Brehm Preparatory School
Encyclopedia
Brehm Preparatory School is a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) co-educational college preparatory day
and boarding school
for students with complex learning disabilities, founded in 1982. Brehm Preparatory School is located in Carbondale, Illinois
. The school enrolls students in grades 6-12. The average class size is eight in core content classes and 5 in learning cognition classes. Brehm’s student-teacher ratio is 4:1.
Brehm offers course work in accordance with Illinois’ State Standards. It was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 1992-1993. The school is a member of the National Association of Private Special Educative Centers and the National Association of Independent Schools
(NAIS). The junior and senior high school programs are accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
.
Administrative staff include:
was selected largely due to proximity to resources in higher education
such as Southern Illinois University
and John A. Logan College
.
Weekday activities vary widely and may include swimming, hiking, jogging, Robotics Club, paintball, Art Club, flag football, Future Business Leaders of America Club, bowling, fishing, billiards, tennis, basketball, wiffle ball, soccer, and volunteer opportunities.
Weekend recreation allows for more involved activities such as camping, hiking, trips to St. Louis sites such as the zoo and museums, water parks, sporting events, and Southern Illinois University sponsored events (opera, theater, ballet, lectures, and more).
Individual lessons are also available. They include horseback riding, art and lab classes, gymnastics, guitar, piano, voice, drum, tennis lessons and more. There are also community-based programs available such as boxing, personal training, dance, fitness, and martial arts.
Brehm currently utilizes five on-campus dormitories that house 12-20 students each and three separate honors dorms each serving six students.
Day school
A day school—as opposed to a boarding school—is an institution where children are given educational instruction during the day and after which children/teens return to their homes...
and boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
for students with complex learning disabilities, founded in 1982. Brehm Preparatory School is located in Carbondale, Illinois
Carbondale, Illinois
Carbondale is a city in Jackson County, in the state of Illinois, within the Southern Illinois region. It is located at the junction of Illinois Route 13 and U.S. Route 51, southeast of St. Louis, Missouri, on the northern edge of the Shawnee National Forest...
. The school enrolls students in grades 6-12. The average class size is eight in core content classes and 5 in learning cognition classes. Brehm’s student-teacher ratio is 4:1.
Mission and program
Brehm describes its mission as being "to empower students with complex learning disabilities to recognize and optimize their full potential."Brehm offers course work in accordance with Illinois’ State Standards. It was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 1992-1993. The school is a member of the National Association of Private Special Educative Centers and the National Association of Independent Schools
National Association of Independent Schools
The National Association of Independent Schools is a U.S.-based membership organization for private, nonprofit, K-12 schools. Founded in 1963, NAIS represents independent schools and associations in the United States, including day, boarding, and day/boarding schools; elementary and secondary...
(NAIS). The junior and senior high school programs are accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools , also known as the North Central Association, is a membership organization, consisting of colleges, universities, and schools in 19 U.S. states, that is engaged in educational accreditation...
.
Governance
A Board of Trustees governs Brehm Preparatory School. This board consists of parents of former and current Brehm students, the Executive Director, a member of the faculty, and other interested parties.Administrative staff include:
| Executive Director | Richard G. Collins |
| Associate Director | Brian Brown, Ph.D. |
| Chief Administrative Officer | Walter Tomczak |
| Director of Admissions | Donna Collins |
| Business Manager | Wayne Behm, C.P.A. |
| Director of Information Services and Technology | Joseph J. Viscomi |
| Human Resources and Office Manager | Heather Manis |
| Coordinator of Educational Services | Terri Lynn Douglas |
| Coordinator of Speech Pathology | M. Brad Sims, M.S.,CCC-SLP |
| Director of Residential Services | Teresa Miller |
School history
Mrs. Carol Brehm founded Brehm Preparatory School in 1982. Brehm resided in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, and was the mother of Tyson Brehm, a high-school student with learning disabilities. She founded the school in order to provide a program which would meet the needs of her son and other children with learning disabilities. CarbondaleCarbondale
Carbondale may refer to:*Carbondale, California*Carbondale, Colorado*Carbondale, Illinois*Carbondale, Indiana*Carbondale, Kansas*Carbondale, Ohio*Carbondale, Oklahoma, an area in Tulsa, Oklahoma*Carbondale, Pennsylvania...
was selected largely due to proximity to resources in higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
such as Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Southern Illinois region of the state, with multiple campuses...
and John A. Logan College
John A. Logan College
John A. Logan College is a community college in Carterville, Illinois, part of the Illinois Community College System. As of 2008, it had total enrollment of 7,364 students, including 2,204 full-time students and 5,160 part-time students.-History:John A...
.
Recreation
Brehm has a recreation program managed by full time professionals and staffed by employees from nearby colleges. The recreational program is designed with student input and choice to provide a broad range of structured and independent activities during the after-school and weekend hours.Weekday activities vary widely and may include swimming, hiking, jogging, Robotics Club, paintball, Art Club, flag football, Future Business Leaders of America Club, bowling, fishing, billiards, tennis, basketball, wiffle ball, soccer, and volunteer opportunities.
Weekend recreation allows for more involved activities such as camping, hiking, trips to St. Louis sites such as the zoo and museums, water parks, sporting events, and Southern Illinois University sponsored events (opera, theater, ballet, lectures, and more).
Individual lessons are also available. They include horseback riding, art and lab classes, gymnastics, guitar, piano, voice, drum, tennis lessons and more. There are also community-based programs available such as boxing, personal training, dance, fitness, and martial arts.
Dormitory life
Boarding students are supervised by two dorm parents and multiple assistants. The Dorm Parent works within the residential setting to achieve success socially and emotionally.Brehm currently utilizes five on-campus dormitories that house 12-20 students each and three separate honors dorms each serving six students.