As I am writing this, my daughter is 12. It’s been a lot of years since she graduated from My Special School but the early influence and encouragement to be compassionate, accountable, curious and a good friend has paid off in so many ways. Today Seana is a good student in 7th grade and tries very hard to be on time with her school work and takes it very seriously. She has developed healthy relationships with a core group of friends so year in and year out, her friends are kids I know and like plus they share interests honed over years of knowing each other.

While Seana still has dreams of becoming a veterinarian, this last summer she did an internship at a private summer camp which has a preschool component. She spent the entire summer working with kids under 5 years old and loved every minute of it. At the end of summer she was sad not because summer was ending but because she would miss her “students”. I think we have a budding preschool teacher in our midst instead of a vet. What better way to honor your first teacher than to become one yourself?

We attribute much of who Seana is today to Alice and her way of making each child feel special while fostering an expectation of adventure and natural learning. Thanks Alice for giving our daughter such a great start in life.

Sharon Currie
December, 2012

“Austin is really my heart and joy and I am SO proud of him.  Austin is now 16 years old, a junior at Ashland High School in Ashland, Oregon, and having a good year, all As and Bs! He’s 6’3″ now and has a deep voice! He is into video gaming, board games, digital media of all kinds and hanging out with his friends. His future interests  are everything from video game designer (his childhood dream) to digital media for movies to physics or chemistry and the study of creating alternative energy sources to becoming a teacher.  Austin is thoughtful, kind, funny, and very affectionate.”

Linda Woods
December, 2012

You know how they say ‘It takes a village’? Well, raising me was no easy task. I grew up in Santa Barbara, under the watchful eye of my parents and Alice. I loved theater, dance, and music. In Junior High I developed a passion for science. I began working at the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum, where I stayed until I went off to college 🙂 In high school I danced with the Santa Barbara Jazz Dance Academy, sang with the Nightingales, and was the captain of my schools colorguard team. I graduated and went on to study biology at Cal Poly (SLO). After a fateful summer spent studying in San Diego I realized I wanted to change my major to Broadcast Journalism. Now I live in New York City and work as a reporter for a global news site called the ‘International Business Times.’ I also anchor a weekly online insurance program with ‘World Risk & Insurance News.’ Growing up is tough, and life can turn on a dime, but boy is it fun. I know for a fact I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for Alice Tropper, the woman who taught an unruly kid how to respect others, listen, and even eat a few healthy snacks 😉

Marisa Krystian, 26 yrs.
December, 2012

Hi Alice,

I am now 11 years old and I am doing great in school, I am a happy 6th grader at Washington Elementary. I am studying Math, Science and Social Studies. I am passionate about Ballet, and have been at the Goleta School of Ballet for six years. I have just started to learn Pointe. Next year I hope to go to Santa Barbara Junior High and will continue with my Ballet. I really loved being a part of your school and it is always really fun to go back and visit!

Izabell Allbrett
December, 2012

Danny Langhorne is 21 and is now in his senior year at Chapman University studying Journalism and Political Science. He has already written for several papers in Orange County, and Santa Barbara’s own Noozhawk. Danny plans to go to Graduate School in Arizona, and envisions becoming a political journalist! He is a very bright, composed, endearing young man — a real gentleman! I’m very proud of who he has become and where he is headed. He had a very vivid memory of our school tortoise, Yenta, which I gladly reunited him with after 16 years! It was wonderful to once again see that sweet boyish smile of Danny’s I remember so well.

August, 2011

Will is all grown up and 20 years young with a shining bright future studying Biochemistry and Genetics while on the debate team at Whitman College, then off to study abroad in Japan!

July, 2011