Pioneer Day School - SchoolHistory

The vision of Pioneer Day School began in 2001 in the back yard of a 9 year old boy with severe autism. As a special education teacher, it was my responsibility to provide a comprehensive educational program in a 10' X 15' bungalow ,one on one, with no other children or adults present.

To better understand the restrictive nature of this environment one must first understand the nature of Autism. Autism is a complex developmental disability affecting 1 in 150 individuals. It is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain, impacting development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills, often resulting in extremely difficult behaviors that require specialized educational methodologies and programming.

The establishment of this "back yard" school was the direct result of many failed attempts to provide an appropriate setting for this child in several different public and private school programs throughout San Diego County. This student had an extensive history of extremely difficult behaviors. Over the course of several months, due to the restrictive nature and isolation of attending school in a back yard bungalow, meaningful progress was minimal. Eventually, due to a family crisis that directly impacted the student, his behavior instantly deteriorated and he had to be taken to a residential program in New Jersey, 3000 miles away from his family.

While it has been several years now since I last saw him, I can still remember that "something" deep in his eyes that told me every day that there was a key, a solution waiting to be unlocked, and every day I knew that we could have, easily, done so much more to create an environment in which he could have learned to be successful socially, emotionally and academically. As a direct result of this experience, the dream of Pioneer Day School emerged.

A poet once said that dreams beget reality. It would seem that Pioneer Day School, now in its fifth year, is proof of such optimism. Therefore, it is with a most humble heart that on behalf of the students, families, and staff at Pioneer, I thank all who have contributed to the advancement of our cause, a school where students with unique learning styles can flourish and realize their own potential as contributing members of our community.

Since 2003 our team of teachers and therapists and the families and students of Pioneer Day School have worked diligently to realize the dream of a school where above all else, the individuality of each and every child, regardless of ability level, is respected and celebrated.