Making a Difference

Making a Difference

Donor Spotlight - BETSY GOLDSTEIN

It seems like a bit of luck and coincidence that Betsy Goldstein ended up at The Westview School. "It was one of those things where you are trying to figure out what you want to do when you grow up," teased Betsy. "I was looking for something, and lo and behold, in a little suburban newspaper, I saw an ad for a motor teacher." Betsy made the call and met Jane Stewart. It was surprising to Betsy that they didn't already know each other. "Jane was a neighbor of mine, and our boys were friends," said Betsy.

In the fall of 1983, Betsy joined Jane Stewart and the small team at The Westview School. She became the school's first motor teacher. In those early days, one teacher, an instructional assistant, and a speech therapist were dedicated to educating eleven Westview students in a small house in Spring Branch.

By 1986, Westview had grown into a larger school on Shadyvilla Drive with twenty students and ten staff Now, Betsy was not only teaching motor skills but taking on the responsibilities of Assistant Director of Westview

Betsy recalls how special of a time these years at Westview were. "In the beginning, we were so small. I don't know how to describe it," said Betsy. "We would do crazy things like cut up a watermelon, take kids outside, and say, let's figure this out." Betsy spoke of her early motor classes, "I worked a lot on balance and muscle strengthening. A couple of kids took their first steps at school; that was pretty exciting for me."

Over the next 10 years, Westview continued to grow, and, as the school history tells, the school outgrew all current spaces.

"We just continued to grow," said Betsy. "Each step of the way, we just thought, 'Wow, can we really handle this?'" In 1996, Westview launched a capital campaign to build a new school. Betsy and her husband, Ed, made generous contributions to the capital campaign. In the 1998 school year, Westview moved into the current campus on Kersten Drive

"We had no idea what we were building," said Betsy. "When we first started, we didn't even know what autism was. Westview just evolved into this school for kids with autism," said Betsy. "Who could have predicted it would have come to what it is now? It is such a unique and professional school, and seeing all that happen has been so exciting."

In 2006, Jane and Joel Stewart invited Betsy to join the Westview Board of Directors. Betsy served on the Board for 10 years, providing thoughtful guidance through some of the school's most formidable decisions.

Betsy retired from the Board in the fall of 2016 but continued to volunteer at Westview by helping our teachers and staff with student assessments. Betsy and her family have always been extremely generous to The Westview School.

You won't find a better place [than Westview] for a child with autism. Westview gives these kids a way to belong, and as difficult as it can be to navigate the world, Westview really gives them the tools they need. And, you need to start them young. Don't wait. You know, when something is going on, deal with it. Autism does not go away.

Betsy urges parents, "You need to start [children] young. Don't wait. As a parent, you know when something is going on with your child. Deal with it. Autism does not go away." Betsy also realizes that a specialized education can be expensive. "People need to know that there is scholarship money," said Betsy. Since 2006, Betsy's family foundation, named in honor of her mother, Mrs. Pauline Altman, has benefitted countless Westview families with contributions to The Westview School Scholarship Fund

Through more than 40 years of service to The Westview School, Betsy has played an influential role in the growth, progress, and legacy of The Westview School. Teacher, Leader, Incredible Advocate, Innovator, Mentor, Board Member, Donor, and most importantly, Friend.