EPS Academic Spotlight

A Transition Years in the Making 

When Sarah Ross and Amber Lindly sat down together in the Hearthwood Elementary library, they were eager to see De'Ontae again. It had been several months since they last saw him at Hollingsworth Academy, where his big emotions and behavioral challenges often interrupted his access to learning and ability to connect with peers.

Now eight years old and thriving in a general education classroom at Hearthwood, De'Ontae burst into the library with a huge smile, racing to greet his former teacher and principal.

The joy was immediate and unmistakable.

De'Ontae had a lot to say, a lot to ask, and a lot to be proud of. Sarah and Amber listened as he excitedly shared stories about school, friends, and classroom routines. For the Hollingsworth staff who had supported him through some difficult moments, the visit felt deeply meaningful.

They weren’t simply visiting a former student. They were witnessing a transition years in the making.

“I’m eight now,” De'Ontae proudly announced.

Noticing the two-way radios clipped to their sides, he immediately had another idea.

“Can I say hi to everyone back at Hollingsworth?”

Moments later, De'Ontae held the radio in his hands.

“Hi, this is De'Ontae,” he said. “I want to say hi to everyone.”

Silence.

Then a voice answered back:

“We’re so proud of you, De'Ontae.”

Today, De'Ontae is learning successfully in his general education classroom at Hearthwood Elementary — something that once felt uncertain.

Hollingsworth Academy is part of Evergreen Public Schools’ continuum of special education services, supporting students who need intensive behavioral, emotional, and instructional support in order to safely and successfully return to their neighborhood school setting. Staff work together to help students build the emotional, behavioral, and academic skills needed to succeed independently in school and in relationships.

For De'Ontae, that support came from a team of educators and specialists who invested deeply in his growth. Teachers, counselors, behavior specialists, administrators, and transition staff worked together consistently and patiently, helping him develop coping strategies, communication skills, and self-regulation techniques that would support him long after leaving Hollingsworth.

Growth like De'Ontae’s does not happen overnight.

Like many students navigating significant challenges, his journey has not been linear. Progress requires persistence, communication, trust, and strong relationships between schools, staff, and families. The goal at Hollingsworth is for each student to be ready to attend their comprehensive school. In fact, the focus is also on a student’s trajectory, ensuring they have skills and support throughout elementary, middle, and high school. The target is restoration in their home schools. 

At Hollingsworth, restorative practices and social-emotional learning are woven into daily routines, helping students learn not only academic skills, but also how to manage emotions, repair relationships, and advocate for themselves.

For the adults who supported De'Ontae, the goal was never simply a successful transition. It was helping a student rediscover that he belongs.

And at Hearthwood, that sense of belonging is easy to see.

When asked about his favorite part of school, De'Ontae answered quickly: recess. His favorite class? P.E.

But one of the first things he pointed out during the visit was the library reading pit where his special education teacher, Julia Apple, reads stories to the class.

“Ms. Apple read us books in there,” he said proudly.

De'Ontae also knows other students who sometimes struggle with behavior, and when asked what advice he would give them, he immediately began sharing coping strategies he has learned himself.

“What’s your favorite coping strategy, De'Ontae?” Sarah asked.

“Taking deep breaths,” he replied.

Then, after a brief pause, he added another one.

“I also use my words.”

Sometimes, he explained, he asks teachers, “Can I please walk outside the classroom?”

For De'Ontae, those small moments represent something much bigger: growth, confidence, and the ability to advocate for himself.

For the educators who helped support him along the way, they are reminders of what is possible when students are surrounded by patience, compassion, and people who never stop believing they belong.