A Place Where He is Seen, Loved and Beginning to Speak

At Shrine of St. Anne Catholic School in Arvada, love, inclusion and faith are helping a second-grader with autism blossom.

Krash, Karvey and Kal Krogh outside of Shrine of St. Anne School in Arvada. (Photo provided)

Shortly after Krash Krogh of Arvada turned two, his parents, Meagan and Josh, had the heartbreaking realization that he was not speaking. Diagnosed with severe autism, Krash has been non-verbal for much of his life, except for a short breakthrough when he was four or five, his mother said.

Now 8 years old and in second grade at Shrine of St. Anne Catholic School in Arvada, Krash is miraculously starting to speak.

“He’s had a really big surge in vocally talking and saying words and requesting things by speaking,” Meagan Krogh explained.

Before this progress began a few months ago, Krash mainly communicated by sign language, leading his parents to what he needed, and by using a spelling board, she said. Now he is saying many words, like “more,” “walk,” and even “I love you.” 

The change seemed to happen overnight, Meagan said, with Krash responding “bye” when she dropped him off at school one day. Days later, at another drop off, Meagan said to him, “Bye, babe, I love you,” and Krash responded, “I love you.”  

‘Blossoming’ and Growing

Meagan, who serves as Krash’s certified nurse assistant, said Krash has “blossomed” in part because of the support and caring he has experienced at Shrine of St. Anne. She said Krash had attended public school last year and struggled.

She credits St. Anne’s principal, Dana Ellis, and special education teacher, Lyndsie Butterfield, for fostering empathy and inclusion and for integrating Krash into the typical classroom for the whole day.

 “They understand both Krash’s educational needs and his need for inclusion, so they keep him part of the class, and the kids and everybody learn from each other,” she explained.

Thanks to Shrine of St. Anne’s nurturing atmosphere, Meagan has seen a boost in Krash’s confidence. In addition to becoming more verbal, he is flourishing socially and academically. His speech and literacy have improved; he is initiating play with new friends, joining in games, and asking classmates to play catch or tickle his hand, she added.

Krash’s father, Josh Krogh, said Krash is also more playful. Josh said he will ask, “Want to play chase?” and Krash will respond, “Chase!”

“It’s just such a joy to see him smile and try to communicate playing and having fun,” Josh said.

Teacher Team Marvels

Butterfield said she spends 15-20 minutes a day with Krash for special needs and whenever he needs a break in her “sensory room,” which has a texture wall, beanbag chairs, “every type of fidget,” and comforts that Krash has brought from home.

Butterfield marvels at Krash’s progress.

“When he started the program, he only said ‘hi,’ but now he talks all day long,” she said.

Krash’s second-grade teacher, Kristen Trinder, also praised Krash’s newfound parallel play with classmates, learning words, showing an interest in math and asking for her help.

‘Christ consciousness’

Trinder said having Krash in her classroom has provided a “deeper sense of acceptance” among all her students.

“Although he is non-verbal,” she said, “[Krash’s] communication with his classmates transcends verbal speech.”

Josh Krogh indicated this “deep acceptance” permeates St. Anne’s.

“You can tell when somewhere is right, and … there’s a Christ consciousness floating through there, just because everyone is so loving towards him,” he said.

Josh stresses that finding that “right place” was the family’s main goal — not any other outcome.

“I think God led us here. So, I’m hoping it’s a really good thing, and a long-term thing,” he continued. “Not in curing autism … but in somewhere that’s a loving place for him.”

Enabling a Catholic Education

Josh Krogh noted that Catholic schools were historically not an option for a child with special needs. But, thanks to a concerted effort by parents, educators and archdiocesan staff, a culture of inclusion took deeper root in Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Denver a few years ago. The FIRE Foundation of Denver was founded in 2021 to support special education in Catholic schools in the archdiocese, and the Archdiocesan Office of Catholic Schools expanded in 2022 to better serve exceptional learners.

Thanks to support from the FIRE Foundation two years ago, Butterfield and Ellis were able to found the Shrine of St. Anne special education program to serve students like Krash.

A ‘quiet rhythm’  

Trinder said a Catholic education offers Krash the chance “to stop and filter out all other noise and to connect with God.” She added that he “loves the hymns sung during our all-school Mass and the quiet rhythm of our student-led Rosaries.”

Butterfield said Krash loves to look at the stained glass and will say “priest” when Father begins to speak.

“God put our school and Krash together, and I truly believe it is another example of God’s never-ending love and faith in us,” Trinder said.

‘Star of the show’

This “never-ending love” manifests in Krash’s effect on his family and the Shrine of St. Anne community, Meagan indicated. The “biggest blessing” has been the great number of students and parents who have told her how grateful they are to have Krash at the school.

“If you walk down the hallway, Krash is … the star of the show. Everyone is giving him high fives,” she said.

Both Meagan and Josh said the family feels “privileged” to have Krash in their lives. He has two brothers — Karvey, 5, and Kal, 3. Karvey also attends St. Anne’s.

Meagan said she does not know what the future holds, but she hopes Krash continues to communicate.

“I just want to know what he’s thinking, so I want to know his favorite color. I want to know what he loves to do. I want to know what his favorite thing is at the park,” she said. “I just want to know what is inside of him.”