Changing Lives, Empowering Individuals, and Growing Communities
What does our organization do?
A Kid’s Choice Educational Services is a 501 (c) (3) literacy organization which
provides assessment and instruction for all ages in the area of specific learning
disabilities related to reading and language. A person with dyslexia processes
language differently, often resulting in difficulty with spelling, reading and writing.
Our mission is to grow the communities we serve by empowering and preparing
individuals with language based learning disabilities to realize full educational,
social and career potential. Our organization works directly with individuals and
schools to integrate evidence-based reading approaches. Through workshops,
coaching, and consultations with principals, teachers, parents and support staff, our
executive team designs programs that fit the needs of specific school communities.
This professional development utilizes a research based approach which aligns with
the findings of the National Reading Panel and current research in literacy
instruction. Additionally, providing math workshops for educators has proven to be
highly beneficial. Because the current math curriculum is so language heavy, it
becomes increasingly difficult for students with language-based disorders.
Utilization of a multi-sensory type of instruction across the curriculum helps
empower individuals with dyslexia and related learning difficulties. They learn to
read, write, spell, calculate, and explain with competence.
Why A Kid’s Choice?
Our learning plans include evidence-based programs such as the Wilson Reading
System, Landmark literacy strategies, countless effective strategies gleaned from
many decades of teaching, and/or a combination of all of the above. Currently, our
student to teacher ratio is 1:1 which research indicates is the most superior setting
for struggling young readers.
Our instructional center is the only one of its kind in Northwest Louisiana that offers
this unique combination of skills, expertise, and one-on- one educational setting.
Our Story:
Our story began with a philanthropic mother in Bossier City who was searching for
an answer to address her own child’s learning difficulties. She found the solution at
Landmark School in Boston. As her journey continued, she established A Kid’s
Choice Foundation and provided funding for groups of local educators to receive
highly specialized training. She also provided resources to jumpstart the
development of A Kid’s Choice Educational Services to help ensure that delivery of
services would continue.
“My son, J.T., was severely dyslexic. While he was
attending school in Bossier, I was told that he would never
graduate from Airline High School. I knew I had to do
something, so I left my home and the rest of my family in
Bossier to search for answers.
That journey led me to Landmark School in Boston,
Massachusetts. Landmark School is partnered with Harvard
University and has ties to Yale University. They specialize in
providing instruction for students with dyslexia and other
language-based disorders.
My precious boy went from not being able to write a
complete sentence to writing beautiful essays in just 2 years. I
knew I needed to share the skills and strategies that J.T. had
learned at Landmark with other children … especially the
children in my hometown of Shreveport/Bossier City. That
journey paved the way for A Kid’s Choice Educational Services
Foundation.”
Denise Bankston, Founder – A Kid’s Choice Foundation
Denise’s Foundation provides grants to launch the provision of these critical
educational services across the country. She also provides office space to A Kid’s
Choice Education Services, a non-profit education organization which was formed in
Shreveport to provide services to children throughout the Ark-La- Tex region.
Why is our work critically important to a community’s success?
Dyslexia is not related to low intelligence. Children and adults with dyslexia are
often highly creative. In fact, there is a strong link between dyslexia and
entrepreneurship. A study of U.S. entrepreneurs revealed that more than 35
percent were dyslexic.
It would surprise many to know that a large number of artists, thought leaders,
entrepreneurs, actors, musicians, writers and politicians are dyslexic. Well known
examples include: Steve Jobs, Whoopi Goldberg, Thomas Edison, John Lennon,
Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy, Beethoven, Albert Einstein, Picasso, Walt
Disney, Jay Leno, Tommy Hilfiger, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Lewis Carroll, and Alexander
Graham Bell.
Services to assist dyslexic students have a direct impact on a community’s
workforce development success and ultimately its overall economic growth.
What are examples of demonstrated regional results to date?
Here you would give brief examples of your existing impact, number served,
testimonials, recognition, etc.
Why is there an increasing demand for our student, teacher, parent
and workforce development services?
Dyslexia is more common that most people think and tends to run in families
because it is highly hereditary. One in five people have dyslexia, but many try to
hide it and go it alone without seeking education services that could help them
succeed.
A Kid’s Choice provides critical services in five key areas across our growing
region: Student Evaluation & Screening, Student Education Services, Public
Education & Advocacy, Teacher & Parent Training, and Pediatric Medicine
Partnerships for Early Identification. However, the foundation’s small staff has
been inundated with requests for service which can’t be met without additional
planning and resources.
How Can You Help?
The foundation is seeking seed money to move forward with strategic
organizational planning and fundraising campaign development necessary to enable
the non-profit organization to effectively meet increasing demands for services.
Fifteen donors at $1,000 each would provide the $15,000 needed to launch this
effort. This budget would provide for professional organizational planning and
fundraising consulting and management assistance, website design and
development, and the design and printing of branded organizational and campaign
materials.