is the Head of School at The Highlands School, an independent K-8 school in Bel Air, Maryland, dedicated to educating students with learning differences and achievement gaps. Passionate about student success, Claudia has devoted her career to advocating for individualized learning approaches that empower students to gain confidence and achieve academic and social success. Under her leadership, The Highlands School continues to transform lives through its specialized programs and commitment to educational excellence.
In this Q&A, Claudia discusses the school’s unique approach to learning, the importance of local education, and how The Highlands School prepares students for lifelong success.
What is The Highland School?
The Highlands School is a K-8 independent school in Bel Air, Maryland, serving students with learning differences and achievement gaps. Our mission is to instill hope and confidence in our students by providing a positive and nurturing environment. We focus on equipping students with strategies that help them recognize their strengths, overcome frustrations, and achieve both academic and social success.
What Sets Your Program Apart from Others?
At The Highlands School, we meet students where they are academically rather than where they are expected to be. Our unique method, The Highlands Way, takes a holistic approach to learning, ensuring students become confident and independent learners.
We utilize small homogeneous groups of just 3-4 students per teacher for Phonics, Math, and Comprehension, ensuring personalized attention. Our research-based pedagogy incorporates proven methods like Bowman’s Orton-Gillingham, Wilson, and Lindamood-Bell to enhance literacy and comprehension. Multi-sensory learning techniques engage students’ brains, improve focus, and deepen understanding, while project-based learning allows them to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios.
Our instruction is also data-driven, using continuous assessments—formative, summative, and in-house formal testing—to ensure measurable progress.
Beyond academics, our structured learning environment fosters the development of executive functioning skills such as organization and time management. Social coaching through the Responsive Classroom Approach strengthens community connections and builds lifelong social skills.
Why Is Local Education Important?
With discussions about downsizing the Department of Education gaining traction, all eyes are on local schools. We play a vital role in our community, transforming the lives of students and their families by providing specialized education that traditional school settings often cannot offer. The Highlands School ensures that every child, regardless of their learning differences, has access to the support they need to succeed.
How Do the Skills Students Learn at The Highlands School Help Them Later in Life?
The confidence our students gain at The Highlands School stays with them for life. The skills we equip them with continue to serve them in high school, college, and beyond. Our goal is to teach students how to learn so they become lifelong learners.
Is A Highlands School Education Accessible?
Yes! We are committed to making our specialized education accessible to as many families as possible. Over 60% of Highlands School families receive tuition assistance, and we recently reduced our K-2 tuition by $9,000 because we believe so strongly in early intervention. Thanks to our generous supporters, we offer a robust tuition assistance program.
When donors give to The Highlands School, they provide hope not just to a student but to an entire family. Parents often tell us that their family dynamic has been forever changed by their child’s increased academic and social confidence—less frustration, fewer homework battles, and more enjoyable family time.
Where Can Those Interested Go To Learn More?
They can visit our website at or call us at 410-836-1415 to request more information or to schedule a personalized tour of our campus.
