Over the previous 4 many years, consciousness, sensitivity and teamwork have been key methods for serving to youngsters with disabilities study on the Tiegerman College.
Dr. Ellenmorris Tiegerman, CEO of Tiegerman College and Group Providers, headquartered in Glen Cove, has been working her faculties, which function a state-approved personal faculty program for kids with language issues and developmental disabilities, since 1985.
“I think the most important thing to help a child with a disability is a parent who is very aware, very sensitively attuned, who is willing to step out and look for a program that is a match for the child,” she mentioned. “Because the parent has to work with a teacher to address the child’s needs. It’s really the three of them working together over time that will overcome the disability.”
Tiegerman is a life-cycle company that works with youngsters and adults with developmental disabilities and their households from Lengthy Island and NYC. It additionally has day-treatment packages and three residences offering providers and houses for adults with developmental disabilities.
“We have a range of programs and services, all the way from preschool, elementary, middle, high school and day treatment programs,” Tiegerman defined.
The preschool program’s curriculum consists of theme-based classes that develop essential language and tutorial abilities, tailoring actions to every baby’s Individualized Training Program, referred to as an IEP. Classes put together the scholars for elementary faculty. Right here, staying aligned with NYS studying requirements, the varsity’s Tiegerman Extraordinary Language & Literacy (TELL) program offers classes in studying, writing, listening, and talking, integrating phonics, literature, and Quick ForWord for auditory processing assist.
Center faculties present group and particular person counseling to assist college students’ emotional well-being and likewise function a complete curriculum, together with a tailor-made training. Come highschool, packages function not solely lecturers however life abilities that assist put together college students for faculty, careers, and independence.
Tiegerman Faculties have about 600 college students enrolled, and its language program is a centerpiece of all of the packages supplied, Tiegerman mentioned.
“We really believe that language is a software program, and we are experts at teaching the extraordinary,” she mentioned. “Our teachers are extraordinary, our children are extraordinary and our parents are extraordinary. But we know about language learning.”
Dr. Ellenmorris Tiegerman began a community of faculties and providers for kids and adults with disabilities in 1985.Photograph by Bob Giglione
Roughly 400 academics are on employees on the preschool, elementary, center, and excessive faculties. All are skilled within the Tiegerman Studying Methodology, which emphasizes language growth and language facilitation within the classroom.
“Each classroom is a language laboratory where children learn to speak, to communicate, to ask questions and to read,” Tiegerman described.
Tiegerman faculties sometimes have 12 college students, two academics and two instructing assistants in every classroom. Most college students begin their training at Tiegerman in early childhood and keep by highschool commencement.
Historical past of Tiegerman
Tiegerman’s path to making a community of faculties and providers started with a deeply private expertise.
When her youthful sister misplaced her means to talk after a childhood accident at a NYC park at age 4, Tiegerman noticed, even at a younger age, how alone language challenges could make a toddler really feel.
Shortly after the accident, her father, who labored for the NYS Insurance coverage Fund on the time, threw himself into serving to his daughter talk once more—all as he labored his full-time job to assist the household.
He borrowed cash towards his pension to buy faculty books and different supplies and instantly went to work establishing a coaching program for his daughter to show at house.
“I watched him work with her every night for 12 years,” Tiegerman mentioned. “And when she graduated high school, she gave him her diploma and said, ‘Mommy gave me my first life, and you gave me my second life.’ And that was my transformative experience as a child and why I started Tiegerman Schools.”
Not solely did Tiegerman’s sister study to talk once more, however immediately she is a training doctor in Manhattan.
Tiegerman was a speech and listening to professor at Adelphi College in Backyard Metropolis when she began the faculties—beginning with a preschool class of 36 college students. At this time, she not solely runs the Tiegerman faculties but additionally day-treatment packages and residences for adults with developmental disabilities.
fortieth anniversary
Tiegerman faculties are having fun with a fortieth anniversary this 12 months. A gala to have fun the event will happen at The Inn at New Hyde Park on Could 8.
“We welcome visitors and guests to help celebrate what has been an unbelievable journey of love and success,” Tiegerman mentioned.
The gala will honor board member Paul Rosen, one of many authentic households whose daughter was enrolled in Tiegerman, and Toya Davis, a board member whose son was one of many authentic college students. Toya stays energetic within the faculty 40 years later as a mother or father liaison, working with current mother and father and potential mother and father.
They will even honor Christine Baker, Instructor of the Yr and Christine Austin, Tiegerman Group Providers.
