Memorialize or Honor a Loved One

Help us reach our goal by June 30th and memorialize or honor a loved one.

Your donation makes our unique education possible. Annual Giving
gifts help Brehm support a strong faculty, provide funds for student
programs, improve our campus, and purchase equipment to meet
our students educational and holistic challenges.

Hundreds of donations have been made by alumni, parents, grandparents, friends, corporations, and foundations totaling over $275,000 during the 09-10 Annual Giving Campaign.

With only days left for this years annual campaign, we are less than $25,000 from our goal of $300,000!

We are currently developing plans for a walking trail on our campus. We also have plans for the construction of a labyrinth garden for the benefit of our students.

If you would like to contribute toward the construction of one of these projects we would like to memorialize or honor a loved one in your family -- maybe a student, alumni, parent or grandparent -- by placing their name on a bronze dedication plaque at the project sites. Donations or pledges toward these projects or other designated or undesignated gifts made before June 30th will help us reach our 09-10 Annual Giving goal.

For more information, please contact Russell Williams (see below.) Please consider making a contribution to Brehm today!:

1. Via Credit Card online now (click the donate button to the right.)
2. Phone Russell Williams, Brehm Coordinator of Development, at (618) 457-0371 ext 1308 (or email rwilliams@brehm.org)
3. Send a check or credit card information via US Mail to: Russell Williams, Coordinator of Development, Brehm Preparatory School, 1245 E. Grand Avenue, Carbondale, IL 62901

Thank You!

Parent: Brehm School is a Life Changing Experience

Another Proud Brehm Parent talks about how Brehm helped her son, who has learning disabilities. Brehm is a unique family style boarding school for students with complex learning disabilities, grades 6 through 12. Brehm's teaching staff has an average of 12 years of experience — specifically teaching students with learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder.

Brehm students go on to college, find fulfilling careers and become successful entrepreneurs. Find out more at www.Brehm.org

Brehm Graduates Reflect and Give Thanks (2 of 3)

“I want to thank Dr. Collins and Donna Collins who gave me a great experience that will stay with me forever. I want to thank my dorm parents, Ingrid and Jason. You guys have done everything for me here, and I couldn’t ask for anything more. I want to thank the other dorm parents and the teachers here for everything you have done. Thank you to Chrissy Strusz for helping me out with everything. You’re the best advisor I could ask for. I want to thank the recreation staff for driving me and the rest of the students to all the places we needed to be…. A big thanks to the students, friends, and peers at Brehm; without you all, Brehm wouldn’t be the same. Thank you to Miki; you are the greatest thing that has happened to me. Lastly, I want to thank my parents and my brother, Warren. Without you guys, I wouldn’t even be at Brehm. I love you, Mom and Dad. Thank you.”

– Eli

“When I came from Nigeria, I did not know what to expect from the people I was going to meet. But since I have been here, this has been a home away from home. Though it has not been easy, especially this year, with the help of the great people here, I have being able to overcome all obstacles. I want to say thank you to all of the staff and teachers. I know there is nothing I can do to repay everything they’ve done for me. May God bless you richly. To my coach and teammates, I have had a wonderful two years with you, and I have learned a lot from you…. I say a special thanks to Mr. Charlie, Brian Taylor, Mrs. Sabina, Mr. and Mrs. Douglas, Amanda, and Dr. Collins for all their help and support. I will miss Brehm. I know I have to move on, but every place my foot has tread upon and every student and staff member here at Brehm will always be in my heart, most especially James. Thanks, Brehm, for the great opportunity to be a better student, a better man, and a better basketball player.

