Clyde Henry

Clyde Henry

Clyde Henry was born in Alexandria, Minnesota, in 1950. He started in public school at Washington Elementary, but was moved to Saint Mary’s Elementary when it opened in 1957. There, without any professional assessment, he and other children who suffered from a variety of physical or mental shortcomings were placed in the “Special Needs Room.” There he remained for six years. Stanley James his disturbing, critically acclaimed novel is based on this time. At age twelve he moved on to public school, where his learning and speech disabilities were diagnosed and treated.

In 1973, despite his learning disabilities, he graduated Magna Cum Laude from St. Cloud State College. He then served as the director of the Art Department at The Education Center of Bonao, Dominican Republic. During his service he participated in its accreditation as the world’s first American accredited bilingual school.

He then returned to the United States and founded The Learning Tree in rural Appalachia. The Learning Tree met the needs of newborn to school-age children with programs in language, dance and art, as well as childcare, and tutoring. The Learning Tree pioneered mainstreaming. Learning and physically handicapped children were seamlessly incorporated into the comprehensive educational programming. Even children with Down’s Syndrome were incorporated into the fabric of this innovative learning environment. Recognized for his leadership role, he was appointed by then Governor Rhodes to the Ohio Daycare Advisory Board, where laws for the care of children were pioneered .

In the 1980’s he continued his education, receiving a Master of Architecture degree from The Ohio State University in 1987. In 1997 he co-founded TRIAD Architects. He served as the firm’s first president, bringing TRIAD Architects from a four-person operation to a nationally recognized firm licensed in 38 states. Working with BASA (Buckeye Association of School Superintendents), he developed the BASA/TRIAD School Facility Conference where he promoted community-based school design and facilities that are planned to meet the needs of all children, regardless of their abilities. Among the programs he developed is CROSSROADSTM, which has been recognized by the KnowledgeWorks Foundation and the Rural School and Community Trust as an effective and authentic community participation program. It has been the subject of numerous publications. Recognized for his work with historical and community schools, he has received numerous awards and gubernatorial appointments from three governors to various state advisory boards.

In 2005 he and his wife Janet returned to Alexandria for his class reunion. After the reunion, Clyde was moved to write Stanley James, the story of learning disabled children in a Catholic school during the 1950’s. Though all the names are fictitious and the events are too altered to be non-fiction, the novel still tells the story of the disabled children. It is an account of heroism and nobility told with humor, truth and compassion.

In 2007 he retired to devote time to charitable work, writing and community building.