On Saturday, October 4th, Forman School welcomed families, educators, and community partners to campus for Telling Our Way: A Day of Film and Neurodivergent Celebration.

The event featured a special screening of Hopeville: How to Read the Reading Wars, directed by Litchfield resident Harvey Hubbell V. The documentary spotlights a public school in Waterbury, CT, and brings attention to the critical need for structured literacy for every student. 

Following the screening, Harvey led a dynamic panel discussion featuring Kristin Simmers, Director of Cognition and Learning at Forman; Jenai Fitzpatrick, Chief Cognition and Learning Officer at Forman; Dr. Mary Jean Tecce DeCarlo, Clinical Professor of Literacy Studies at Drexel University; Dr. Fumiko Hoeft, Campus Dean and Chief Administrative Officer at UConn Waterbury; MB Spencer, Assistant Head of School for Academic Programs at Woodlynde School; and Jake Sussman ’14, Forman alumnus and Founder of Superpower Mentors. 

Together, the panelists explored topics like structured literacy, the reading brain, and neurodiversity in education and offered valuable insight into how schools can best support neurodiverse learners using research-informed strategies.  

Attendees left the event with practical strategies, inspiring stories, and meaningful new connections. 

“The day embodied what we hoped for—an engaged community of learners, parents, and educators coming together in a beautiful setting to exchange ideas grounded in research and a deep respect for our learners,” shares Kristin Simmers, Director of Cognition and Learning. 

Forman was proud to host this powerful event and foster important dialogue around learning and literacy, as a school that has educated and empowered students who learn differently for nearly 100 years.