By Cindy Adams

Kaylee could create chaos and steal your heart in the same breath. If you ask her Minnick teachers to describe her, you will hear the same exasperated, yet deeply affectionate depiction: She’s a firecracker!

"Sometimes Kaylee wore her princess dress and tiara to school. Sometimes she came dressed like a witch," said Derrick Spence, assistant director of educational services at Minnick. "Oddly enough, when she came dressed like a witch, she was typically well-behaved. But when she came dressed like a princess or wore her high heel boots, you’d better watch out!" 

Her wardrobe, including a police uniform, expressed her energy and personality. And Kaylee is not short on either.

"She is very fanciful," Derrick said.

Equal parts bottle rocket and sparkler, Kaylee blazes bright. She started the Wytheville Minnick Adapted program when she was 12 with minimum communication skills and violent tendencies. She was a challenge.

"It took a lot of time, patience and persistence," Derrick said. "But we always knew there was a good person in there."

They also knew Kaylee was smart, and they learned her ways. Her aggressive behavior was a result of her inability to communicate and her desire to connect.

"When she acted out, she did show legitimate sympathy for her actions," said Rachel Bell, one of Kaylee’s teachers. "She was very remorseful, caring and loving. She just didn’t have control over that part of herself."

Through strong classroom leadership and deep commitment, Kaylee learned to better manage her actions. In time, it became commonplace to find her dancing and singing – the star of her own concert.

"The Minnick staff were well trained to manage Kaylee’s outbursts, and they stuck with her," explained her father, Russell. "They were firm when they had to be and spoiled her when they could. They helped her so much that we were finally able to take her on public outings."

At age 21, Kaylee has now aged out of Minnick services and will move on to an adult day support program. On Kaylee's last day at Minnick, the staff packed her belongings, but Kaylee put them back in her cubby. The staff explained and packed again. She put them back. She didn’t want to leave. The staff didn’t want her to leave. Like the end of a brilliant fireworks show, they were all left wanting more.

"She is precious. She made an impression on all of us," Rachel said. "We will miss the light she brings."