The extraordinary people and communities who say “yes” change everything for children with special needs and their families.

With Kate, that dream took a very different path. One that broke my heart and ultimately transformed the way I lead.

When my youngest son, Johnny, was born in 2015, his siblings Brendan, Liam, and Maggie were ages seven, five, and three, respectively. They instantly loved their baby brother.

Watching children encounter God’s grace so purely and joyfully affirmed that Catholic education is not simply about academics, but about nurturing faith and forming hearts.

While I am proud of what we’re doing at Christ the King, I am also looking ahead from the perspective of mother. The question of, “Will Keegan be able to attend Catholic high school?” is on my mind.

Through every high and every low, our approach at One Classroom remains the same; to serve all of God’s beautiful children with a spirit of unity, faith, and love to cultivate a Catholic culture of belonging.

One Classroom provides pathways for children with IDD in the Archdiocese of St. Louis to attain a Catholic education alongside their neurotypical peers.

Then Chris Armitage and his parents arrived on my doorstep at St. Mary’s. Like God was showing His mercy for that incident all those years ago and was giving me a second chance. I took it.

One Classroom helps every student—not just those with intellectual and development disabilities (IDD)—by promoting inclusive education within Catholic schools.

Any decision to implement inclusive education should be made from a place of “want to,” not “have to.” Our joy is contagious, and we’re keen on spreading it!

I loved Christopher from the beginning, but would the world love him and accept him like I do? This is all any mother wants for her child.

We quickly discover that embracing the full Body of Christ allows us to seek God more fully.