Boxinett King did not find traditional schooling very rewarding. He felt the school he attended in Texas didn’t deal well with dyslexia and other challenges he faced, and passed him along to the next level whether he was ready or not.
     His 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Vance, took more interest. “She studied me and understood there was something wrong,” he told us. She recommended to the principal that Boxinett remain in her class so she could work more closely with him, but Box was promoted again. Mrs. Vance chose to tutor him on her own time. Still, even with her support, Box left school in the 8th grade.
     Inspired by the opportunities that San Francisco offers, Box left Texas and moved here. Because of his reading skill level, he realized “a lot of doors were shut, so I had to regroup and put my priorities in place.” He came to Project Read.
     “The first year or two was a challenge,” said Box, “but now things have started moving a little faster.” Box has enjoyed a rewarding relationship with his current tutor Prudy Kohler. “Prudy is very patient, very kind and understanding. She shows me things in another way if I don’t really grab it at first.”
    Box finds that honesty is one key to his success. “I found being more honest with people—telling them you don’t know is better than telling them you do know—so that leaves the door open for them to hire you.”
     In his current supervisorial job, he receives great support from his own supervisor. “She…gives me my freedom to learn. She reads with me, she goes over programs, details, work chemicals.” She also gives him good challenges and goals to work towards.
     He feels he’s made a major change in understanding what he’s doing and reading now. He states proudly that it’s all “coming together.”