Joseph academy

Michael Schack-Executive Director
Excellence in Special Education


CONGRATULATIONS JOSEPH ACADEMY ON 25 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION!

See our article in the Des Plaines Times!

About Us

Joseph Academy is a school serving the needs of young people with severe behavioral, emotional, and learning disabilities.  Our program strives to give hope to our students to become successful in their learning environment.

Joseph Academy provides an environment that is both nurturing and challenging.  We seek to build students’ self-esteem and productivity through a therapeutic program in which staff members constantly express respect and affection for them.

Upcoming Events:

Early Dismissal (12:10)/Parent Night (6-7PM)      May 6

Early Dismissal (12:10)                                       May 16

Early Dismissal (12:10)                                       May 20

No School/Memorial Day                                May 26

Exams/Early Dismissal (12:10)                           June 16

Exams/Early Dismissal (12:10)                           June 17

Parent/Teacher Conferences                          June 18

No School/Graduation                                    June 19

No School                                                        June 20

“There is no easy way to say it: Joseph Academy welcomes the students that nobody else wants”.

                      - Chicago Tribune 12/26/2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Mr. and Mrs. Schack at the 25th Anniversary party 2/16/08.

 

Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate our 25 successful years of service in Special Education!

Our History

Michael Schack,                          Joseph Academy's founder and Executive Director, is a Special Education professional with two decades of experience in the Chicago public schools: Niles, Maine and New Trier Township High schools: The Northern Suburban special Education District of Cook County, several private day and residential schools; and two major psychiatric hospital corporations. Throughout his years working in these various jurisdictions, Schack dreamed of opening a school that could serve students from diverse educational, social, and economic backgrounds who have in common the inability to adapt to ordinary schools. So in 1982, Schack moved his family to a less expensive home and used the capital from the sale of his previous home to turn his dream into reality. Joseph Academy opened Valentine's day, 1983 with three students enrolled.