Overview
The Veritas Christian Academy School Within a School Support System offers services to students with varying needs related to:
- Organization
- Academic support
- Remediation of mild to moderate learning differences
- Social skills
- High Functioning Autism
Staff Qualifications
The School Within a School's Support System staff is trained in a variety of methods such as Lindamood-Bell, Orton Gillingham, Precision teaching, and the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis. Socialization skills are taught utilizing the Social Thinking curriculum by Michelle Garcia Winner and other other sources.
Cost of Services
The School Within a School Support System accommodates differing levels of need by using a tiered approach. Families are given the option to reduce or increase support based on the specific accomplishments or needs of the child at the start of the school year and then again at the end of the first semester. The instructional levels of support and instruction range from 5 hours to 40 hours per week. The cost is based on the level of support.
How the Program Began Mark and Teri Muir moved to North Carolina after deciding to leave the fast-paced lifestyle they were enjoying as Mark served as one of Viking Office Products top executives in California. Realizing their son was going to need a special educational environment to realize his potential, they settled in Western North Carolina. In February of 2000, their son Christopher was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. They visited schools all over the United States, and after many hours of prayer and research, taking the best parts of what they had observed, realized that a unique program would have to be developed to best serve students with Asperger Syndrome. Working with Veritas Christian Academy, School Within a School was created, and accepted students for the first time for the 2000-2001 school year.
Now in its tenth year of operation, this unique program continues to make a difference in the lives of the children it serves. Mark and Teri continue to serve as executive directors, although the day to day operation of the program is under the leadership of Caroline Minicozzi, Program Consultant.
