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Summit School provides a caring atmosphere with a deep commitment to the betterment of the students in our care. To create this atmosphere, we integrate:


Academic Services

The Summit School at Nyack operates under a charter from the New York State Board of Regents as a special education secondary school. We collaborate with school districts throughout New York State to provide special education services to emotionally fragile young adults.

Recreational Programming

Many students come to the Summit School at Nyack after long periods of unsuccessful school and social experiences. We believe that teaching students how to recreate in socially appropriate and productive ways is key to helping them gain confidence and independence. For that reason, we have created a dynamic and exciting recreational program designed for students to have fun and learn at the same time.

Intensive Individual Psychotherapy

The Summit School at Nyack’s New York State licensed clinical professionals offer the support and expertise required to guide students towards their strengths and potential. Clinical staff focus on individual work with students and maintain strong contact with the staff working with each student to provide a coordinated therapeutic effort.

Constructive Parent Communication

We partner with parents to learn more about what has and hasn’t worked for their child. We have supportive conversations with parents and the student about setting up behavioral expectations for home visits, and provide weekly updates to parents about their child’s functioning within the program.

Psychiatric Supervision

Our staff psychiatrist meets regularly with Summit’s residential students to investigate the appropriateness of psychopharmacological interventions and carefully monitor the student’s progression if medication is prescribed. Summit’s psychiatrist is an integral part of the students’ care as they provide ongoing support and knowledge to clinical staff and families.

Nutritional Counseling

A registered dietician is available for students to provide nutritional counseling and works with the Food Service Director to offer a variety of healthful eating choices – accommodating all alternative diets options that students may need.

Vocational Counseling

The Summit School at Nyack maintains an ongoing commitment to cultivating job readiness skills, providing effective transition planning, and supplying preparation for post-school employment for all of our students.

College Preparation

Summit students work with their families, clinical staff, teachers, and transition team to ascertain suitable colleges, vocational training programs, and/or supportive housing opportunities.

Transition Planning

We have developed both a hands on-job training program and classroom based coursework to teach necessary life skills. These practical experiences expose students to the skills required to search for, apply for, and maintain employment.

Life After Graduation

The Summit School at Nyack maintains an ongoing commitment to cultivating job readiness skills, providing effective transition planning, and supplying preparation for post-school employment for all of our students. Through the years, we have found that many students enter Summit lacking many of the essential tools necessary in today’s modern work world.

TRANSITIONAL / VOCATIONAL SERVICES GUIDANCE & COLLEGE PLANNING

What our staff has to say:

  • I find it rewarding to build character within my students and develop genuine relationships with them. I’ve learned that every student comes from a different background, and they all have different struggles. From a socio-emotional standpoint, it’s my job to figure out how to best break through their tough exterior and show them that I am here to support them and then academically, I need to figure out how to tailor my teaching style to meet the learning needs of that student.

    Nicole Kuhlmeier, Special Education Mathematics Teacher
  • We really want all sorts of options to be open to our students once they either transfer back to district or they graduate from here, our goal is to open as many doors for our students as we can.

    Jennifer Robertson - LMSW - Director of Care Coordination Nyack
  • Once a student is able to see that they are truly supported by you and how successful they can be when they learn to embrace that support, is what drives me because it is so incredible what strides you can make with that student from that moment forward.

    Kelly Cignarella - Special Education English Teacher
  • We create a world here that protects them, allows them to fall and pick themselves back up as many times as they need. Sometimes that creates a false sense of reality but for many it provides them the opportunity for growth and perseverance.

    Jacqueline Kinsley - School Counselor & CDOS Coordinator
  • If you look at how the students enter Summit and leave it’s been a complete change for most of them. From maturity to respect a lot of my former students have changed. I’d like to believe that we all have had our input in helping these struggling students become young adults.

    Jon Neiderman - Physical Education Teacher

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