and we do things that are researched and proven to be effective, and they really work,” says Beacon’s provost, Dr. Shelly Chandler, who has been at the college for 17 years. “We use multimodule teaching so that the teacher is not just standing up there lecturing. They are going to have the students practice what they are learning by applying things, they are going to have them reflect upon it, and we know when you combine those three things of presenting the facts, applying the knowledge and reflecting upon it, that the students are going to get a much better understanding of it and it leads to better critical thinking.” She specifically touts the success of Beacon’s mathematics lab. Dr. Rosalyn Johnson “About 32 percent of them have a really bad disability in math and it’s just the way that their brains are wired,” Shelly says. “We have a really good program that has a 97 percent success rate in math. We use artificial intelligence, a program called Alex and we have two full-time faculty
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members in the classroom at all times. Our students need extra help and it’s really one-on-one basically. They do really well with it here.” The college also has learning specialists to help students with academic mentoring. “They are real advocates for the students,” she adds. The school has generated buzz for its high student outcomes and competitive national rankings: 70 percent four-year graduation rate, 83 percent employment/ graduate school placement and its listing as the No. 1 college or university in the nation for students with learning disabilities by bestvalueschools.com and Peterson’s, a college guidebook. “We are happy how we’ve come out of nowhere with these rankings, but
Beacon began with one major in 1989. It now offers nine majors and 16 minors.
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we take these very seriously,” George says. “Remember, a vast majority of our students were told that they probably would never go to college.” Dr. Rosalyn Johnson, a 2009 Beacon alum, is one of those students. “Her parents were told she would never walk, never speak and be very limited as what she can do academically,” says George, who notes Rosalyn is Beacon’s first graduate to go on to earn a doctorate in counseling psychology. She is a coordinator of outpatient therapeutic services/clinical supervisor in Miami. “I believe that without Beacon I wouldn’t have been as aware of my strengths and weaknesses in regard to my learning disability,” Rosalyn states in Beacon’s 30th anniversary book, “Beacon College: The Unique History of a Singular Institution.”
“BEACON HELPED ME TO USE MY LEARNING DISABILITY TO MY ADVANTAGE, RATHER THAN SEEING IT AS A BARRIER OR USING IT AS A CRUTCH.” — D R . R O S A LY N J O H N S O N , B E A C O N COLLEGE GRADUATE
Six in 10 Beacon students has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), while a smaller percentage deals with dyslexia.
Students struggling at a traditional school must be tested by a licensed psychologist in order to get a diagnosis of learning differences or attention issues. Students in K 12 sometimes can be tested by their school system.
succeeding in today’s business world is becoming increasingly difficult. Having superior office technology and a network setup are instrumental in helping companies meet their goals. That’s why businesses throughout Lake, Sumter, Citrus, and Marion counties rely on Business Techs for all their office technology needs. Based in Leesburg, Business Techs sells and services top-of-the-line copiers, fax machines, and network laser printers manufactured by Sharp, HP, and Brother. The family-owned company of 14 employees has thrived in the area for nearly three decades because of its reputation for providing clients with high-quality products, competitive pricing, and impeccable service.
Stellar customer service is our priority. “All of us at Business Techs know that the No. 1 thing is that the customer wants us back,” says Beau Franklin, company president. “Adam Thomas started last year in dispatch, followed by deliveries, and now he’s a technician. When Adam was training a new employee in dispatch he said: ‘Show up
AT BUSINESS TECHS, WE BELIEVE IN HARD WORK, DOING THE RIGHT THING, AND BENDING OVER BACKWARD FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. WE STRIVE FOR ZERO COMPLAINTS. WHEN WE DO RECEIVE ONE IT IS RARE AND DEALT WITH IMMEDIATELY. — BEAU FRANKLIN
L-R: Adam Thomas, Terry Williams, Kyle Beers, Jacob Franklin
every day. Don’t be late, and don’t be an A-hole!’ I told Adam there are companies that have 20-page manuals for training, and you said it best in one sentence.”
The following represents one of Beau’s favorite philosophies: There are two days every week about which we should be kept free from fear and apprehension. One of those days is yesterday with its mistakes and care, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed; we cannot erase a single word we said. Yesterday is gone. The other day we should not worry about is tomorrow with its possible adversities; its burdens, its large promise
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