BEVERLY JONES- BATSON

Our Founder

Independence Academy™ is the vision of founder, Beverly Jones-Batson, a highly experienced Special Education teacher, with experience in all ranges of special education from pre-school through group home/vocational training.
I have 19 years of professional experience in traditional public education and specialized private educational organizations. For the last 7 years I have been teaching public education students with substantial disabilities at the high school level. In public education I also have 4 years of experience of teaching at the elementary level.
Private for profit educational experience includes 4 years of private tutoring, respite care and early childhood education teaching of students with severe disabilities. My experience in non-profit educational environments includes 2 years of adult residential living instruction with responsibility of resident living skills coordination and recreation planning and participation. Through this, I worked with and as a vocational training coordinator and job coach, for population 30yrs and up. Additionally, I have experience working in private non-profit educational institutions, both private run and state sponsored. For the 2 years I worked in these institutions I gained experience in working with adolescents that are either or both at-risk due to family situations, drugs and alcohol, and mental health disabilities.
Non-secular experience includes being active in the non-profit organizations specifically; National Autism Society, including assisting with fund raising, national conference planning and parent support groups; and the March of Dimes, including in volunteering and assisting with fund raising. I also have public speaking experience, in the form of independent informational radio talk show, that was specifically designed to discuss and address the issues of parenting and how to find support or information on the challenges that face parents. These experiences have given me the opportunity to experience and participate in the traditional special education process from birth to adult, in both private and public environments.
Through the years I have experienced first-hand the increasing frustration and concern for students from both the teacher and parent perspective. These experiences have led to the decision that research is correct and traditional education is creating a discrepancy that is harmful to the students and severely hinders their ability to participate in life much less be contributing members of our society/community. Individuals with special needs have always been a passion for me and my main career and education focus.

Our Mission:

As a private non-profit school for individuals with disabilities that severely impact their ability to participate and be independent in life:
Our mission is to promote purposeful living, celebration of personal talents, confidence to explore and experience, and to actively participate in all life has to offer through student first methodology of TEACHING LIFE THROUGH LIVING.
Our primary purpose: To build a school, curriculum and environment that will allow our mission to be strived for and accomplished.

Our Goal:

Our goal is to develop, open and make accessible to individuals with disabilities, a school in which Independent Life Skills is the focus. Our LEARNING TO LIVE LIFE school, curriculum and environment is provided through active participation and learning through action, rather than text book learning.
Goal 1: To have our permanent location and facilities for school. Date started 05.08 to be completed as soon as possible.
Goal 2: To have curriculum developed to best suit needs of learning outcome. Date started 05.08 to be completed as soon as possible.
Goal 3: To hire and train school staff. Date started 05.08 to be completed as soon as possible.
Goal 4: To provide services to individuals with disabilities FULL TIME. Date started 05.08 part time 07.08. Full time to be completed as soon as possible.