I am beyond impressed with this school and staff! They truly understand my son and he is finally attending school again and thriving!!! We are new and change can be super hard. My son also had a super traumatic experience with a school resource officer in a local public school two years ago and has been terrified of school ever since. He started the Gem Center and has made it 17 days!! I really can’t remember the last time he went to school this many days in a month- since the traumatic incident. He feels safe and comfortable. So do I. It’s great to ask him about his day and hear fine or good. He comes out smiling..he goes to bed without major anxiety about school the next day. This school has been life changing for both my son and myself!!! Thanks Laura and the team!

Its hard to put into words what the GEM Center has meant for my daughter and our family. My daughter was in a deep depression, we had dealt with years of school refusal and she was very far behind. We had come from a school with good intentions but their program just couldnt reach her. The deeply individualized approach at GEM has given my daughter back her confidence and love of learning. The teachers there clearly care about the kids. She tells me all about the interactions she has every day and Im so impressed with how they both support and push her to be her best self - whatever that looks like from day to day. The staff communicate with us regularly and we often work closely with them to think about what next steps to take for her. I feel that we are able to have a nice home to school continuity that way. I have so much gratitude for the time we get to be at GEM. Thank you so much to all who work hard to make this a safe place for all children to learn, even if theyve struggled deeply before.

I am the parent of a child at the GEM Center. The school district failed my child, causing him to fall apart in every way imaginable. The GEM Center has given me my sweet child back. This program is run by highly qualified, caring, wonderful people. I will be forever grateful.

Too many schools are failing to meet the needs of their students who have autism. As the founder and executive director, Laura Gehrke is committed to creating a school that not only meets the basic needs of these children but that also gives them the chance to thrive. The Gem Center offers multi-sensory, hands-on, and personalized learning. Kids learn valuable skills from field trips, a makerspace, and farm animals. Laura is committed to empowering her students, so they can achieve independence and be successful in every aspect of their lives.

It is good