Through a once-in-a-generation investment in North Carolina education by Marjorie and Hal Roberts, the new academy - set to open in Fall 2026 - will be the state's only university-based private school for children with dyslexia.
A new private school serving young children with dyslexia has been established on the campus of Elon University through the philanthropic vision of a Florida family that has witnessed the transformative power of a multisensory approach to reading education.
The Roberts Academy at Elon University, starting in Fall 2026, will be North Carolina’s only university-based private school for children with dyslexia, Elon leaders announced in a historic event attended by hundreds of people in the Great Hall of Sato Commons. It will serve as a statewide and national model for structured literacy education.
The school will initially welcome third and fourth grade students in a temporary location on West Trollinger Avenue in Elon, N.C., before expanding capacity to grades one through six in a state-of-the-art facility planned for East Haggard Avenue set to open in Fall 2028.
The school expects between 150 and 200 students each year once fully enrolled with no more than a dozen children per classroom. Teachers will use the Orton-Gillingham method of instruction, considered one of the most effective approaches to helping students develop strategies for overcoming their reading difficulties.
The Roberts Academy at Elon University will be a transitional school intended for two-to-three years of instruction before children return to their community schools equipped to succeed as future scholars, entrepreneurs and civic leaders.
“This is not just a gift to Elon. It is a gift to families, schools, and communities across North Carolina and beyond,” said Elon University President Connie Ledoux Book. “The Roberts Academy will serve as a lifeline for children with dyslexia — offering the tools, confidence, and encouragement they need to thrive.
“Families will gain resources and a strong, supportive community. At the same time, Elon will prepare a new generation of teachers equipped with evidence-based methods to reach every child — multiplying the impact far beyond the academy’s walls.”
This is not just a gift to Elon. It is a gift to families, schools, and communities across North Carolina and beyond. The Roberts Academy will serve as a lifeline for children with dyslexia — offering the tools, confidence, and encouragement they need to thrive.
– Elon University President Connie Ledoux Book
Made possible through the generosity of Hal and Marjorie Roberts of Lakeland, Florida, the Roberts Academy at Elon University will be the fourth private school established by the couple to assist children with dyslexia. Elon University will join Vanderbilt University, Mercer University, and Florida Southern College in a network of Roberts Academy programs committed to the advancement of education for children with dyslexia and related conditions.
In addition to the Roberts Academy at Elon University, the gift from the Roberts will establish the Roberts Center for Dyslexia and Engaged Learning within Elon’s Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education. The center will serve as a professional development and resource hub for educators and policymakers across the region in search of information on dyslexia, which affects an estimated 10-20% of the U.S. population.
The Roberts’ philanthropy was inspired by the journey of three grandchildren who learned differently and thrived when given access to the right environment and teaching methods. The academy will help fill a critical gap in services for North Carolina families, aligning with the state’s renewed focus on early literacy and reading proficiency.
“We’re very pleased that Elon shares our passion for creating a school for children with dyslexia in North Carolina,” said Hal Roberts. “Kids with dyslexia often have strengths that are extraordinary. They call it their ‘superpower.’ We’ve seen these schools change lives, and with Elon’s national reputation for teaching excellence, this partnership feels like the perfect next step in our journey.”
Administrators and classroom teachers at the school will be full-time employees of Elon University. Recruitment for those positions will begin in early 2026. Assistant Professor Alicia Tate in the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education will serve as interim director as the academy prepares to open.
Throughout her career, Tate has championed evidence-based structured literacy approaches, including Orton-Gillingham, providing professional development, coaching, and direct instruction to support students with disabilities in developing strong reading skills. She holds a Ph.D. in Specialized Education Services from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is a National Board Certified Teacher in Exceptional Needs.
“The Roberts Academy will become a living classroom for future educators. Through hands-on learning experiences, teacher candidates at Elon will gain deep expertise in structured literacy and the Orton–Gillingham approach, methods proven to transform the lives of students with dyslexia,” said Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education Dean Ann Bullock. “This work also meets an urgent statewide need by preparing teachers who are ready to identify reading challenges early and apply evidence-based interventions that help every child succeed.”
Applications for enrollment will be accepted starting in early 2026. More information, including an interest form for prospective families, can be found at www.elon.edu/robertsacademy.
Elon University is a nationally recognized leader in engaged, experiential learning that prepares graduates to be creative, resilient, ambitious and ethical citizens of our global culture. At Elon, more than 7,000 students learn through hands-on experiences and close working relationships with faculty and staff. More than 70 undergraduate majors are complemented by professional and graduate programs in law, business administration, business analytics, accounting, education, higher education, physician assistant studies and physical therapy.
Marjorie and Hal Roberts are passionate advocates for children and education whose generosity has created new opportunities for students with dyslexia to reach their full potential. Their vision for the Roberts Academy network began with a simple belief — that every child deserves to experience the confidence and joy that come from learning to read.
Through their leadership and philanthropy, the Roberts family has helped establish academies at Florida Southern College, Mercer University, Vanderbilt University, and now Elon University — each dedicated to transforming lives through evidence-based literacy instruction and compassionate teaching.
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