One of the girls, Sarah, has autism and had major problems at her public school.

"She would cry for two hours the night before she had to go to school," said Branigan, who worked with her teachers to try to ease Sarah's suffering.

"But at the end of the day she was miserable and making our family miserable."

Then Casey Palmer, an autism specialist, told Branigan about the Jordan Lake School of the Arts, a private school founded by Beth Kuklinski that opened in October of 2009 at 1434 Farrington Road in the Jordan Lake Business Center ( www.jordanlakesa.com).

Sarah went to the Jordan Lake School for a week in early March to see if it was a good fit for her and to see if she was a good fit for the school.

In that first week, Sarah's crying tantrums ceased.

"Her demeanor is completely different," Branigan said. "She is happier and more content."

At the Jordan Lake School the 20 students are daily immersed in the arts, including visual arts, music, movement, and theater. Sarah, who loves to paint, fit right in.

"Every day they are exploring all of these alternative ways to learn," Branigan said. "For my daughter, it makes a huge difference in doing her focused academic work. I am so grateful I'd do anything that Beth asked me to do."

Kuklinski's motivation for starting Jordan was her son Jon, who was born in March of 2001 and at age two was diagnosed with autism.

"Autism is a heightened sensitivity and a different way of looking at the world," Kuklinski said. "I think there is a strange genius in each of these kids. They have areas in which they are incredibly gifted. The social skills are just things they have to learn. It makes it a trip to navigate the world."

A former educator in the public schools, Kuklinski was keenly aware of how little public school funding there is to provide the special services that children with autism may need. She knew her little boy needed something different.

This urgency, coupled with the fact that her primary education was filled with arts-based learning, led Kuklinski to open Jordan, a year-round school. Tuition is $12,000 for K-8 and $14,000 for 9-12.

"We are looking for out-of-the-box students and for students who have some kind of gift or talent that if marketed correctly could thrive in life," Kuklinski said.

The school has some students with autism or other developmental issues and others who do not have disabilities, she said.

On a typical day children come in by 9 a.m. The school sits near Jordan Lake, and most mornings begin with a hike to the lake.

"We walk down to the pier," Kuklinski said. "We might collect things for arts projects later. The goal is to release anxiety and extra energy and get the students centered for the academic portion of the day."

From 10:30 a.m. to noon students focus on academics.

"Our academics are based on a standard curriculum but more rigorous," Kukinski said. "The afternoon is art, music, theater, science, or project day."

The students are putting together their own show for The Peoples Channel, learning social skills as they act and work together creating.

"We have a student who is interested in cooking, and he will have a cooking segment," Kuklinski said. "He needs mentorship and networking, so if anyone in the restaurant business is interested that would be great."

Behind the school is a path the students created that leads to the lake. They also built a play set in the woods right off the path. Nearby is an outdoor class space.

Nathalie Worthington, a former art teacher and a Chatham County artist who has a studio at the Jordan Lake Business Center, is excited about the school's mission. She sees the effect every day that this type of learning has on its students.

"It gives an outlet by putting materials before them that they can use as tools for communication," Worthington said. "There is also a profound sense of personal completion through the passionate process of art."

The staff includes Eric Davis, a music and arts teacher; Kuklinski; and Colleen Haley, who is working on a master's degree in special education. Kuklinski and Haley are creating their own texts for the school's curriculum, including a science text based on Jordan Lake.

"We are not a therapeutic center," Kuklinski said. "We just provide a different kind of education. Kids have to be ready for an education."

Her son Jon is thriving.

"He was struggling with his writing and now has hast started creating cartoons and stories," Kuklinski said.

The other children are flourishing as well, and forming close friendships.

"There is just the sense that they belong somewhere and are accepted," Kuklinski said. "The kids want to come to school. There is love here. I think the families feel that too to see how happy the kids are."

Branigan said she has seen remarkable progress in Sarah.

"It is just amazing what Beth does," she said. "She took this dream and made it a reality. It is a beautiful thing."