SVS Names Mascot in Honor of Longtime Advocate for Dyslexic Students

Spring Valley School (SVS) is excited to announce its first mascot to make appearances at sporting events and other SVS community gatherings designed for school spirit to shine. “Boss” the Bulldog is named after the family nickname of longtime major supporter of SVS students Lathrop Smith, Jr.

Lathrop led a life of purpose and determination, and his contributions to the Birmingham community will be remembered for years to come. He began and ended his career at Industrial Supplies, Inc. (ISI). Under his leadership as President from 1971 to 2003, he grew the business to expand internationally. He was also a lifelong member of Independent Presbyterian Church (IPC), and fulfilled multiple leadership capacities within the IPC Foundation. Lathrop served on several other boards: AmSouth Bank’s Birmingham Regional Board, Lakeshore Hospital Foundation, Darlington School, American Heart Association (Birmingham Chapter), and the Baptist Health Foundation. Of great personal importance throughout his last decade of life, Lathrop generously supported scholarship funds for SVS students and was inspired to do so given his personal life-long walk with dyslexia.

The idea to honor Lathrop in naming of the SVS mascot was presented by a Reading Interventionist currently serving SVS students.

“I remember attending a seminar that SVS was offering to the public where I was first introduced to Lathrop. It was the way that our Executive Director spoke about him that I knew he meant a great deal to the school, and to her personally, as they share the common thread of representing and advocating for the needs of students with learning differences,” SVS faculty member Stephanie Glass explained.

SVS students welcomed Boss the Bulldog to the Spring Valley Family with a pep rally where the track team and inaugural basketball team were also recognized for both concluding successful seasons this spring.

About Spring Valley School (SVS)

Spring Valley School (SVS), located in Birmingham, Alabama, is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory school for grades 1-12, whose mission is to provide excellence in education for bright students with learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. SVS utilizes small class sizes, specially trained educators, and multi-sensory teaching approaches to meet the varied learning abilities of their students. Connect with SVS on Facebook - @SVSAlabama, Twitter - @SVSbham, LinkedIn or Instagram - @springvalleyschoolal.