– Daniel

“I would like to thank Amanda for helping guide me though my first year. I wouldn’t know what to do without her coming into my life. Next, I would like to make a big shout out to Dr. Brian Brown for being there for me when I needed him. Thanks to Pam Altman for scheduling the recreation on the weekends and during the week. I appreciate Mark Denzer for taking me on the SOAR Trip while he was here. Brian Taylor was awesome for spending the extra time at Long Branch with me his first year. I would especially like to thank Theresa Miller for problem-solving with me during some rough times and John Barnes for the support you have given. Now, I want to shout out to the faculty, especially Chrissy Strusz. Chrissy has taught me a lot about life and how to manage it and teaching me how to use the computer and camera. Chrissy has been a big inspiration to me…. Charlie Travelstead, John Bertsch, Mike Hosmon, and Bud Childers have been giving me a lot of advice and support throughout my time here. Finally, I want to thank Barb Drew for all of the support and aid she has given. And to Mike Hanson for teaching me new strategies in math…. I will miss you all, and I hope for the best of luck in your future. Thank you.”

– Steven

“I’m an outsider by choice, but not truly. It’s the unpleasantness of the system that keeps me out. I’d rather be in a good system. And that’s exactly what I got here at Brehm. If it hadn’t been for newfound friends and a plethora of fabulous teachers, two great parents, and most of all, a very caring brother, I most likely wouldn’t be here today. As far as teachers go, I really want to thank three of them: Mrs. Suzy Lanning-Ventura, Mr. Richard Ventura, and Lance Williams. Those teachers are the ones who helped me through the hard times in school. The friends I want to thank, some of whom are up here with me today, are Neil, Eli, Hillary, Anna, and especially Dan. These guys saw me through the hard times and were always there to help. I can’t thank them enough. My mother and father have been the driving force behind my time here at Brehm. I’d also like to thank my dorm parents, Jason, Ingrid, and all of the dorm assistants for their patience with me. But most of all, I need to extend a thanks to my little brother, Austen…. Things have been looking up steadily for me. Next year, I’m headed to a transition program in Buffalo, New York. And from there, it’s on to one of the best schools in the country, RIT, where I hope to bring out the best of myself and really push myself to the limits of what I can do with my designs. But if it hadn’t been for Brehm, none of this would have happened. And so now, I’d like to thank each and every one of you for your time, caring, and kindness. Thank you.”

– Dylan

“I want to say thank you to Dr. Collins for letting me come to Brehm School and giving me a really great experience. I want to say thank you to Brad Sims for helping me out with everything. I want to say thank you to my dorm parents and staff, Jason, Ingrid, Kristen, Jay, and Ed. They helped us with everything. I want to say thank you to the recreation staff. I want to say thank you, teachers, for teaching me and helping me with my work. Thank you to Ellie . You are really my best friend ever. I want to say thank you to Mom and Dad for sending me to school. It was awesome. I love you, Mom and Dad.”

– Jonathan

“Before I came to Brehm Prep, I was just a basketball player. My old school didn’t really care about academics like Brehm does, and I really didn’t know how to study for a test or speak up to advocate for help. When I first came to Brehm, it was a big change in my life. I thought I was going to lose friends because I went to a different school. As my first year went by at Brehm, I started to make new friends, find ways to help myself study for tests, and also advocate for extra time on work or just ask for help with something I didn’t understand…. For my successful years at Brehm, I have to thank the teachers here who spent their free time to make sure I got the help that I needed. I’m so grateful to have teachers who care this much about their students and also our academics.”

– Bruce

“When I first came here in 2006, I was put in dorm 3 with Aaron Lee as my dorm parent. That year, I was scared of being away from home. I called home every night saying that I wanted to leave this place. But I continued coming back and continued to live my life as a Brehmie. The next year, I was put in dorm 2 and knew what to expect…. I want to thank everyone, students, staff, and teachers alike, for making my years here so meaningful. I also want to thank my family for helping me. Next year, I am going to come back to Carbondale to be a student in Brehm’s post-secondary program called OPTIONS.”

