By Jennifer Colosimo
For years, Lauren Norris prayed that someone would open the kind of school her oldest daughter, Emory, needed. Born with a rare genetic condition and several additional diagnoses, as Emory grew, the lack of educational opportunities for her in Coweta County became wildly apparent. Eventually, Lauren realized the answer to her prayers might be a calling of her own. In 2025, with her friend and fellow special needs mom Keri Bethea, she founded Lighthouse Special Education Academy in Newnan, creating the supportive, specialized learning environment they and many other families had long searched for.
What do you wish more people understood about special education?
Lauren Norris: There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Every child learns differently, and every family deserves the opportunity to choose the environment where their child can thrive. A diagnosis doesn’t determine a child’s potential. Our students may learn and communicate differently or reach milestones on a different timeline, but that doesn’t make those milestones any less meaningful. Success simply looks different for every child.
What makes Lighthouse different from other schools?
LN: We are housed within Interactiv Pediatric Therapy Center’s facility, so our students receive speech, occupational and physical therapy in a state-of-the-art therapy center during the school day instead of leaving campus for appointments. That means more time learning, less time traveling and a much more collaborative approach to helping each child succeed.
What unique opportunities have you created beyond the classroom?
LN: Each month, we host Community Days during which our students have packed food bags for Backpack Buddies, visited local nursing homes to spend time with residents and even enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of the Chick-fil-A Support Center. These days allow our students to serve others while showing our community that disability does not diminish purpose. They also help parents build relationships with other parents who truly understand their journey, and siblings form friendships with other children who know what it’s like to grow up alongside a brother or sister with special needs.
What are you most proud of?
LN: The biggest evidence of our impact isn’t found in enrollment numbers or statistics. It’s when one of our students takes their first independent steps because of the specialized therapies they’ve received. It’s when a student who has never spoken begins singing in the middle of the school day. It’s when we witness milestones that others may see as small, but to our families, are nothing short of miracles.
What is your favorite way to enjoy the neighborhood outside of the school?
LN: One of my favorite things about Newnan is how much it feels like home. We love spending time downtown—walking around the square, supporting local businesses and just enjoying the sense of community. What makes Newnan special isn’t just the places—it’s the people. This community has supported my family through some of our hardest seasons, and being able to give back through Lighthouse is one of the greatest privileges of my life.
