Conceived almost a decade ago, the Lee Pesky Learning Center in Boise has grown in ways even Wendy and Alan Pesky couldn't have imagined when they established the center in honor of their late son.
Two new centers opened in the past year, and the center has a new executive director in longtime educator and school administrator David Holmes.
The Peskys, who are New York and Sun Valley residents, have put their hearts and souls into the work the center does and its ongoing fund-raising efforts. Annually, the center hosts a popular scavenger hunt in Ketchum that is unlike any other benefit. In addition, the organization published an early literacy book for parents called "Every Child Ready to Read," which the Idaho Legislature has supported by funding a drive to get it into the hands of every new mother born in Idaho. When former Executive Director Hildegarde Ayer announced she was stepping down, the Peskys fortuitously met a friend of a friend in New York City, had lunch and proposed he take the job.
"They were searching for a new director at a time when the center was involved in the two new locations, Albertson College (in Caldwell) and the Wood River Valley," Holmes said. To the Peskys, he looked like the perfect candidate.
Holmes worked with the Vermont-based Foundation for Excellent Schools, and then, when he moved to Hailey in 2004, with the Sun Valley Leadership Institute.
Holmes was the head of Suffield Academy in Connecticut for 15 years. Previously, he served as admissions director at University of Vermont in Burlington.
"I went from giving money to begging for it," he said. "The Pesky Center is expanding the scope of what we're doing, (but) you need partners, clients, dollars. Nothing is inevitable in a nonprofit organization."
The 10th anniversary of the center is approaching next year. It employs 19 full-time staff members and roughly 11 part-time workers.
"We have a substantial presence," said Holmes, who commutes between the center's three bases of operation. The Caldwell branch and the Janet Shafran Wood River branch offer evaluations and remediation with clinicians from Boise.
"A steady stream of people from the Wood River Valley was making the trek to Boise. It's a long haul, especially for children," Holmes said. "All the communities need the services we provide. Learning disabilities are a little like alcoholism in that it touches every member of the family. All the pain young people and families have endured for so long—it's not their fault. There's been a revolution in the last 10 to 15 years. Awareness has grown as the stigma has diminished. It's a great story nationally," Holmes said.
Whether a client is an adult whose learning disability was never diagnosed or a child who is struggling in school, the Learning Center is "here to help, and we're accessible." Holmes said.
"People can be very bright and learn coping mechanisms, but some people really hold back totally unnecessarily. It's still a big challenge to get connected to the children and families who need help. The center is also working with the Legislature on statewide literacy. We'll train people who'll train new mothers in hospitals, new mom's classes and Head Start. And we'll have a Spanish version of 'Every Child Learn to Read.' Early education is a hot button issue," he said.
"We're partnering with Taft Elementary School in Boise, and it's done remarkably. The test scores are up. Parents are committed. We're doing work with Woodside Elementary School in reading. Gary St. John, the principal, designed it for the many kinds of kids who come from different levels. He's a wonderful educator. We're working on the Spanish language element at the Janet Shafran Campus. We have a translator now. That's a modest step we're taking. As we stretch our wings, we can't do much without it in Caldwell and Blaine County I'm looking for outside funding, grants and donations."
The more you're in the business of children, you know how important the foundation (of literacy) is from day one. It's the secret to life success."
David Holmes
