Josh with students

Josh Clark

Head of Landmark School & Landmark Outreach

From the Desk of Josh Clark

Originally published in The Lantern

It was my seventh year as a leader of a school for students with dyslexia, my fifteenth year in education, and my thirty-sixth year as a dyslexic learner. I had given dozens of presentations around the globe about the challenges and opportunities associated with learning differently. I had engaged in hundreds of conversations with parents about their child’s recent diagnosis, using data, research, and my own experiences to assure them that though their path may diverge from others, their children would thrive.

All of this, and when the psychologist shared with my wife and I what we already knew— that our oldest child had dyslexia—I balled. I cried because I knew what was before him. I cried because the story I had written for him would change. I cried because of my own school scars. I cried because he was me. I cried because it was my fault.

When I talk with my children (my youngest child was diagnosed a few years later) about having dyslexia and (one of them) ADHD, I remind them that they have inherited my gifts. And there will be times in life when they come asking for the receipt. There will be periods when my gifts do not seem to fit and feel less like a present and more like a weight. Especially during their school-age years, they may want to exchange my contributions for the status quo. During these times, I remind them that this is perhaps the most challenging but also best part of my gifts. Having to work harder and differently than their peers may feel like an injustice now but with the right support (and privileges), attitude, and effort, it can pay dividends in the game of life.

While sometimes my own dyslexia does not feel like a gift, I do think that I live a life full of gifts because of it. 

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About Josh Clark

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Clark Family

The Family

Josh and his wife, Melanie, also an educator, have two children, Dalloway and Rigby. Before Landmark, the Clark family was living in Atlanta, Ga. They all enjoy running and Disney vacations.

Professional Career

Josh is a humanitarian. He champions the cause of neuro-diversity in education and promotes the science of reading as a vehicle for education reform and social good. He is Chair of the International Dyslexia Association and an Expert Contributor to the global nonprofit Made By Dyslexia and Microsoft Education. He also co-founded the Association of LD Schools (ALDS) and sits on their board, along with the board of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). Josh has presented about the importance of recognizing and supporting students with language-based learning disabilities (LBLD) all over the world. 

Josh is a life-long educator. He began his career in education at Lausanne Collegiate School, an International Baccalaureate World School in Memphis, Tenn., where he served as assistant head of the Middle School and a middle and high school English teacher for seven years. Josh served for twelve years as the head of two different schools that serve students with dyslexia, the Bodine School in Memphis, Tenn. and The Schenck School in Atlanta, Ga. Josh is currently the Head of Landmark School and Landmark Outreach.

Content From Josh

EdChat Podcast with Josh Clark

Podcast with Josh Clark focused on AI, education, and learning disabilities.

Listen

Dyslexia Webinar with Josh Clark

Webinar with Josh Clark focused on What You Need to Know About Dyslexia.

Watch

Fun Fact Josh British Baking Show

More Content with Josh

josh fun fact dyslexia

A Sit-Down With Josh

Rob Kahn, Landmark's Elementary•Middle School former head, had a sit-down with Josh. Here is what he learned.

Sit-Down With Josh

Students Interview Josh

Two Landmark students pepper Josh with some of their most pressing questions. Take a look at his answers.

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Dyslexia Guidebook

Dyslexia Guidebook

Take a look at the suite of articles explaining some basics of what dyslexia is—and is not, along with pieces about dyslexia at school, at home, and at work.

Dyslexia Guidebook