History, Mission and Philosophy
Our History
Established by educator Marion Kingsbury in 1938, Kingsbury is the oldest nonprofit educational organization to address the needs of children and adults with learning disabilities and differences in the Washington, D.C. area. Although Kingsbury has come a long way, from a small Washington apartment to a 57,000-square-foot building in the Carter Barron neighborhood on 14th Street, N.W., the Kingsbury vision for teaching students with learning difficulties has remained steadfast.
In September 1938, Marion Kingsbury founded The Remedial Education Center with two colleagues. Mrs. Kingsbury led the first tutor-training course that fall, and the center began tutoring children with reading difficulties. Early on, she recognized that "remedial" students were quite often as intelligent as their classmates, and she worked to educate parents and teachers about learning difficulties. In the late 1940s, Mrs. Kingsbury founded the National Association of Remedial Teachers to unite and educate teachers of students with learning difficulties. The center began offering diagnostic testing for children in the fall of 1946, utilizing the team approach that the center maintains today.
When Marion Kingsbury retired as director in 1964, the Board of Trustees voted to change the name of the organization from The Remedial Education Center to The Kingsbury Center in her honor.
Our Mission
Kingsbury actively engages in research and practice to create leading-edge education and assessment of individuals with learning differences. Building on this foundation, Kingsbury educates children and adults with learning disabilities in a supportive environment of personalized teaching and instructs educational professionals in pedagogical practices.
Philosophy
Kingsbury is the premier, independent, educational institution for K-12th grade, focusing on developing an individualized academic program where children progress through a curriculum of concepts and skills at their own pace. We believe that individuals with learning differences can be taught effectively only when instructional methods and curricula are tailored to each student's unique learning needs. Seventy years and thousands of students later, we still abide by this philosophy.
We utilize a variety of instructional techniques and methods, believing that no one system is ideal for every child. Study and organizational skills are embedded in the curriculum to promote self-reliance and future academic success. Students develop an internal sense of organization and motivation through choice-making, experiencing the results of hard work, and academic inquiry. Kingsbury's focus is on how each child can learn best, rather than on having the group "cover" a specific quantity of material. Consultation between classroom teachers, assistant teachers, and other specialists is continuous, so that each child's program can be modified to meet his or her specific needs.
Kingsbury is a haven for families searching for a place where their children will be understood, challenged to their potentials, and loved.
Head of School
Kingsbury believes that parent involvement is an essential part in ensuring that your child receives the support they need. We actively encourage parents to participate at Kingsbury, for we know that the best education includes parents and guardians.
As educators, we can do our jobs better when there is consistent communication between home and school. Parent participation enhances student life, builds a strong sense of community, and supports the students' educational experiences. Our commitment to you is that your child is a priority, we want to develop a relationship where we work together to help your child achieve success.