extends our most sincere thanks to all who attended and supported the 2015 “Building Bright Futures” Gala & Auction. The event raised $317,400 (net), including a record amount of $163,000 from our Family and Corporate Sponsors. The funds from the Gala and Auction provide the critical operational funding needed to keep our operations running smoothly on a daily basis.

Nearly 330 people attended this momentous event and witnessed countless past and present student success stories that warmed every heart. These stories inspired our guests and confirmed why Eton receives such generous support from parents and friends, corporate sponsors, and the community.

Many talented and dedicated people came together to make this event a reality. Eton wishes to extend our many thanks to the Auction Chairperson, Wendy Ruffini, the Auction Committee, and all those who tirelessly worked to make this event a tremendous success.

Building Bright Futures Gala & Auction – February 28, 2015 A Night to Remember!

Wendy Ruffini – ChairSuzanne AlfastenElizabeth BrennanPiper CaldwellPam DebonoErica FinkMarcy Ford

Desiree GraceAnne LallyMitzi MartinMonica MoraySusan ReeseDonna WashingtonStephenie Wright

2015 Gala & Auction Committee

Building Bright Futures Gala & Auction

Spirit of HomeRebekah and Bill Harahan / The Michael

F. McManus FoundationAmy and Dan Loepp

Shari & Jim Vlasic and Adriana & Paul Vlasic

Spirit of FamilyLinda and Paul Kenney

Carol and David PetersonRobbie and Scott Sherman

Spirit of ChildrenJulie and Jeff Bass

Verna ChapmanThe Gornick Fund

Dr. Michael and Elizabeth KhouryMary Lou and Geoffrey Pernicano

Laurie and Pete PullenMiry and Dan Serlin

Leslie and Jeffrey Zanetti

Spirit of Commitment

Spirit of Discovery

Spirit of Celebration

Family Sponsors

Corporate Sponsors

Corporate Supporters

Spreading Awareness of Eton Academy

Business Relationship Turned Partnership

By now, you may have heard one of the powerful radio spots that promote Eton’s Open Houses and showcase how Eton utilizes small class sizes and highly trained teachers to help students with learning challenges. Since May 2014, CBS Radio has generously donated countless hours of airtime to help lead more students and families to Eton. Despite the incredible success of our students, there are still many families who don’t know that this special place for different learners exists.

Sharing what a wonderful resource Eton is for different learners has contributed to a significant increase in our open house attendance and has played a part in helping us reach an all-time high enrollment of 217 students. Debbie Kenyon, Senior Vice President/Market Manager at CBS Radio, talked about their generous gift of airtime. “Eton is a special place and these radio spots tell a story that helps parents realize that there are other families dealing with learning challenges. These are real issues and they happen in other kid’s lives, too.”

CBS Radio supports many organizations and is honored to be associated with Eton Academy. “CBS Radio is involved with many great causes, but we have a two-fold mission in partnering with Eton; to help raise money to attract more students with learning challenges and create greater awareness of ADHD and other learning challenges. Our

What started as an ordinary banking relationship in 2003 has blossomed into a strong partnership between Fifth Third Bank and Eton Academy. When David Girodat, President and CEO of Fifth Third Bank Eastern Michigan, attended his first Eton Gala & Auction, he realized that by supporting Eton, Fifth Third Bank was making a real difference in the lives of students.

Dave recalls attending his first Gala, “The most powerful part of the whole event was seeing the students and hearing about their accomplishments. They went from

coming to Eton with learning challenges to being able to stand up in front of hundreds of people with the utmost confidence, it’s tremendous!”

goal at CBS Radio is to help those who can really help the community,” Debbie said.

Debbie talked about her tremendous heart for parents who have a student with ADHD, especially because her own son has ADHD. “After learning about Eton, I sent my son to Eton’s summer camp and he loved it! He’s thriving where he is now, but I feel good knowing that Eton Academy is always here. My hope with the radio spots is that other moms and dads can hear about Eton and get the help they need.”

Eton Academy is grateful for CBS Radio’s many contributions, including radio airtime, a generous financial contribution to the Teach Reach Grow Campaign and numerous donations to our annual Gala & Auction. Thanks to CBS Radio, Eton is better able to bring hope to more students with learning challenges and share our mission with the broader community.

