Jim & Mary Helen Thorne Memorial Scholarship

Catherine Thorne is organizing this fundraiser.

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Our parents, Jim and Mary Helen Thorne committed their lives to advocating for all students. As first-generation college graduates, they both achieved undergraduate and graduate degrees in Education. They loved Texas State University (aka Southwest Texas State College) and received their first degrees from there in 1962.

On November 29, 1975, President Gerald Ford signed into law the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA). The EHA guaranteed a free, appropriate public education, to each child with a disability in every state across the country. It requires public schools to provide services for all children with disabilities between ages 3 and 21.

The most common learning disabilities: dyslexia, ADHD, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and dyspraxia, were to be the focus. Each of these conditions presented with a range of symptoms and could be diagnosed with several educational assessments. Students who had physical needs that required extra physical attention were also included.

There were now specialized teachers needed in the public schools and Mom and Dad immediately signed up to become certified as Special Education teachers. Our parents both learned to evaluate students with these educational assessments and prepare plans for them to succeed. Mom had already taught kindergarten for almost 10+ years at this point. Dad had worked with fifth graders and coached at a junior high.

In 1976, the decision by both of our parents to work with students who disrupted classroom time, needed specialized instruction methods and techniques, and required constant evaluation with regular teachers and parents, was not always met with excitement. Allowing physically handicapped students, emotionally disturbed and learning disabled students into a regular public school was seen as a form of integration, and many other teachers and parents were not keen on the idea. Some students were deaf, some non-verbal, some could be violent and defiant. Some were in foster care, or had survived unspeakable traumas. So many kids needed attention that a regular classroom could not support. Mom and Dad loved these special kids!

Mom and Dad knew that all kids, no matter their intelligence level, cultural background or any other physical attributes, should have the same opportunities as students “performing” in regular classrooms. The paperwork, the meetings, the evaluations—they all took even more time and care to complete than in their previous roles.

The learning curve was steep. Each student in a special classroom might need a specific accommodation, or technique, or extra time to learn. The level of patience required to work in this environment was enormous. Little did they know that they had each found their calling.

Dad became a full-time educational diagnostician and part-time counselor for secondary special education students and Mom became a 2nd and 3rd grade special education teacher, diagnostician and Special Education Director.

They both worked in Texas public schools for 40+ years. San Marcos and Texas State University remained in their hearts and both are now buried in a beautiful in the San Marcos Cemetery overlooking the University.

We have pledged $10,000 to start an endowment in the names of our parents. Once the endowment balance is at $20,000, we will transfer its management directly to Texas State. We have currently collected an additional $500+ through various family members and friends to help seed this endowment.

Our wishes are that the money be used specifically for:

• First-generation college students who are,

• Economically disadvantaged, and

• Majoring in any program degree that focuses on Special Education, Social Work, Child Psychology or Early Childhood.

• Preference will be given to San Marcos High School, Alvin High School and Goldthwaite High School students. If no student from these high schools meets the qualifications, secondary preference will be given to high school students from Hays, Brazoria and Mills counties. If no students from these counties meet the qualifications, the scholarship may be awarded to any student from any Texas high school. Should there be no one that qualifies, we will open it up to ANY student from ANY state attending Texas State University.

We’d love your help honoring our parents and their work. But more specifically, we want to recognize the future efforts of the exceptional young adults who devote themselves to taking care of students who need a little time and love.

Debbie and Catherine Thorne