Mary DiCarlo: How Our Family Navigates Life With A Child With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Families with children on the Autism Spectrum face unique challenges and experiences. Each family’s journey is different, filled with both struggles and triumphs. We want to share their stories, insights, and advice to help and inspire other families going through similar experiences. As part of this interview series, we had the pleasure to interview Mary DiCarlo. Mary DiCarlo is a mom of two daughters, Sabrina, 27, a special education teacher, and Summer, 19. She has devoted to her life to being a stay-at-home mother to care for Summer who has autism and other medical issues. Mary lives in East Haven, [...]

Mary DiCarlo: How Our Family Navigates Life With A Child With Autism Spectrum Disorder2024-10-09T19:23:19-04:00

School of the Week: Excel Academy Central prepares students for high achievement

After the student population at Excel Academy South reached 400 students last year, a plan was developed to downsize the school. The result was opening another school in a different location with the same programming. Excel Academy Central opened its doors this school year at Grover Washington Middle School at 201 E. Olney Ave. Just like Excel Academy South, Central is an accelerated school program that provides students who are behind on credits obtain their high school diploma. “Excel South is still in the same location that it was last year and we were able to develop another school with [...]

School of the Week: Excel Academy Central prepares students for high achievement2024-06-12T16:09:25-04:00

Specialized Education Services, Inc. Grows Educational Offerings in Arizona with Acquisition of Two Lexington Life Academy Locations

SESI broadens mission of supporting more students through specialized education and therapeutic services PPHILADELPHIA, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Specialized Education Services, Inc. (SESI), a division of FullBloom, a premier provider of education services for K-12 students who require additional educational and positive behavioral supports to overcome challenges that impede success in a traditional school setting, today announced the acquisition of two Lexington Life Academy locations in Arizona. The schools, located in the greater Phoenix area, serve students with autism through evidenced-based practices, structured learning, standards-based curriculum, sensory integration, and behavior modification. The addition of Lexington Life Academy campuses [...]

Specialized Education Services, Inc. Grows Educational Offerings in Arizona with Acquisition of Two Lexington Life Academy Locations2024-06-12T15:19:23-04:00

Specialized Education Services, Inc. Unveils 2024 Staff and Teacher of the Year Winners

Third annual awards program recognizes team members’ commitment to special and alternative education students PHILADELPHIA, May 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Specialized Education Services, Inc. (SESI), a division of FullBloom, a premier provider of education services for K-12 students who require additional educational and positive behavioral supports to overcome challenges that impede success in a traditional school setting, today broadly announced Shannon Searles as its 2024 Teacher of the Year and Anjel Green as its 2024 Staff of the Year. The annual program honors teachers and full-time employees, including teachers, social workers, behavior specialists and paraprofessionals staff, who exemplify high-quality, evidence-based [...]

Specialized Education Services, Inc. Unveils 2024 Staff and Teacher of the Year Winners2024-05-28T11:40:47-04:00

Quenice Davis: From college basketball star to Sacramento school admin

Quenice Davis is a former San Diego State standout basketball player. Now, she's impacting lives as an administrator at Sierra School of Sacramento SACRAMENTO, Calif. — When it comes to shooting your shot, Quenice Davis gets buckets. The former division 1 college basketball star turned school administrator is scoring at life and dishing out plenty of assists along the way. "I've always known I wanted to go into education," said Davis. "My father was a teacher when I was a little kid. My sister was already in the field, teaching students with autism, and she was like 'Hey, try this [...]

Quenice Davis: From college basketball star to Sacramento school admin2024-05-06T13:09:26-04:00

Graham Academy Students Honored in Wilkes-Barre

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE CO. (WOLF) — April is World Autism Awareness Month. To celebrate the City of Wilkes-Barre honored five students from the Graham Academy. Students and their loved ones visited City Hall Friday morning to officially be declared Fire Chief, Police Chief, Councilperson, and Mayor for the day. The students hosted meetings and helped make some important decisions for the City. The Graham Academy promotes awareness, equity, and access for all with disabilities. "We all need friends, we all need love, we all need jobs, and our kids are not any different in that respect. They need those things in their [...]

Graham Academy Students Honored in Wilkes-Barre2024-04-30T13:31:16-04:00

Environmental groups, schools mobilize for Earth Day across Far South Side

After her brother died of asthma in 2009, Jermica Davis said she felt pulled to environmental justice work. This year, she spent her Earth Day picking up trash around Altgeld Gardens, the public housing community where she and her brother grew up. “When he passed away, that sparked something in me,” she said. “Working in the community, and actually seeing how the environment can affect the community, that is so important.” Schools and environmental groups across the Far South Side mobilized for the holiday Monday, organizing trash pickups and cleanups. Davis was joined by more than 50 volunteers picking up [...]

Environmental groups, schools mobilize for Earth Day across Far South Side2024-04-26T11:20:25-04:00

Life skills olympics help teach real world, practical crafts

Feeding off the positive energy, flashing of cameras and fast-paced competition, Mia Rooks helped her team bring home a trophy in the third annual life skills olympics. At the same time, the competition will help the 17-years-old with her transition plan of attending a four-year university to pursue a degree in social work. “It was an exciting energy, this is my second year going but my first year participating in it last year, I went and I cheered the team on,” Rooks said, “and this year, it was exciting. It’s very loud, but it’s a great energy and it’s nice [...]

Life skills olympics help teach real world, practical crafts2024-04-26T11:11:00-04:00

High Road athletes train for Special Olympics

High Road School students practiced their running and throwing in preparation for this weekend's Special Olympics track meet at Prospect High School. Under the direction of the school's Special Olympics Head Coach and Physical Education teacher Pat Hurst, the athletes ran a series of sprints, then practiced throwing a softball in a shot-put style motion at Maple Trail Park near the school. One athlete, Peter Fleming, who would have the honor of carrying the torch at the Special Olympics event, also practiced throwing a plastic javelin in preparation for that event. “For us to partner with the Special Olympics is [...]

High Road athletes train for Special Olympics2024-04-19T15:23:44-04:00

Taking High Road — To Special Olympics

Local students with special needs prepared last Friday for the upcoming Region B Spring Games held by Special Olympics Illinois. The Spring Games will take place later in April at Prospect High School. Students at High Road School of Mount Prospect, 580 Slawin Court, have been working tirelessly, showing remarkable dedication and enthusiasm for the Special Olympics. Students train under the guidance of PE teacher and coach Patrick Hurst, known as “Mr. Pat” to the kids. Mr. Pat’s involvement with Special Olympics dates to his late teens. With a background in therapeutic recreation, his journey began as he worked at [...]

Taking High Road — To Special Olympics2024-04-19T09:11:29-04:00