Joseph academy

  CONGRATULATIONS 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:

Summer School Begins(12:10 Dismissal)               July 8

2008-2009 ISBE School Calendar

Don't forget! The Annual J.A. Golf Outing - Aug. 4 For information call (847)803-1930

“We are regarded as the 'go-to' school by Lake, Cook and DuPage Counties.  We are the specialist”.

          - Michael Schack, Executive Director

 Mr. and Mrs. Schack at the 25th Anniversary party.

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

The History of a "School of Hope"

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.