School community unifies to help others

WASHINGTON — The Devereux Glenholme School, a coed therapeutic residential school in Washington for students 8-21 with social, emotional and learning challenges, has united behind the theme of #Devereux Strong” during the coronavirus pandemic. The call to action was sent out to students, families, staff, supporters and the community, exhorting them to take care of themselves. #Devereux Strong means the school community comes together even more than normal. #Devereux Strong has a lengthy tradition stemming from its founder Helena Devereux.

In 1912, Devereux was 27 and single. Women did not have the right to vote and were considered “old maids” if not married by the ripe old age of 27. She turned down a Director of Special Education position of $5000 — the equivalent of roughly $130,000 today — at a time when she was also supporting her brother Robert’s pursuit of a medical career as well as caring for her aging parents. She took all the money she had, plus borrowed a few dollars, to start her first school. Her peers dismissed her as a “starry-eyed female” and disregarded her vision as merely the whims of an unmarried school teacher.

It took guts, determination and blind faith to go against the status quo of the time, but she forged ahead with no guarantee of success; especially financially. Today, Devereux serves children, adolescents and adults in 12 states and provides professional internships and training.

School Director Noah Noyes, said, “If Helena was here today, I believe she would say, “COVID 19? We got this. It’s one more opportunity to serve.” Miss Devereux's legacy of courage, commitment, and service is a precursor to today’s teamwork.

To rise to the level of need for PPE, the Devereux Glenholme staff, families and friends are making masks to help those on campus remain safe. A target of 300 masks has been set. To help in the effort, contact Courtney Delaney, CDELANEY@devereux.org.