Fifth Third Bank supports many great organizations with a special focus on education and children, recognizing that a strong foundation starts with youth. “Our emphasis as an organization is to support our community and to continually support those who do business with us”.

“We look at education as a whole and we believe that Eton is a necessary provider that serves students with learning challenges.” He went on to share his pride about supporting Eton, and his new position on the Board of Advisors. “I’m proud to be associated with Eton, with the small class sizes and compassionate teachers and staff, Eton is changing outcomes and it’s measurable - it’s something that I can see and touch. Eton can prove that the mission works, but we know that it takes balance and that you have to have the money to have the mission- and that’s where we can help.”

Eton Academy is grateful for Fifth Third Bank’s decade long support of the Gala & Auction through contributions totaling nearly $100,000. By partnering together, Fifth Third Bank and Eton are helping students and families achieve success.

Andreu Lombarte-Soler

Dickson Mogaka

Student Successes

“When I came to Eton a year ago, I was reading at a second grade level; and now I am reading at a seventh grade level. At first, I could only read for 5 minutes at a time,

and my mom had to help me with the rest. Now I am accomplishing my reading goals and can read for 20-30 minutes at a time, and at a much faster pace. My goals now are to improve my spelling and write short stories, and eventually books. Eton has helped me in all of my subjects, I’ve made more friends, I’m a lot more confident, and my social skills have improved as well. Eton is a great school for students with learning disabilities.”

“I’ve been attending Eton for four years, and when I first came here, I was not that into math because I was not very good at it. However, I started thinking about how my parents were paying a lot of money for me to come to Eton and I realized that they were making a great sacrifice. As a result, I buckled down and started taking my studies more seriously. Overall, I want to become a better person, and Eton has helped me achieve that goal. I went from being behind in math to taking Advanced High School Math- Algebra 1 and Geometry. My parent’s decision and sacrifice to send me to Eton has benefited me greatly!”

Reed Perlman

Samantha Sherman

“I came in with the right mindset and I took all of the strategies that the teachers gave me to set proper goals. I then implemented those strategies and found that it was much easier to accomplish my goals.

Even if students don’t come in with the right mindset, they can learn the strategies and still achieve their goals.”

“I think that the teachers are really dedicated to helping students- not just with academic needs, but on a personal level as well. They helped push me through the hard times, and now, I have more confidence and I am dedicated to being successful.”

Michael Strouse “Living with ADHD” ADHD is not an obstacle for me to overcome; it is a gift that I can use to my advantage. ADHD isn’t some super complicated one in a million chance thing. Many people have some symptoms that affect them a lot, which would be the impulsive and hyperactive part for me. That same person may have symptoms that hardly affect them, which would be the organization part in my case. Other symptoms include being very impatient, being fidgety, being easily distracted, etc. ADHD runs in families so I think I got it from my two grandfathers who are just like me.

There are pros and cons, and then there’s reality when it comes to ADHD. The cons can range from not being able to pay attention to taking medicine every single day. Now for my favorite part about ADHD, the pros. Whenever I made the whole class laugh from one joke I would feel amazing. Also, having that extra energy throughout the day can be pretty fun, too. These and many other great reasons make ADHD something worth fighting for.

Now reality: ADHD isn’t an excuse to use for anything. What I mean by this is that it is never an excuse that you have a disorder that makes you impulsive and hyper. That is why I am given so many helpful opportunities in my life, so that I don’t make any bad mistakes in my life from doing impulsive stunts and acts.

That brings me to my next topic which is all the help I have been given. The biggest help is definitely my medication but besides that Eton has helped me the most. I started at Eton in the middle of third grade, and I do believe that if I

had never found Eton I wouldn’t be nearly as successful as I am today. The main reason Eton has helped me so much is because the teachers understand me, and they know why I sometimes do impulsive things. Then, with the knowledge the teachers already know about ADHD, they are able to give me extraordinary help and strategies for me to succeed in school.

