Greenwood was founded in 1978 by Tom and Andrea Scheidler, a couple with a vision and a belief that students with language-based learning disabilities have both the same intellectual needs as any other children and are equally full of promise. Through their experience with students fitting the Greenwood profile, the Scheidlers found that indeed such students were eager and bright. The program they developed not only featured individualized, remedial help in language and in math, but also provided the standard course material of an enriched, pre-preparatory curriculum in literature, science, history, music, dramatics, woodshop, sports, and art. Greenwood students also learned and continue to learn practical skills in a creative environment.
Funded and supported since its inception by knowledgeable parents and professionals, Greenwood has grown with each successive year. The school has greatly expanded its campus facilities, and our enrollment has grown from an initial 28 students to our planned maximum of 47 (42 boarding students and 5 day students). With the aid and support of hardworking trustees, parents, faculty members, and friends, we have attained national recognition as a model pre-preparatory school for boys with learning difficulties.
In 2008, The Greenwood School formed a partnership with the Yellow Barn Music School and Festival, the nation’s preeminent nonprofit chamber music summer program (www.yellowbarn.org). There are two positive results of our partnership with Yellow Barn. First, this partnership presents many exciting opportunities to strengthen our music program offerings and to collaborate with professional musicians. The second benefit of our partnership with Yellow Barn, is the construction of eight cabin-like classroom buildings that give us nine new much needed classrooms. The partnership with Yellow Barn has given us a new revenue stream, new classroom buildings, dormitory improvements, and a symbiotic relationship with a thriving non-profit organization.
Over the years, our program and family atmosphere have proven successful in helping boys to gain confidence and to express themselves through academic work. Our year-end school plays have left audiences shaking their heads in disbelief: “We can’t believe these students have learning difficulties” was, and is, a common refrain. While they do have learning disabilities, one after another of the graduates of our program successfully enroll at recognized secondary schools.
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