Why We Support CBA: The Fantl Family
“Ten fingers? Ten toes?” Those are the first questions many parents ask in the delivery room. The answers don’t change how you’ll raise your child, but they bring relief. You’re a parent now—your job is to make sure your child is healthy, safe, and thriving.
But then comes a question that really can shape your child’s future: “Has Owen ever been tested for ADHD or dyslexia?”
It was the end of second grade, just days before the onset of COVID. Owen’s teacher told us that he struggled to sit still and stay focused, and she recommended an evaluation. We were stunned. Did she have the right child? The boy we saw at home was a laser-focused Lego contractor.
He played violin in the school orchestra and Gaston in our community theater’s production of The Little Mermaid. He conducted science experiments in the kitchen and built complex inventions out of cardboard and spare parts from our garage. He even idolized Thomas Edison!
Still, we kept an open mind and scheduled the evaluation. For the first time, we were faced with something we hadn’t planned for—something that could affect Owen’s learning, confidence, and, most importantly, his happiness.
With an official diagnosis, we leaned on the public school system. We were grateful for caring teachers and a well-crafted IEP, but Owen still came home exhausted from navigating noisy hallways and being pulled in and out of classrooms for support. “What’s wrong?” we would ask, hoping he could articulate the missing piece we hadn’t figured out yet. Several teachers quietly admitted they wished they could do more. And like Owen, we were tired, frustrated, and disheartened.
We knew we had to do better. And we did. From the moment we stepped onto the CBA campus, we knew it was different. This was a school that valued not only education but the individual. Small classes. Teachers who embraced challenges rather than avoided them. A culture built to unlock potential—not just raise test scores. At last, we’d found the missing piece: a school that understood Owen’s learning differences and celebrated his strengths. Most importantly, Owen was happy.
Since joining CBA, Owen has thrived. He was elected Lower School President his first year, cohosted the spring concert, had artwork chosen for display at MOCA and won a Science Academic Award. Perhaps, most meaningful of all, he has made real friendships and comes home with a glint in his eye.
So now, instead of asking “What’s wrong?” we ask, “What’s next?”