Sue Denman has taught at Margaret K. Lewis School for six years. She says there's nothing more rewarding then helping these students accomplish their goals.

"I can remember the first time I had a student that picked up a spoon and begin eating. We had worked with her about a year and one morning she came in and I set her juice in front of her and her food in front of her and it was just like things clicked," said Sue Denman, a Margaret K. Lewis teacher.

But Denman says it's not an easy task without the necessary tools.

"I personally believe Margaret K. Lewis School has been left out for many, many years. I believe this is the best kept secret in Bay County," said Denman.

Administrators say the classrooms are too small to hold all the wheelchairs and other equipment these students need. New technology would provide better assistance for the children. Most importantly, they say the current facility is landlocked, and they believe the school needs to move to a new location.

"Most of our classrooms are getting very crowded and we're really almost maxing out of how many students we can actually put in these classrooms for safety reasons," said Barbara Hardy, Margaret K. Lewis Principal.

Hardy says district officials are looking into a new facility for the future, but nothing immediate is in the works. In the meantime, MKL's teachers will continue touching the lives of their students with the resources they have now.

"Kids that run and play or climb the monkey bars, they take that for granted. But when we can give our students the opportunity to also have that experience, to become that independent and be able to take care of themselves, you give them dignity and self worth, and you can't buy that. You cannot buy what the teachers at this school have been able to afford these students and families," said Hardy.

School Board member Pat Sabiston has expressed support for MKL through this year's budget crisis. She's appealing to anyone in the community to donate land for a new school, just like they did for Breakfast Point Academy. If you'd be willing to donate land you can contact the Bay District Office at (850) 872-4100.