Delta School on Byberry Road in Northeast Philadelphia is an amazing place.
It is a fully accredited school for children with special needs due to autism, neurologic or emotional issues that make mainstreaming them in public schools highly problematic. It has been around since 1958 on a lovely small campus. Children from surrounding Philadelphia, its suburbs, and New Jersey can send their students here for a quality education geared to their individual requirements. The administration, teachers, and staff are specialized and totally committed to their mission.
I was fortunate to discover Delta School and its CEO, Stanley Stein, as part of the Newtown Creek Coalition's work to protect and preserve the natural watercourse that runs through our community. Delta owns property right along the Creek (smart investment), and our non-profit approached theirs about doing projects together to create an access to the Creek in a natural, inviting setting that could be utilized by walkers, hikers, bikers, and students. Open Space funding is available to make this happen, but it takes time and understanding of what is possible in exchange for what is given up. As the lead for this effort, I sought out Delta School and arranged a meeting to give them our vision, and their part in it if they wished to share.
We are in preliminary discussions, but having the opportunity to visit the school, talk with the visionaries running it, and watch some of the students on campus, was heartwarming and laden with respectful appreciation of what was going on there.
The world is a much better place for Delta School.
May they continue to help children change their lives and prepare them for the road ahead. read more