SISTER RUTH ANN PROGRAM (Special Education)

8250 Varnavas Drive
Cordova, TN 38016
Director: Mrs. Michele Cervetti Spears
(901) 756-1213

The Sister Ruth Ann Program is a pilot program designed to offer another Catholic school alternative for families of students with special educational needs such as mild retardation and Downs Syndrome. The class is located on the campus of St. Benedict at Auburndale High School. The program is administered by George Valadie, President of St. Benedict at Auburndale.

This program offers a transitional high school experience for exceptional children.

The purpose of the program is to not only meet the educational needs, but also the pre-vocational social needs of these students in daily interaction with traditional high school students. The program will transition these students from a focused environment to a diverse one with daily religious education and experiences that are faith-based.

Students in the program spend the day learning in their own classroom and attending classes with traditional students at SBA. They have gym class, computer, Spanish, and other classes at the SBA campus. Teacher/Director of the program is Michele Cervetti Spears. Senior students from SBA help out with getting the students where they need to be during the day.

Sister Ruth Ann Schmitt was a Benedictine sister who co-founded the current Madonna Learning Center in Germantown. She passed away in 1995. The program is appropriately named for her; as her long-time vision and dying wish was the establishment of a place for high school kids with special needs.

"Sr. Ruth Ann was a great teacher and I miss her a lot, but I'm glad I get to go to SRA now." (Kenny, student)

"I like my new teacher and my new school!" (Kendra, student)

"I can't wait to go to games at St. Benedict with my new friends there!" (Amanda, student)