Magnolia Speech School to Celebrate 70 Years of Helping Children Find Their Voice

Magnolia Speech School will celebrate 70 years of serving children and families with a special anniversary celebration on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to noon at the school.

The celebration will honor Magnolia's seven decades of helping children with hearing impairments and language disorders develop the communication and learning skills they need to succeed. The event will include tours of the school, with a guest speaker, and special dedication planned for 10:30 a.m.

The date holds special significance for Magnolia Speech School. Sept. 26 is the birthday of the school's founder, Elizabeth "Libba" Matthews, who established Magnolia in 1956 after a group of Jackson parents came together to find better ways to educate their children with hearing impairments learn to communicate through listening and spoken language.

What began as a single class of seven children has grown into a specialized school serving children from across Mississippi. Over the past 70 years, Magnolia has expanded its educational and therapeutic services while remaining committed to one central belief: every child deserves the opportunity to find their voice and reach their full potential.

The school's 70th anniversary theme, "A Legacy of Hope," recognizes the generations of educators, therapists, board members, volunteers, donors, families and students who have shaped Magnolia Speech School and made its work possible.

"Seventy years is more than a milestone—it is an opportunity to honor the past, celebrate the present, and build the future," said Executive Director Angy Graham. "A legacy is not what we leave for people; it is what we leave in people. For 70 years, Magnolia has been built on the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to find their voice to communicate, learn, and thrive. That belief has shaped our work, touched thousands of children and families, and continues to guide us today. Celebrating this milestone on Mrs. Libba Matthews' birthday makes it even more meaningful as we honor her vision, celebrate the lasting impact of her legacy, and look forward to the future we are building together."

During Matthews' leadership, Magnolia developed its program for children with hearing impairments using the Association Method, a phonics-based structured, multisensory approach to language development. Over the years, the school expanded its services to include specialized education, speech and language therapy, audiological services, early intervention, and other resources designed to support students and their families.

Today, Magnolia Speech School continues its mission of empowering children with hearing, speech, and language disorders to find their voices and reach their full potential. Through specialized education, therapy, and listening and spoken language instruction, Magnolia equips their students with the communication skills, confidence, and independence they need to learn, connect, and thrive. By partnering with families and preparing students for success in their schools and communities, Magnolia helps ensure that every child has the opportunity to be heard, understood, and fully engaged in the world around them.

The Sept. 26 celebration will provide an opportunity for the Magnolia community and its supporters to reflect on the school's history, celebrate the people who have carried its mission forward and look toward the next chapter of its work.

"We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has believed in Magnolia over the past 70 years," Graham said. "This anniversary is not only a celebration of our history. It is a celebration of hope for the children and families we serve today and for the generations still to come."

About Magnolia Speech School: Founded in Jackson in 1956, Magnolia Speech School provides specialized education and therapy for children with hearing impairments and language disorders. Through listening and spoken language instruction, specialized teaching, speech and language therapy, audiological services and family support, Magnolia equips children with the communication and learning skills they need to succeed in school, at home and in life. For 70 years, Magnolia has been a place where HOPE speaks, voices are found, and futures take shape.