History
Founded in 1983 during a time of growing concern about our nation’s educational climate, Chartwell School was the vision of two educators seeking new and innovative ways of teaching children with learning differences. Judy Lewis, an experienced educator and private tutor, and Nicki McMahan, an independent school administrator with a masters degree in elementary education, had long observed engaged and determined children struggling in school.
For these students, reading was extremely difficult, despite adequate teaching and support. Nicki’s daughter, Michel, fit that description. At the time, Nicki remembers, “dyslexia was an unfamiliar word and concept, and remediation was unheard of.” She and Judy, who tutored Michel, began searching for better educational solutions.
In 1982, Judy attended a conference on highly structured teaching to address dyslexia and followed that with three weeks of intensive training at the Charles Armstrong School in Belmont, a school specializing in education to help students with learning differences. Judy and Nicki recruited one of the Charles Armstrong master teachers, Jeff Allyn, to offer a summer program for six students in Carmel Valley. Seeing its success, they decided to open an independent, nonprofit school for the Central Coast. With a small board, eight students, and two teachers, they started as the Thomas Allyn School in Seaside (named in memory of Jeff’s brother). From there, the school continued to grow and evolve as learning disabilities became more readily diagnosed and families sought specialized education for their children.
From humble beginnings in Carmel Valley to today’s Platinum LEED-certified campus on 60-acres in Seaside, Chartwell’s mission has remained true to its founders’ vision - to provide targeted and direct instruction to empower students with the skills, strategies, tools and social-emotional mindset they need to thrive in college and beyond.
Today, with enrollment at 200 students, Chartwell stands as one of the most respected learning institutions of its kind. It has helped – and in many cases, saved—hundreds of children. Chartwell students have rediscovered their strengths, their confidence, and themselves.
Chartwell's Beginnings: Co-Founder Nicki McMahan
Chartwell Milestones
1982 First summer school in Carmel Valley introduces new teaching methods for six students struggling in traditional classrooms
1983 Judy Lewis and Nicki McMahan open the Thomas Allyn School
1985 Enrollment grows to 32 students and campus moves to a rented space on Imperial Street, Seaside
1985 First Teacher Training course held, offering resources to broader teaching community
1985 After participating in the summer training program, Judy Gaughf joins Chartwell, beginning her nearly 30 year tenure
1986 School changes name to Chartwell School (see sidebar)
1987 Patti Kirshner and Jim Kirshner join Chartwell faculty
1998 Chartwell faculty begin leading free Community Information Workshops about dyslexia and related topics open to the public, outreach that continues today
2001 Board begins search for permanent campus and acquires former Fort Ord land
2001 Nora Lee named Head of School
2004 Chartwell receives a $4 million challenge grant, the largest in its history, for Phase I of the new campus
2005 Chartwell celebrates ground-breaking for new campus
2006 The new campus at 2511 Numa Watson Rd. opens and welcomes 124 students
2007 Chartwell receives Platinum LEED Certification from the U.S. Green Council for its environmentally sustainable campus
2009 The New High School Project opens with 15 students in grades 9 and 10
2010 The New High School Project adds grade 11
2011 U.S. Department of Education awards Chartwell an additional 29 acres of adjoining land for educational use
2012 The New High School Project graduates its first class of students
2017 Chartwell Teaching Institute relaunches with expanded curriculum and experiential practicum
2018 Chartwell partners with UCSF Dyslexia Center, a unique opportunity coupling the latest scientific discoveries in neuroscience with classroom-based intervention strategies
2019 170 teachers in the Hollister School District trained in structured literacy through CTI (over two-year period)
2020 Building 500 opens, expanding learning space for the High School and Chartwell Teaching Institute
2022 Danielle Patterson named Head of School
2023 Chartwell announces transformative gift of $45 million from the estate of Charles and Claire Jacobson
2023 Chartwell celebrates 40 years of excellence in teaching and learning
