Golden Valley School for Neurodiverse Kids Finds Leader Among Clients

In the midst of the holiday season, students at the Franklin Center decorate gingerbread houses with a bit of help from their teacher.

“Did you have fun baking this?” said teacher Tina San Miguel to one of her students. “I love that we did this from scratch, right? Not a box kit.”

The Franklin Center offers classes to children and young adults on the autism spectrum or with similar neurodiversities.

And here, cooking courses are a high-demand elective.

“Culinary skills is probably a fan favorite for our entire high school and capstone population,” said Kim Snow, whose son Parker attends courses at Franklin Center. “It gives them a great sense of pride and joy to see their work come to life. It’s a very tangible skill of learning.”

Parker headed to the Franklin Center when his middle school environment at a public school became overwhelming and began to withdraw inward.

“Bringing him into an environment that has small classroom sizes, dimmable lights, less sensory, he just was able to grow in his confidence, and in his friendships, and in his skill,” Snow said. “So we’ve seen him blossom over the last eight years.”

The Franklin Center offers classes to children and young adults on the autism spectrum or with similar neurodiversities.

That positive experience made Snow, who spent much of her career working in the corporate world, want to get more involved at the school.

She joined the board, and when a leadership position opened up, she became the executive director.

Between her parenting experience and corporate background, it was a natural fit.

“From other parents’ perspective, I get a lot of credibility because I’m very empathetic to their journey,” Snow said.

It’s given her a unique perspective on the school’s work, and a drive to help every student find their best selves.

“And so I think that really is special — I know it’s been impactful for my family, both inside the building and in our community and in our home,” Snow said. “And we hear that story from a lot of parents. So that’s what makes it worth waking up and coming in, even on snowy days like today.”

Golden Valley