December 29, 2022

I couldn’t find the right educational fit for my daughter.  Eliza had cerebral palsy.  She was intelligent, curious, and social but was non-verbal and non-ambulatory. I wanted the same things for her that any parent wants: happiness, purpose, and the opportunity to choose her path in life. To have those choices you need an education.  Public schools didn’t give the right support, private schools wouldn’t take her, and special needs schools were too special and too restrictive.  She didn’t fit anywhere.  So, as a parent, I did what any parent with no experience in education would do, I started a school.

Starting a business is never easy; starting a school is exponentially harder.  There are specific zoning requirements, building codes and requirements, and employee requirements. One has to find a site, secure funding for construction, and then actually design and build the school (unless you have a very large home).  Then you have to convince families that you are the best option for their children to learn and grow.  In this mini-series, I’ll share with you some of the pitfalls of the first five years respectively and how you can avoid them.

Year One:  The importance…