lisa idzikowski
Five years ago Lisa Idzikowski opened the doors of a Milwaukee SAGE school and walked into a place where she knew her 5-year-old daughter with special needs would get a quality education and personalized instruction.

"I looked at a number of schools for Tristin," Idzikowsi said. "I wasn't at Fairview for more than 10 minutes when I knew that this was where I wanted my daughter to be. I knew that this is where I wanted all three of my kids to go."

Lisa with Tristin (right) and Emma.

"Any parent who comes to the school would have the same reaction," she said.

Idzikowski was touched by what she saw going on inside the school and decided to get involved.

"I volunteered a lot in Tristin's first-grade classroom and I was so impressed. I saw how much personalized attention every child got. And everyone made me feel so comfortable. I was encouraged and welcomed to get involved," she said.

She was so moved she decided to leave the family business and become a teacher - at Fairview.

"I thought I could use my talents in the program. I just knew that I wanted a place here," said Idzikowski who is now in her third year of teaching at Fairview. "I am extremely satisfied."

Her daughter Tristin, 10, continues to thrive at the school and her daughter Emma, 5, has also joined the student body. Her son, Casey, 2, will attend Fairview, she said.