Executive Director’s Letter
I spent most of my career as a speech pathologist. I saw how children struggling with disabilities blossomed and made great strides forward with 1:1 therapy. It was a long held dream of mine to open a school for neurodiverse children based on the principles of small class size, 1:1 instruction and a flexible classroom atmosphere.
In 2008, my world shattered when I lost my beloved husband, Marc. In the midst of grief, I found a new purpose—turning pain into something meaningful. Inspired by his memory and my lifelong dream, I channeled my heart into creating a place where children with special needs could flourish. In 2009, that dream became reality with the founding of MDE School, a tribute to Marc and a beacon of hope for so many families.
The letters MDE are not only my late husband’s initials. Marc David Elkan, but also a mnemonic device for character qualities he exemplified throughout his life. These are the traits I wanted my staff and students to embrace – Motivation, Dedication, and Excellence.
I founded MDE School on the following educational principles. Children learn best when they are in a small class. That is why MDE School offers a small student-to-teacher ratio. I have found over the years that this is the ideal construct. A small student-to-teacher ratio allows our students to interact, practice social skills, and learn to cooperate with one another while doing group activities. It also allows our teachers the bandwidth to work 1:1 with each student on their academics.
At MDE School, we also embrace a flexible classroom environment that allows our students to learn the way each of them learns best. We tap into their individual strengths to help them achieve their academic goals.
Our goal is to empower our students to reach their highest level of independence. Over the years, we’ve celebrated countless success stories—watching students grow, gain confidence, and transition to schools with less support. At the same time, many students remained with us throughout their school years and are now stepping into young adulthood. Our commitment to them doesn’t stop here—we are dedicated to continuing our support as they embrace this next chapter of life.
That’s why we expanded in 2021 and opened MDE Vocational Academy on our same campus. Here we continue to help our students aged 16 +set goals and reach their full potential. We focus on teaching them the life and vocational skills they will need as they enter early adulthood.
In 2024, we took another exciting step forward by launching an inclusive preschool program designed for both neurodiverse and neurotypical learners aged 2 to 5. With limited preschool options tailored to neurodiverse children, families eagerly embraced our program, filling our classrooms as soon as we opened. Our youngest learners thrive in an environment built on the same core values that MDE was founded on—small class sizes, personalized support, and a flexible, nurturing atmosphere that fosters growth and confidence.
What’s next for MDE School? I am full of ideas on how to continue to expand to meet the needs of our students. MDE School is my passion, and the students are my heart.
Mindy Elkan
Executive Director, MDE School