– Will

Graduates Reflect and Give Thanks (1 of 3)

“First, I’d like to thank my Mom, who has helped me to go on my college visits from spring break to summer. I would like to thank my aunts and uncles from California, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, and my grandparents from Eaton, Ohio and New Jersey for all of their support that they gave me all through the years that I’ve been at Brehm. And they are happy that I will be moving on to college in August…. I’d like to thank Barb Lawrence for helping me with time management, working independently, and working with me on paraphrasing. I’d like to thank to my friend, Steve, for giving me advice for what I missed in Literary Perspective Studies and for helping me to catch up.… I’d also like to thank Brad Siemer for being my basketball coach for the 2009-2010 basketball season. And he is one of the coolest teachers that I knew for 3 years…”

– Randy

“I have made a lot of progress during my five years at Brehm. I feel like I’m able to control the way I react to my emotions. I would like to thank all of my friends, especially Austen, Thomas, Casey, Bradley, and Nakita for helping me out. I also want to thank my parents, my teachers, and dorm parents for helping me reach my goals in life. I will miss everybody who has helped me along the way.”

– Amanda

“In any ordinary world, I can’t help but to stand beneath the dignity of others, be stranded in constant struggle within a competitive world, sweating in a sea of pride and glory, swimming to the unending finish line. Performing an act of selfishness through the lens of another human being, I don’t want this illusion of contradicting the truth behind my intent. It’s within this struggle that you can lose who you are. I want to see the outcome based upon the decisions I’ve built and the aftermath of the character I directed through the years I continued taking breaths. I want to be a leader, a helping hand for others, not to be recognized in selfishness but rather a different side that society hasn’t seen. This would have never happened for me if it wasn’t for Brehm. I used to be more than just difficult to my parents and others surrounding me, a hyperactive individual acting impulsively everywhere I went. I am so blessed to have gotten the opportunity to experience the journey that Brehm has given me. Through this experience I have learned to deal with my struggles appropriately and successfully using the tools and strategies that teachers and staffs have taught me. After long practices, I end up here on this stage. I want to show my deepest appreciation to Sara and her family, Sam and her family, and my past relationships because they have led me to be who I am — Brehm students, my teachers, and best of all, I want to thank my family for being there for me through everything.”

– Greg

“Over the last two years, I have met some great friends and created fun memories. When I think of Brehm, I think of the caring teachers. I have learned to recognize and deal with problems thanks to Marian, Mr. Siemer, and Ms. Hart. I feel Pam and Theresa are nice people to be around because they went out of their way to help me. Ms. Blessing has inspired me to enjoy math more. Lisa, Casey, Ellie, Jack, and Zane are important because they’re always there for me whenever I have a problem, and we have fun hanging out together. My parents were kind throughout the time I was at Brehm. I am excited to move on to the next step.”

– Alex

“When I first came to Brehm, I had difficulties with language, making friends, and with American culture. I met with the administrators and my advisor, Mr. Brad Sims. He gave me positive reinforcement to have the confidence to be successful in school and in life. I feel privileged to have had Brad Sims as my mentor and friend. I would like to thank the staff and teachers who supported me through my school years here at Brehm.”

– Rishi

“I started my long journey back in August 2004 in the 7th grade, and I am excited to be graduating. When I first started, the kids and staff where extremely nice to me, like these two students, Jos and Tim, who treated me as their younger brother…. Brehm has helped me in many ways. The biggest I’ve seen since I’ve been at Brehm is my ability to read. I’ve become more independent in many different areas like completing homework and doing basic chores. I have learned how to use my strengths of creativity and visual learning in basically everything I do. I have become more social and have a good group of friends. Thanks to my teachers for helping me become more independent and understanding when something did not make sense. Thanks to my dorm parents for helping me with every day living, like chores, homework, and so much more. To the recreation staff, thanks for making my weekdays and weekend recs fun and entertaining. I especially like the many trips I took to St. Louis. Thanks to my friends, Tim, Josh, Kole C., Parker, Noah, and Alex S. for accepting me as one of their friends and always letting the laughter flow each and every day. Thanks to my family for always being there and helping me when I needed the help the most. Mom, thanks for all those times you helped with my homework over the years and the meetings you’ve gone to. It helped me better myself in all those ways. Thanks, Dad, for helping me improve my reading skills, my boy scout questions, and a lot more...”

