For many years, Korynne struggled with depression and aggressive tendencies, which led to frequent inpatient stays. She felt isolated and lacked stability. Her schooling was inconsistent, constantly changing, and for nearly two years, she had no school to attend.
Then, a year ago late in September, Korynne, her mother and representatives from her East Troy school district toured Kradwell School, located on the campus of Aurora Psychiatric Hospital in Wauwatosa.
The private school serves just over 50 students in grades 8-12 who faced diverse challenges while in traditional educational settings. The Kradwell model allows students to thrive, while being themselves, in a personalized learning environment. The school's unique 6:1 student-to-teacher ratio ensures that every student's voice is heard, and they receive ample attention and personalized instruction in a safe, comfortable setting.
“When I first started at Kradwell, I attended for just one hour a day, beginning in Deb's class. I still vividly remember completing a math diagnostic on my first day. I was so proud of my results that I had Deb print them out for me to show my mom,” shared Korynne. “Over that trimester, my outlook began to change. I grew happier, started making friends, and felt a genuine sense of belonging for the first time in years. My smile returned, and I realized: this was my place. Kradwell had given me the stability and support I needed to thrive.”
Korynne is a senior planning to graduate next year. She was inspired to write this letter expressing her gratitude to Kradwell:
For years, I felt like I was drowning in my own mind. Depression wasn’t just a feeling – it was a weight that pressed down on me, making even the simplest things seem impossible. Most days, I felt invisible, even in rooms full of people. My thoughts told me I was different, broken in some fundamental way that made it impossible for anyone to truly understand me. I’d sit in class or at the lunch table, surrounded by noise and laughter, and still feel utterly alone. It was like there was a glass wall between me and the world, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t break through.
I started to believe that this was just how life was going to be: isolated, exhausting, and empty. Every day, I wore a mask – a version of myself that I thought people wanted to see. I kept my real feelings buried deep because I was terrified of being judged or pushed away even further. It was lonely and draining, pretending to be someone I wasn’t.
But then I found this place. At first, I didn’t think much of it—it was just a new environment, a change of scenery. But it didn’t take long to realize it was so much more than that. The students were different here. They didn’t just tolerate me; they saw me. They asked real questions, they listened, and they shared their own struggles in a way that made me feel less alone. I didn’t have to explain myself because they already understood.
The teachers were no different. They didn’t treat us like just another group of students passing through their lives. They cared – not in a superficial way, but deeply. They didn’t judge me for my bad days or the times I needed space. They celebrated my small victories as if they were their own and always made me feel like I belonged. For the first time in my life, I wasn’t afraid to be myself. I didn’t have to hide behind my mask anymore.
This place became my safe haven. It wasn’t just about the people, though they were a huge part of it. It was the atmosphere – the acceptance, the encouragement, the freedom to just be. For the first time, I felt like I could breathe. I could laugh, cry, or sit in silence, and no one would think less of me. I could be whoever I wanted to be, and that was enough. Here, I wasn’t "too much" or "not enough." I was just me. And for the first time, that felt like it was okay.
In the future, Korynne aspires to help others who face challenges similar to her own.
“I envision myself teaching and mentoring children and teenagers struggling with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. My goal is to guide them in finding their voices and empowering them to make a meaningful impact in the world. I believe that everyone has a place and that everyone deserves to be heard.”
How you can help
While some students are placed by a school district to Kradwell have their tuition paid by that district, families who enroll their children independently are responsible for an annual tuition that currently exceeds $18,000 per year.
“To help make Kradwell accessible to families for whom the cost may be prohibitive, the Aurora Kradwell School Classroom Fund was created to provide scholarship assistance,” says Judi Strout, Director of Development with the Aurora Health Care Foundation. “Without scholarship aid, many families cannot afford an education that provides their teen’s best chance at a brighter future.”
Learn how you can support Kradwell students like Korynne.