Friday, July 03, 2009
WELCOME
The LEAD (Learning and Educating About Disabilities) Foundation was organized in 2002 by a handful of parents familiar with the frustrations and difficulties of putting students with learning disabilities and/or AD/HD through the public school system.

The Foundation supports and educates the entire Colorado Springs community on issues relating to learning disabilities and AD/HD by hosting free Community Forums to the public, often featuring nationally known speakers and experts on learning disabilities, sponsoring a Parent Support Group to parents in the junior high and elementary schools, funding scholarships to students with learning disabilities and providing a community Resource Center of materials on Learning Disabilities and AD/HD.

In addition, the Foundation supports the unique LEAD program in the Cheyenne Mountain School District in fulfilling their mission to educate others about learning disabilities. Started in 1997, The LEAD program has built a reputation throughout the nation, as an exemplary curriculum for "Learning and Educating about Disabilities".

Replication of programs similar to LEAD in other high schools, which teach students with learning disabilities the importance of self-knowledge and self-advocacy skills, is one of the primary goals of the LEAD Foundation.

Nebraska college receives grant to start program modeled after LEAD
  The Learning Center at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska was awarded a $6500.00 grant towards development of a project designed to help students with learning disabilities successfully transition into high school and college. The project is modeled after Cheyenne Mountain High School’s nationally recognized LEAD program. The Learning Centers main goal “is helping students increase their level of self-efficacy, the perception of their abilities,” said Debbie Forsehee-Sweeny in an article from the Union College website. “A good sense of self is crucial to academic success.” The Learning Center is collaborating with the Lincoln Public Schools and LEAD, as well as other agencies and organizations. The seven-month planning grant of $6500 comes from The Woods Charitable Fund, a private foundation that sponsors projects that directly impact the Lincoln community.

LEAD Program Director Receives American Star of Teaching Award
  CMHS principal Paul Martin, LEAD director Al Pocock, and Carolyn Snowbarger with the U.S. Department of EducationThe U.S. Department of Education’s Carolyn Snowbarger, traveled from Washington D.C. to Cheyenne Mountain High School to present the prestigious 2007 No Child Left Behind American Star of Teaching Award to LEAD founder and director, Al Pocock. The award was presented at an all school assembly on Tuesday, August 28. The selection process for the award begins with an elite field of over 4,000 candidates from across the country. The Department of Education recognizes and honors one teacher from each state and the District of Columbia based on the candidates innovative instructional strategies, improving student achievement, and making a difference in the lives of their students. Pocock, a long time special education teacher and department chair at Cheyenne Mountain High School, founded the innovative “Learning and Educating About Disabilities” program in 1997. LEAD is nationally recognized for teaching the skills of self-advocacy and the importance of self-knowledge to students with learning disabilities and AD/HD. The nomination for the award came from the parent of a former LEAD student who credits LEAD for her daughter’s success, both in high school and college. "The skills LEAD students have acquired have not only helped them in college, but are also helping them to be successful adults in the workplace", the nomination states. The award came as a complete surprise to Pocock, who suspected a mistake had been made when he was told to sit with District 12 administrators and dignitaries at the school assembly. Upon accepting the award, Pocock recognized and thanked the students at Cheyenne, who had the guts and courage enough to join LEAD.

Read more about LEAD
2009 LEAD Community Scholarship
  2009 LEAD Community Scholarship Winner - Austen Graham Over 50 outstanding applications from across the state were received for the 2009 LEAD Foundation's Community scholarship. Letters are on their way to all the applicants and a winner will be announced on this website shortly. Thank you to all those who applied. The LEAD Foundation Community Scholarship is a $1,000 award given to a Colorado resident, with an identified learning disability or AD/HD, who is pursuing a post-secondary degree. The Scholarship began three years ago after a LEAD student, seeking financial assistance, discovered that there are few scholarships that recognize the hard work of students with learning disabilities and AD/HD. The ideal candidate is one who has faced the challenges of having a learning disability and understands the importance of advocacy and self-knowledge in overcoming those challenges. Applications for the 2010 LEAD Foundation Community Scholarship may found on this website in the fall.
2008 Community Scholarship Winner Announced
  The Lead Foundation is pleased to announce Austen P Graham, from Fort Collins, Colorado, winner of the 2008 LEAD Foundation Community Scholarship. The selection panel received more then 50 excellent applications from across Colorado. In spite of struggles with dyslexia and speech, austin has maintained a 4.0 GPA at Fort Collins High School, is a member of the varsity basketball team and has spent more then 143 hours volunteering for nonprofit organizations. Austin plans to attend Colorado School of Mines where he will pursue a degree in engineering. In addition, seven honorary mentions were selected. more


Mailing list now online!
  Be notified of upcoming LEAD Foundation events and stay in contact with other LEAD members - subscribe to The LEAD Foundation's email and mailing list. This is the perfect way for you to stay abreast of presentations, events and anything in between. Plus our new mailing list is an ideal way for you to actively discuss a wide range of topics with others. more
This is the mission statement of the LEAD program at Cheyenne Mountain High School. Since 1997 the LEAD program has built a reputation, throughout the nation, as an exemplary curriculum for Learning and Educating About Disabilities. Through classroom interaction and training, the students involved in the LEAD Program have enabled themselves through education to advocate for rights available to individuals diagnosed with learning disabilities.

In addition, by virtue of formal presentations to peers, parents, school administrators, and national and international learning disability professional, the LEAD students have also educated hundreds of individuals about the hurdles learning disabilities place on education.

"We as students have adopted a mission to educate ourselves and others with respect to dealing with the social, academic and emotional aspect of learning disabilities." 


 

   LEAD our Kids Fund-Raising Event
Fall marks the beginning of school and preparations for the LEAD Our Kids celebration. For five years the LEAD Foundation’s fund-raiser has included hors d'oeuvres, wines and decorations from a featured country, a presentation by LEAD students, awards presentations and a silent and live auction. Auction items from past events have included a 5 night stay at an elite South African game preserve, select Bronco tickets, weekend getaways, gourmet dinners, golf at a variety of resorts, specialty parties, and cooking classes. It’s an evening filled with fun, good food and great friends. We invite you to be a part of this special evening. more
     
 
LEAD Foundation is an affiliated fund of the Pikes Peak Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity.
LEAD Foundation, 730 N. Nevada, Colorado Springs, CO 80903