The support my mom and dad have given me is incredible. Ever since I was diagnosed with ADHD they have spent countless hours helping me. Without them ADHD would be a nightmare to me, but since they have helped me so much they made it possible for me to turn what could be a bad disorder into an advantage in life. ADHD can take me anywhere in life, so I am going to find the road called success and take the fast lane.

Student Success

A l u m n i M e n t o r D a y : A l u m n i V i s i t w i t h U p p e r S c h o o l S t u d e n t s

W h e r e a r e y o u n o w ?

Eton regularly hosts Alumni Mentor Days for the Middle and Upper School Divisions where alumni share how Eton Academy helped prepare them for college life and for other life experiences. “I think it’s important to go to college right after high school. Structure is so important and procrastinating is not good,” said Miriam Silverstein, Founder at Keepin’ It Real Entertainment. “Eton prepared me well for college, which was one of the most enjoyable times of my life.”“I took classes geared for students with learning challenges, which was helpful, and I worked part-time at Eton Academy, too,” said Emily Hersch. “I love that I can give back to the school that helped prepare me for life and for my scholastic journey.”

“At times I felt overwhelmed with all of the writing, but in the end, I know that I have the necessary strategies to prioritize everything, and I look forward to finishing strong,” shared TJ Dhadli who was in the last year of a Master’s Program.At the end of the panel session, alumni encouraged students to appreciate their time at Eton and to count themselves lucky to be at such a great school.

Adam Schwartz, Class of 2008 – I am currently living in Mankato, Minnesota. For the past year I have been working at television station KEYC, a FOX and CBS affiliate. I work several different newscasts and my main duties are video editing, running the audio board for newscasts, floor directing, assistant directing, and posting stories to the website. I am enjoying my job and living in Minnesota, except when it is 40 below zero during the winter!

Anita Kafi, Class of 1995 – I am currently preparing to earn my Certificate from OCC. I am still single and I have two wonderful nephews. Eton was an excellent school for me.

Ish Wallace, Class of 2014 – I just finished my first semester at Hampton College in Virginia. I earned good grades and I am looking forward to returning for the second semester. I also enjoy the warmer weather that Virginia has to offer!

Curtis Terry, Class of 2014 – I completed my first semester at Saginaw Valley State University and did quite well. My major area of study is International Business and I hope to do an internship this summer. I enjoy SVSU and I am looking forward to the second semester.

Eton Academ

y Alum

ni Board 2014-2015 —

Art Dubin ’87 • Jeanie C

ochran-Debruyn (attended ‘89-’91) • Frank H

avasi ’91 • Eric Scott ’93 • Jason Roth ’94

Michael Stillw

ater ’94 • Kyle McC

lenahan (attended ‘94-’95) • Randy W

inston ’96 • Stuart Peterson ’06 • Katy Dasch ’07 • Austin C

onway ’12

ALUMNI A S S O C I A T I O N

NE

WS

Let us know what you‘ve been doing since you were an Eton Student! Contact Alumni Relations Manager, Tom Hoff at 248.642.1150, ext 125 or

email: THoff@EtonAcademy.org. Stay connected with Eton Academy and fellow classmates through our Eton Academy Alumni Association Facebook page.

After feeling lost at a high school with 2,000 students, I found myself needing a more nurturing and concentrated learning environment, which is what led me to Eton Academy. I am deeply grateful for the teachers and learning skills acquired at Eton during my junior and senior years.

Much of my college success can be credited to the individualized attention I received. Eton teachers embraced the variety of different learners and they took a personal interest in fostering each student’s individual abilities. To achieve the greatest level of success, the Eton staff worked to strengthen my natural skills and develop new ones, which was often lacking before I attended Eton.

It has been 15 years since graduating from Eton and I can’t say that there is one particular teacher that stands out. That is because I have the fondest of memories of all the teachers. These great teachers had such an impact on my life and it was at an important time in my life.

After Eton, I used the skills and confidence I acquired and I moved to New York to pursue my bachelor’s degree at Long Island University, where I graduated with a degree in Political Science. Afterward, I began pursuing law school, but realized that sales were my true passion. I worked in sales for a large pharmaceutical company until recently, when I took a hiatus to have my two little girls; I currently live in Ann Arbor where my husband is a practicing physician.

