Interview with The Dunblaine School PARENT, Irene Chan
Irene, a parent at The Dunblaine School, shared her perspective on the school’s individualized approach, supportive teachers, inclusive community, social-emotional growth, and leadership opportunities that help children thrive academically, socially, and personally.
Highlights from the interview
Our daughter is thriving socially at Dunblaine. She’s making friends, feels accepted, and has been given the tools and strategies to advocate for herself and her unique learning style.
- Our journey to Dunblaine was serendipitous… Toward the end of her senior kindergarten year (at another school), we realized her learning style was different. With the help of therapists and an educational consultant, we conducted assessments and classroom observations to identify a learning environment that would best suit her. Dunblaine was at the top of the list.Our journey to Dunblaine was serendipitous… Toward the end of her senior kindergarten year (at another school), we realized her learning style was different. With the help of therapists and an educational consultant, we conducted assessments and classroom observations to identify a learning environment that would best suit her. Dunblaine was at the top of the list.
The level of instruction, the classroom structure, and the teacher’s approach made her feel comfortable and connected immediately. The decision was easy, and within a couple of weeks, she transitioned to Dunblaine.
She is calmer, more well-adjusted, and generally happier. She often says, verbatim, that Dunblaine is better than her former school because she has friends and teachers who understand her. She appreciates the small, focused teaching strategy that treats each child as an individual while also integrating them into the broader school community.
The teachers at Dunblaine provide “holding” for students, support that scaffolds learning in a consistent, methodical way. Each child receives step-by-step guidance on how to achieve objectives, which allows them to apply these strategies across academics, social interactions, and life in general.
Celebrating each child’s uniqueness and supporting the whole child, not just academically, socially, or athletically, is central to Dunblaine’s philosophy.
The school fosters community throughout the year, celebrating holidays, holding graduation ceremonies, and creating opportunities for families to connect informally. Long-standing parents form friendships, and children engage in activities together, including camps. This combination of formal and informal community-building strengthens the school culture.
Being a special education teacher is challenging, and the staff brings that expertise to life in thoughtfully organized classrooms. From desk placement to curriculum sequencing and sensory tools, every detail is designed to support children with attentional challenges or learning differences. The school is specialized, well-executed, and deeply attentive to each student’s needs.
For families whose child is not thriving in a mainstream environment, Dunblaine is ideal.
