Bishop’s junior started Set4School to support students after own experiences with dyslexia

“For most of my life, I honestly thought I was just bad at school,” said Kalia Roper, the 17-year-old Solana Beach resident and teenage founder of Set4School, a nonprofit working to shatter the stigmas around dyslexia and to ensure all students receive the support they need to meet their full potential.

For years, Kalia struggled with spelling mistakes, trouble reading and poor grades that left her feeling frustrated and insecure in every classroom she was in until she hit high school. She describes feeling like she was always swimming upstream, trying to catch up. Midway through her sophomore year at The Bishop’s School, she was diagnosed with dyslexia.

“The day I was diagnosed was one of the best days of my life,” Kalia said. “Looking back, I remember that it felt as though a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. It reframed years of shame and frustration and validated my feelings all along. I started learning about the different types of dyslexia and once I understood how my brain works, everything changed. I learned new strategies: my confidence grew, and my grades followed. My diagnosis completely shifted how I saw myself—and it made me wonder how many students are still struggling silently, just like I did. Spellcheck shouldn’t be the first dyslexia accommodation kids get.”

Determined to help other students like herself, Kalia started the nonprofit Set4School. Focusing on early diagnosis and awareness, she met with educators and specialists and did her own research, building an online platform full of information and resources. One of those helpful resources is a  Dyslexia Recognition Certification Course, which took Kalia about three months to put together, writing the modules herself and getting help from a close family friend on the website and tech.

Community service has always been important to Kalia—since 2021  the St. James Academy graduate has run the Backpack Giveback drive, distributing new and gently used backpacks filled with supplies to help support students in need. This past summer, she spent three weeks in Costa Rica where she gave out 50 backpacks and certified  20 teachers with her Dyslexia Recognition Certification, translated into Spanish.

At Bishop’s, she is the vice president of  Key Club, helping to organize service projects and partnerships for her peers. She also helps lead the Middle School Mental Health Club, mentoring younger students.

“I’m now thriving academically and personally – finally knowing what works for me,” Kalia said. “Dyslexia is not my weakness; it’s my perspective. If my story helps one more student feel seen, then every effort was worth it!”

What do you most want people to know about people with dyslexia?

I want people to remember that having dyslexia isn’t a burden—it’s a superpower. We just process the world differently, and that difference can lead to so much creativity and innovation. Dyslexia taught me how to problem-solve, how to work hard, and how to think in ways that others might not. That’s something I would never trade.

There are some signs parents should watch for in their children – most are, of course, age related.

• Difficulty rhyming or remembering song lyrics
• Confusing similar letters (b/d/p/q)
• Avoiding reading aloud
• Trouble summarizing stories
• Spelling inconsistently (same word spelled multiple ways)
• Reading fatigue or frustration
• For bilingual children – persistent struggles beyond normal language delay

Have you had any positive feedback since starting Set4School?

Yes, and honestly, that’s the best part. One of my favorite messages came from a third-grade teacher from a private school in the College East area who said that she recognized early signs of dyslexia in a student who was then evaluated and is now getting the resources needed to succeed—exactly at the age when intervention makes the biggest difference. Early intervention can change a child’s life. Getting that email reminded me why I started all this in the first place.

What are your goals for the nonprofit?

Don’t wait – Evaluate is the motto and my biggest goal is to make sure no student ever feels unseen or misunderstood the way I once did. I want to keep raising awareness, and encouraging early diagnosis by showing teachers and parents what to look for early.  I want to remind students that learning differently isn’t something to hide—it’s something to be proud of. Grades don’t always tell the full story.

To learn more, visit set4school.org