My best advice to the current students at Eton is to allow the teachers to help you. Be receptive to new ideas and approaches to learning, not only with the

class material, but to learning approaches for life. Realize how lucky you are to have such a dedicated team of teachers who want nothing other than to see you thrive and succeed.

Leora Green RubinClass of 1999

2015 EVENTS

April 29 Recent Alumni Meet with Seniors

May 4 Alumni Board Meeting

May 15 Alumni Lunch with Seniors

May 29 Alumni Lunch and 2015 Graduation

A l u m n i E v e n t s t h r o u g h t h e e n d o f t h e y e a r

ALUMNI PROFILESALUMNI PROFILES

How did Eton help you?

I arrived at Eton in my junior year after struggling for the previous two years in my English classes at Detroit Country Day School. Eton took the extra time with me as an individual and helped me with my learning disability, where I learned to successfully apply various techniques. They taught me how to be a bit more patient in my studies and to have better concentration, determination, and to reduce interruptions so that I could maintain focus.

How did Eton help prepare you for life after high school?

This new focus brought back a positive self-esteem which allowed me to set goals in my everyday life. I now know that I wasn’t any less able than other individuals; I simply had a different style of thinking and learning. I learned that if trained properly, I could use my ‘out-of -the-box’ thinking and approach to overcome everyday obstacles; and that approach could give me a distinct advantage. I knew that I was different, but I learned to use it to my advantage.

Who at Eton made a lasting impression on you?

Eton as a whole made a lasting impression on me; it had all the components necessary to achieve that perfect presentation. Were some teachers better, more patient, and more understanding? Was each student a bit different with their own story to tell about how they ended up at Eton? Yes; and each one taught me a different way to approach problems and to succeed in any given situation.

What have you accomplished since leaving Eton?

Every day I step into a new problem that needs a solution. With a positive attitude and approach, I have accomplished so much; but at the same time, I’m not willing to base my life on those accomplishments just yet.

Garrette BackieClass of 1993

Since leaving Eton I went to Michigan State University. After four years and additional education, I realized that I had a knack for computers. With more education and training, I worked in the automotive market where I learned management and business development. After a tough few years in the Michigan automotive market, I decided to make a move to Chicago to work with a large IT VAR company.

This experience afforded me the opportunity to work in the government market, both in the public and private sectors. Almost 10 years later I now work with a company based out of the DC area that contracts services to provide solutions and research for the Department of Defense’s Datacenter and Cyber solutions. My goal is to continuously learn and become better educated all while achieving new goals.

What is the best advice you can give to current Eton students?

You are an individual; use that to your advantage. You don’t need to find out what you are good at; you will eventually discover that in time. Find out what you want to do, what you want to be, and don’t ever sell yourself short by thinking that you are unable to achieve what you are truly capable of.

Where are you now?

Currently I reside in sunny North Scottsdale with my beautiful wife, Tiffany and my two children. Brody just turned 4 and Brooklyn is 2 and a half. Every free moment we have is taken up with golfing, skiing, boating or traveling to a new destination.

ALUMNI PROFILES ALUMNI PROFILES

1755 Melton • Birmingham, MI • 48009248.642.1150 • etonacademy.org

BUILDING BRIGHT FUTURES THROUGH GIVINGWhether it is increasing student’s confidence or improving academic performance, YOU help make these possible when you give to Eton Academy.

When we come together with the unified goal of building bright futures for every student at Eton, nothing is impossible! Eton counts on your continued support in all areas to maintain and improve our amazing school. You make it possible to carry out our mission of educating students with learning differences and providing a support network for their families.

Annual Giving Fund- Money raised towards our annual fund helps pay for the additional training and programs that ensure students are successful

Teach Reach Grow Campaign- This campaign is of critical importance to Eton’s future- it provides the opportunity to create optimal learning space for students, and it allows us to expand our reach into the community

Gala & Auction- The money raised through this important event helps us purchase new technology, make improvements to our existing facility, provide specialized teacher training, and give financial assistance to families in need.

If you would like to discuss your giving in further detail, please contact Blythe Moran at 248.642.1150 or BMoran@EtonAcademy.org. We value every gift you make.