Local educator Mollie Kessler left legacy of putting children first

By Denise Dick

denise_dick@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Mollie Kessler, who died April 30 at 88, leaves a legacy of education in both the school she started and the hundreds of students who have learned there.

“What Mollie has done through the ACLD School is create a culture,” said Lydia Brown-Payton, the school’s director. “The kids come first.”

She believed in teaching children where they are — a novel concept at the time.

“Everything was very individualized,” said Erica Brown-Fire, the school’s administrator.

Kessler tried to find materials and methods to help each child learn, she said.

Kessler opened the All Children Learn Differently Learning Center in 1973. The Mollie Kessler School began in 1993 as a private school. It became a public charter school in 2002. The school became the ACLD School this year, losing the Kessler name, when it changed from a public charter to a private school.

ACLD Learning Center provides evaluation and treatment for adults and children with learning disabilities and difficulties.

Kessler earned a bachelor’s degree in science and a master’s in special education. Her daughter experienced difficulty in school, and that ignited her passion.

Brown-Fire said Kessler had a way of relating to and helping other parents. She knew their frustrations and wanted to help.

“Sometimes, when I’m talking to parents, I think, ‘What would Mollie do?’” she said.

Kessler suffered a stroke about 10 years ago but continued to visit the school annually.

She kept abreast of advancements and changes in education and continued to offer suggestions for books and materials that could help students.

To mark one of her recent visits, students made a purple blanket — Kessler’s favorite color — which she used on the bed at her home. In 2012, the students interviewed Kessler about her life and compiled the information and photographs into a book for her.

A copy of the book is in the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County. Another copy is kept at the school.

Both Brown-Payton and Brown-Fire, who are sisters, began working with Kessler and the school many years ago.

“I was 17 years old when I started volunteering,” Brown-Payton said.

When she met Kessler, she mentioned she was interested in special education. Kessler invited her to the school to work with the children.

“I learned so much more from working with the kids than from a classroom at the university,” Brown-Payton said.