St. Christopher’s Inc. Wins Moving America Forward Award for Giving Education to All

LOS ANGELES - Jan. 6, 2016 - PRLog -- “Moving America Forward,” a nationally recognized entrepreneurial television show, selected Dr. Robert Maher, Chief Executive Officer at St. Christopher’s Inc. and the Greenburgh North Castle Public School District, for his outstanding work in special education. With over 350 day students and 150 in residence students stretching across four campuses, St. Christopher’s Inc. is a nonprofit facility that works with the growing population of disabled children and young adults. Campuses are located in Dobbs Ferry, NY, North Castle, NY, Yonkers, NY and New Windsor, NY.

Mr. Turnbull, former COO at St. Christopher’s Inc. was recently interviewed at the Los Angeles “Moving America Forward” news studio by William Shatner and Doug Llewelyn. As Turnbull explained, the facility is specifically designed to deal with the mental, emotional and educational issues that impede students from being productive American citizens. It is Maher’s multifaceted and successful approach to assisting special education students, grades seven through twelve, that makes this possible. The work is difficult, for most students have been suspended or expelled from their respective districts. Even so, St. Christopher’s Inc. has provided many students’ with the prospect of earning a legitimate high school diploma.

Dr. Maher’s facility creates an environment that targets comfort, security, and continuity, while emphasizing the importance of supporting students, despite past failures. His philosophy of education maintains that all students are given an equal chance to succeed by providing a genuine concern for the positive growth of each child. As a result of Maher’s utmost dedication to accomplishing this goal, St. Christopher’s Inc. has developed an integrated, rigorous educational program, quality residential care, recreational and spiritual activities, and state of the art clinical services. Funding is acquired through state education funds, grants, requests, solicitation, and annual events.

The facility staff includes trained and certified teachers, youth care counselors, and clinicians. St. Christopher’s Inc. is licensed, approved and accredited by the NY State Education Department, the Office of Children and Family Services, and the Council on Accreditation and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Furthermore, Dr. John King, the US Secretary of Education in President Obama's Cabinet, pronounced St. Christopher’s Inc.  as one of the most successful schools and residential centers for graduating students of color with disabilities. The accomplishments of the facility include an 80 % high school graduation rate, which is remarkable considering that all attendees are special education students.

Parallel to the achievements of the St. Christopher’s Inc., Dr. Maher has served with excellence as superintendent, principal, dean of students, professor, and social worker at various institutions across the country. He has received a P.D. and Ed. D. in Educational Administration at Fordham University. His areas of research include, but are not limited to, curriculum design, discipline, and collaborative planning. In addition, Dr. Maher has received professional recognition on numerous occasions: recipient of the New York State Athletic Administrators Association Service Award, the Paul Harris Fellowship, and a Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Man of the Year Nomination, to name a few.

Below is a preview of Turnbull on “Moving America Forward.” Click to watch him discuss St. Christopher’s Inc.’s multifaceted approach to special needs education in America with William Shatner and Doug Llewelyn. Turnbull is the former COO at St. Christopher’s Inc., and was affiliated with the critically acclaimed Boys Choir of Harlem. The interview recently aired on national TV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-YKXkS85RE



Dr. Maher was honored by Shatner with the “Moving America Forward Award” for developing one of the finest organizations in the U.S.A, a school that prepares disabled students for college, employment, and independence.  For more information on St. Christopher’s Inc. please visit http://stchristophersinc.org.