St. Francis School Faculty & Staff

Polly McLean

Dyslexia Specialist

I received my bachelor’s degree in Education at Southwest Texas, now Texas State University, and joined the staff of St. Francis School in the fall of 1997. I taught fourth grade for three years before starting our in-house tutoring program. Since then I have become a Certified Academic Language Therapist. I received my Academic Language Therapy training through the Scottish Rite Learning Center of Austin. I belong to the Academic Language Therapy Association and to the International Dyslexia Association.

I spend my days working one-on-one with students, or in small group settings. I am constantly impressed by my students’ drive for reading success. These are some of the hardest working and bravest kids I know. I have had the privilege of seeing many successes come out of the St. Francis tutoring program. One such student started as a struggling, dyslexic second grader, who was not able to read even the simplest words in Charlotte’s Web. By the middle of fifth grade, he was reading on an eighth grade level. To help bring about this life-altering achievement is truly what drives me to do what I do.

My daughter is also a part of the St. Francis family. She loves being a student at St. Francis and I know she is getting a wonderful education in a caring environment. I have found that St. Francis is truly a community where students, regardless of their initial level of academic success, will find a safe and nurturing environment that enables and encourages them to achieve their very best.