Today, we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Hurd.
Hi Vanessa, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I love bringing powerful visions to life for kids and families in San Antonio, and I had the opportunity to previously do that as the Founding CEO of the DoSeum and throughout my 27-year career as a nonprofit educational leader.
The Rise School is a powerful model for early childhood education that has a 50-year track record in Alabama, Colorado, and four other cities in Texas. Rise is an inclusive model, bringing together students ages 1-6–both with and without developmental delays–to learn together in a way that highlights each individual’s strengths.
The Rise School of San Antonio is opening THIS August on the CHRISTUS Children’s Hospital downtown campus. We’re starting with two classes, one for children ages 12-24 months and one for children 25-36 months.
The model is special in several ways. First and foremost are the people: we hire three highly trained teachers for each group of 12 students. There is also a classroom helper. That means that every child gets a lot of attention along with the support she or he needs. Second is the fact that we are full inclusion, meaning 50% of the kids have special needs, 50% are typically developing, and 100% learn together. Finally, we combine learning and therapy to transform the learning environment into a therapy-rich environment and to avoid taking children out of the classroom for services.
Each week, speech, occupational, physical, and music therapists spend time in classrooms leading group activities, small group and individual follow-up, and observing and coaching teachers. By working together, teachers and therapists transform the classroom into a place where therapy is happening all the time. Since children develop differently, it also means that both developmentally delayed and typical learners all get the skills they need to thrive in kindergarten and beyond.
Finally, the Rise School will meet a critical need in San Antonio. Early Matters, the advocacy organization for early childhood education, is mobilizing our community to increase the number of high-quality, affordable options for families. Of particular need are options for children with special needs. The Rise School will be an important part that efforts to meet needs in San Antonio.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
We are thankful to have the support of CHRISTUS Children’s, which is providing pro-bono space for the school on its downtown campus. We are renovating the space to accommodate the Rise School’s needs while also building new playgrounds. Designing and building bring lots of opportunities–and some headaches!
Enrollment is underway, and we already have a good number of families who have chosen The Rise School based on their child’s learning needs. Earning the trust of parents and caregivers to care for their most precious resource understandably takes time, and we are doing everything we can to earn that trust.
Finally, we are trying to shout from the mountaintop that Rise is committed to being financially accessible to as many families as possible. While it is a tuition model, we are fundraising–with good results to date–for financial aid and scholarship dollars. We estimate that at least 50% of families will be able to receive financial assistance. So, if you are interested in the model, please apply! We are excited to work with you and your child!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a builder! I love bringing people, ideas, and resources together around powerful visions.
I love the energy that comes with building organizations from the bottom up–getting the right people in the right seats, training them in a way to ensure they are successful, building culture, securing financial support, you name it. I am a very mission-driven person who is particularly passionate about educating children in a way that ensures broad-based opportunity, regardless of family circumstances.
The Rise School speaks to me both personally and professionally. I have a 19-year-old son with special needs and most certainly would have sent him to the Rise School had it been available in San Antonio. He’s now in college, and his journey underscores the importance–and the benefits–of early child interventions. And throughout my career, I have been focused on strengthening the educational ecosystem in San Antonio.
Alright, before we go, can you talk to us about how people can work, collaborate, or support you?
There are many ways to support the Rise School of San Antonio! First and foremost, we need readers’ help to spread the word. We feel so blessed to be able to bring this powerful model to San Antonio and want as many people as possible to know about the resource.
We are seeking donations to help our teachers fill their classrooms with books, toys, and educational manipulatives. Later in the summer, we’ll also be looking for volunteers to help with opening day activities, along with office helpers, once the school year starts. You can find details on all of these opportunities on our website.
We’re also fundraising for financial aid and scholarship dollars to make the Rise School accessible to as many SA families as possible. You can donate through our website: www.RiseSchoolSA.org.
Pricing:
- Tuition is $1250/month.
- Ample financial aid available.
- The Rise School is committed to being as accessible as possible for families across our city.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.RiseSchoolSA.org
- Instagram: @riseschoolsa
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Rise-School-of-San-Antonio/61553205244895/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rise-school-san-antonio/
