Maegan Cahoon was planning for a job with a financial firm when all her children reached school age.
Her son’s autism diagnosis in 2018 changed her world.
Cahoon founded the Maverick Learning Center, named for her youngest son, in September 2022. The specialized school in Virginia Beach is for students diagnosed with autism and it started with four children. Today, the nonprofit enrolls 24, spread throughout grades 1-8.
A Back 2 School Bash at 2 p.m., Saturday at Afterglow Brewing in Norfolk will feature live music and entertainment, the Mockingbird Pasta food truck, raffles and a petting zoo with proceeds going toward supplies for students.
Maverick Cahoon started in Virginia Beach City Public Schools with a special education plan but did not transition well to online learning during the pandemic. Maverick fell between the lower and the high ends of the spectrum, known as Autism Level 2; the diagnosis is characterized by significant issues with repetitive behavior and restricted interests and requires substantial support.
Programs for Level I Autism 1, autism’s mildest form, and Level 3, its most severe, exist at Chesapeake Bay Academy and Plan Bee Academy.
“There were no programs for the in between,” Cahoon said. “My husband and I are both locals, and we said, ‘I guess we could sit around and hope someone starts a school.’”
Or, they could do it themselves, initially self-funding it with a loan.
Cahoon sought out special education teachers, parents, therapists, administrators and contacts at autism groups and listened to their input.
“We found out what parents wanted. We found out what teachers wanted,” Cahoon said. “We wanted to build something that made everyone happy.”
The Maverick Learning Center offers a 6-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Classrooms are sensory-friendly with LED lighting on dimmers. Rocking chairs and wiggle seats encourage freedom of movement. Licensed special educators foster nontraditional classrooms. Pacing is adjusted to attention span. Every educator has a connection to autism, whether it’s having an autistic child, relative or friend.
“The school has been a godsend. It totally changed our lives,” said Erica Moore, whose son, Hunter, is a student.
Diagnosed at age 4, Hunter attended public school for pre-K and kindergarten, with some one-on-one time with a special education teacher. Hunter’s transition to first grade was a struggle once he lost that time with the special education teacher.
“He just needed more attention,” Moore said. He was never aggressive, but behavior problems mounted, including pulling the fire alarm more than once.
Hunter started at Maverick in April. His mother sees a huge change.
“He’s communicating. He’s expressing his needs,” she said. “We were so lost where we were before. Since joining Maverick, there are other families that have the same struggles as we do.”
Likewise, Alex Brown sees improved communication skills in her 13-year-old son, Kingston. He did well in public school during his elementary years but she knew he required more personalized attention when he advanced in grade.
“The biggest thing it changed for Kingston is his speech,” Brown said. “He’s made leaps and bounds on his communication skills and also his interpersonal skills with friends.”
Cahoon said that too often autistic children lose their self-esteem and confidence. Her son never lost it, she said.
“He’s grown immensely, socially, academically. We have the most confident group of kids here in the building because they haven’t lost that confidence. They haven’t been told, ‘Don’t flap your arms or make that noise.' It’s OK here.”
Tuition is $15,850. The center receives some grant funding and is the recent recipient of a three-year seed grant from the Hampton Roads Community Foundation for a language and literacy program.
A year ago, a fundraiser at Afterglow Brewery raised more than $6,000. Funds are needed for supplies, including Chromebooks. The center is outgrowing its space in Hilltop, and expansion to grades 9-12 is possible.
Cahoon has set the goal at $30,000 for Saturday’s event. She is hopeful of adding student tuition assistance and a dedicated teacher for art, music, physical education and STEM ( science, technology, engineering and math). Previous donations made the purchase of a 15-person school bus possible for off-site learning and community experiences.
“Any amount helps our kids at the end of the day,” she said. “It’s also a fun way for families to connect. It can be lonely being a parent of a child with special needs, so having other parents who understand what you’re going through is really important. That’s something parents have found here at the school.”
Visit Maverick Learning Center for more information.