About the St. Anthony School

Schools can be strange and foreign lands for children with learning differences. They begin school motivated and eager to learn. Something happens along the way to derail this love of learning, something happens to dull the gleam in their eyes and the curiosity in their soul, something whispers "you are not enough".

Some withdraw and are overcome with sadness, too young to identify or understand the pain that comes with feeling different. Others act out or become the class clown, reaching for attention of any kind that will force the world to acknowledge them.

It was obvious to the founders of The St. Anthony School that there was a better way and a better model to teach these wonderful children–a model that built self-esteem instead of destroying it, that reinforced academics and success in life instead of defeat. There was a way to turn these children around and break the cycle of failure. With structure, patience, and love, our students can look at school once more as a warm and accepting place.

Tony Cinquepalmi and David Green

In 1998, well-known therapist, Tony Cinquepalmi, and prominent educator, David Green, opened the doors to The St. Anthony School. After a combined 57 years of experience in public and private schools, treatment centers, and hospitals, they gleaned the best of every academic and therapeutic setting to establish a haven for the learning different students of this country.

Having seen the amazing results of therapists working alongside teachers in a classroom, the unique St. Anthony model was created. Classrooms are designed to emulate the warmth of a home with the structure needed by our students to succeed both academically and socially.

Individualized Academics and Small Student to Teacher Ratio

The St. Anthony School employs individualized academics, a small student to teacher ratio, the structure of a level system for motivation, and social skills classes to boost self-esteem and ensure success.

St. Anthony's has proven extremely effective with Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Disorder, Bi-Polar Disorder, school phobia, Anxiety, Depression, and Spectrum Disorders.

The St. Anthony School respects students as members of a team, responsible for their own behavior and progress, yet bolstered by the combined efforts of teachers, therapists, and parents.

About Penney the Wonder Dog

Penney made her entrance into the world on January 13th, 1998. Six weeks later she was ushered into the lobby of The St. Anthony School wearing nothing but red ribbons and a lot of attitude.

She was an instant celebrity on campus and has been a constant source of pleasure (except for the time she grabbed a first grader's bologna sandwich and disgraced herself under the sofa with the purloined lunch).

As a puppy and young girl, she enjoyed (at least we assume she enjoyed) going down slides, sitting in laps while swinging, and being worn on various young heads as a wig. She has been hugged almost to the point of suffocation, and has dried up enough tears to fill a swimming pool. She has been playmate, confidante, and constant source of love and comfort to a generation of St. Anthony's students. She has been a quiet lapdog while eleventh graders did their math, and a white, running rocket, chased by a host of squealing first graders. In short, she has been a true friend.

These days, Penney works in the Administration Building, curled up by the fireplace on cold days, and waits for her friends to come and visit. She gives kisses when knees are skinned and unconditional love when feelings are hurt. She is the undisputed secret weapon of joy on our campus.