Our Story

Many years ago historian and author, C. L Sulzberger, wrote a memoir of his personal and professional life, entitled A Long Row of Candles. He likened the everyday occurrences that make up our existence here on earth to many singular candles, shining on to infinity.

When we look back on our own personal row of candles, it becomes apparent that every step and misstep along the way, whether painful or pleasurable, whether disastrous or triumphant, whether confusing or blissfully clear, was a building block required for the creation of The St. Anthony School.

We have spent a combined sixty years working with children. There have been many faces and names, much laughter, many tears, and so very much love, trickling and flowing in and out of our book of days. There have been moments so beautiful that they have taken our breath away.

The students allowed us to briefly partake in their life stories and to be a part of their "long row of candles." They have all been different, with different gifts and with different issues. And yet, they all required the same things from us: understanding, love, and respect.

Our backgrounds were very different. Tony Cinquepalmi, co-founder and Clinical Director of St. Anthony's, received his Master's degree and therapist's credentials in the 1980's. I received my Special Education certification in the 1970's. In 1992, Tony was hired by New Day of Dallas as a therapist and I was hired as Director of Education. It was there that we worked on and developed the model that would eventually become The St. Anthony School.

After New Day, we took this model to other settings, including hospitals and private schools; however, we were always frustrated by bureaucracies with endless rules and regulations that were anti-education and anti-therapeutic. It seemed that most schools worked to put out the candles, instead of enjoying the light.

Public schools created reams of paperwork that often contained good testing and good ideas. Yet, the teachers who needed to implement these ideas were either too busy or had no interest in them. In the end, learning different students lost their joy, either turning into shrinking violets with no self-esteem, or acting out to free some of the anger and frustration within.

Tony and I knew what to do; we knew how to structure the children's environment so that every moment was not an assault on their senses; we understood how hard it was to pay attention when all noise and activity hit the brain with equal intensity; we were familiar and knowledgeable about medications and side effects; we understood how such a mundane issue as homework actually fostered a cycle of failure; we knew how they learned best and how to remediate their areas of weakness; we knew how to shape behavior; we knew how to work on their social skills--but best of all we knew how to lead them back to loving themselves as worthy, wonderful, and successful students.

We opened St. Anthony's on February 23rd, 1998 with just seven students. I was the teacher, Tony was their therapist, and we had one aide to help in the classroom. There were no salaries for the first six months and we lived on hope, love, dreams, and credit cards. We had no money, no backers, and yet not one doubt or fear that we would not succeed. The vision sustained us day in and day out: understand the children, respect the children, love the children. Everything else would take care of itself.

Many years have passed since that cold, February day when our hearts were on fire with the dream of St. Anthony's. Yet we have maintained our passion for our work and our commitment to special needs children. Our population has grown, our knowledge has increased, and we continue to refine our techniques.

We do not touch on religion at St. Anthony's. Everyone is welcome, no matter what your belief; however, we do teach about character, about the golden rule, about personal freedom. On the walls in each of our classrooms, you will find posted the tenets found in Don Miguel Ruiz's book, The Four Agreements. They are as follows:

1. Be Impeccable with Your Word.
   Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
2. Don't Take Anything Personally.
   Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.
3. Don't Make Assumptions.
   Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
4. Always Do Your Best.

Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.

The years quietly slip by, the chaos of daily life fades, and one remembers that long row of candles as a long row of beautiful faces, walking in our door sometimes defeated and sad, and leaving with the tools necessary for living and succeeding in this world. We employ many techniques and tools in the everyday teaching of these children; yet what I tell my teachers the first day of in-service every year is the same. I heard this from author, Toni Morrison. She said: "What every child looks for every time they walk in the room is for your face to light up." I believe this with all my heart and know that this is always the first step to miracles.

David Green
Executive Director