Today we’d like to introduce you to Catherine Trapani.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Catherine. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
The Piedmont School of Atlanta (TPSOA) is the result of a collaboration between parents of children formerly attending the Early Intervention Program of the Marcus Institute. Founding parents envisioned a curriculum that addresses all of the need of Their children. The goal of the School is to circumvent obstacles presented by learning, social-emotional challenges and limited life experience and enable children to evolve into independent adults, possessing options and making meaningful contributions to their communities.
Our student-designed logo best tells our story. Three mountain ranges represent the three core areas of learning embedded in our daily curriculum: Academics, Social-emotional development, and Adaptive life skills. The challenges our students experience often make their path to success a long and winding process. Thus, the long and winding road in our logo joins each of the mountain ranges comprising our curriculum. Each year, children and staff identify “trail markers” that consider every specific need.
The evolution of the School and its vision brought us to our current location on the beautiful campus of Oglethorpe University. There, the University’s motto, “Make a life. Make a living. Make a difference, is consistent with the vision and values of The Piedmont School of Atlanta.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
A new school is never established easily or without challenge! The Piedmont School has been moving forward slowly and consistently over the past seven years.
Early challenges included finding appropriate space and identifying children who would best benefit from attending the School. Certainly, creating a curriculum that satisfies the regulations of the State overall, and within each of the subject areas is challenging. Likewise, meeting the needs of the student population collectively and individually also presents opportunities for creativity.
Clearly, Piedmont is poised on a road to move forward even more in the next years. The students are wonderful and as homogeneous a group as can be identified among children with language, learning, and social challenges. The setting of the School and the environment is respectful and serene providing positive role-models to children and adolescents.
The curriculum meets and exceeds state and national core standards using a project based and collaborative learning model. Incorporating community-based outings that reflect classroom learning helps students to fully comprehend the meaning of their studies.
The Piedmont School of Atlanta – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The Piedmont School of Atlanta offers a comprehensive program to school-aged students (K- High School) who have typical cognitive skills but have a diagnosis of difficulties in language, learning, and social-emotional skills. Students with language-based and generalized learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders, and autism may benefit from instruction at Piedmont. Because the School focuses on a regular education curriculum, it does not accept students with behavior problems.
Programming is comprehensive and reflects current educational research. The children participate in small classes with a high student-teacher ratio. Adults and peer models provide attention and assist students in making connections between what they are learning, why they are learning a particular skill, and how effectively they are interacting with peers.
The Piedmont School is known for its structure in assisting students in making connections between subjects they are learning and within one lesson to the next. Moreover, the School is known for consistently providing students with opportunities to make choices and have a voice in the direction of their education at the School.
In the past few years, The Piedmont School has been named a National Demonstration School by Boxlight Inc. and has received a STEM grant. The School has also been a pioneer in delivering an extensive curriculum in culinary arts in conjunction with the Cook’s Warehouse.
The School is proud that children are equipped to independently study things that interest them. The School is also proud that students attending Piedmont notice the needs of others in the community and seek opportunities to be philanthropic and empathic citizens.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4484 Peachtree Rd., NE
- Website: www.tpsoa.org
- Phone: 404-382-8200
- Email: catherine.trapani@tpsoa.org
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