– Kevin

“I transferred from a Christian Baptist school where I was really struggling to Brehm Preparatory School where my academic struggles ended. There is a lot of love on Brehm Campus. You may not feel it at times, but it is there. I thought there was a ton of love at my old Christian Baptist school, but now that I have been at Brehm for two years, I see that there is so much more love here. Well, high school is finally over. I would like to thank God, my parents, relatives, Sebina Geer, my advisor Ms. Keene, Pam Altman, and all of my teachers that I have had for two years at Brehm Preparatory School…. Now, it is time for me to go to college, Gardner Webb University, a Christian university located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. I know the things that I have learned throughout my high school years will help me in college.”

– Thomas

Brehm, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, is a unique family style boarding school that empowers students, grades 6 through 12, with complex learning disabilities to recognize and optimize their full potential. Brehm offers a unique holistic program that individually addresses each student’s academic, emotional, and social needs. Eighty-eight percent of Brehm graduates continue on to colleges, junior colleges, technical or vocational schools across the country.

Brehm has a rolling admission. Contact admissions today by calling (618) 457-0371 or email: admissionsinfo@brehm.org

Congratulations Brehm Class of 2010!

Proud parents, families, and friends celebrated
with our new graduates this past weekend!

The Class of 2010 has graduated and the Brehm campus becomes quiet until the fall......

or does it?

Although our newest graduates have left campus to use the skills and knowledge from their years of work at Brehm, our fiscal year continues until June 30th.

There is still time for you to honor this year's class of bright and talented graduates with a tax deductible gift to the 2009-2010 Brehm Annual Giving Campaign.With only 20 days left and $38,000 to go, we need your help to reach our 2009-2010 goal. There are 3 simple ways to make your tax deductible contribution or pledge:

1. Via Credit Card online now (click the donate button to the right)

2. Phone Russell Williams, Brehm Coordinator of Development, at (618) 457-0371 ext 1308 (or email rwilliams@brehm.org).

3. Send a check or credit card information via US Mail to: Russell Williams, Coordinator of Development, Brehm Preparatory School, 1245 E. Grand Avenue, Carbondale, IL 62901

Brehm Preparatory School Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit which empowers students with complex learning disabilities to recognize and achieve their full potential.

Brehm Business Club Goes on a Field Trip

Brehm School's FBLA club (Future Business Leaders of America) went on a field trip to "My Favorite Toys" in the Carbondale University Mall last week.

Fourteen FBLA students were met by Samuel and Suzanne Cox, the store’s owners. Samuel and Suzanne started the independent specialty toy store for children and adults almost five years ago. Between the two of them, they have 50+ years as educators and advocates for the development of children and adults with learning disabilities and attention deficit disorders (ADD).

Sam spoke to the group about how he and his wife started the business and what the day-to-day business responsibilities are like. Sam strongly suggested that before you decide to start a business, you should feel very passionate about it, save enough money, and always budget for slower periods of time (especially the first few months or years.) The students were very interested and asked some very impressive questions.

In between helping customers, Suzanne gave a fun demonstration of a couple of the unique toys they sell. The students definitely enjoyed themselves.

Thank you, Samuel and Suzanne, for this excellent opportunity for Brehm students to learn more about the business world.

Brehm School Alumni become business owners, teachers, college professors, entrepreneurs, nurses, reporters, I.T. specialists, graphic designers, social workers, sculptors, artists, brokers, and more. Eighty-eight percent of Brehm graduates continue on to colleges, junior colleges, technical schools, and vocational schools.

Read more about Brehm’s FBLA Club:

The Brehm Chapter of FBLA is Up and Running

Brehm Students Welcome New Student Organization