A Parent's Story

BY J.R. COHEN, TJS Alumni Parent

For those of you who want to save yourself some time, skip to the last paragraph. I understand we're all in a hurry, and it seems at times time is running out, just like we were in a hurry to find help for our son. The last paragraph will suit you well.

Moises burst into the world like a firework—strength, energy, excitement, love, creativity, and a fearless, adventurous spirit. From asleep to 500 miles an hour in seconds, he was spectacular to witness, though sometimes exhausting. His playful, unshy imagination lit up our lives, painting every day with color.

But when Moises started elementary school, we saw changes. His spark dimmed, replaced by unfamiliar behaviors and a shift in his very self. We were constantly meeting with his teachers, therapists, and doctors many times a year, our hearts heavy with worry, trying to figure out what we could do collectively. Tests revealed neurological disorders and learning disabilities. We were losing our son, watching him drift in the opposite direction of the vibrant boy we knew. Despite everyone's efforts—ours, the school's, endless meetings—it wasn't enough. Moises was struggling, hurting, and we were desperate to help him thrive again.

We searched for a school that could see him for who he was, not just his challenges. We visited a private school that felt like a miniature version of a typical elementary, middle, and high school. It was friendly and familiar but didn't feel right at the time. Then, at the last moment, Paola mentioned a name: The Joy School. Someone had told her about it, and though I'm known for cracking jokes—maybe to keep myself steady—I was open to anything for Moises. I'd do whatever it took. What happened next was no laughing matter.

The moment we parked and approached The Joy School, it was different. No ordinary school, not even a typical private one. A small sculpture greeted us: We "Heart" Joy School. Stepping inside, we were met with beauty—artistic beauty. I recognized the style instantly, tied to a talented artist I'd met 14 years ago, Hugh MacLeod, Senior Semiotic Designer & Artistic Director at Gaping Void Culture Design Group. Back when I was managing a coffee shop and teaching businesses how to use social media, Hugh and I hit it off at events, bonding over his inspiring art. Now, here it was, covering the walls of The Joy School—quotes and images that spoke to the soul.

But it wasn't just the art. It was the feeling. Genuine smiles from teachers, students glowing as they shuffled to class, and an energy that said this place was alive with care. During our introduction, gathered with other parents, current students, and teachers, Robert "Rob" Wise, Director of Enrollment Management, said something that hit me like a lightning bolt: "We don't want your kids to be here from beginning to end. We want to help them learn and teach them how they can learn so that they can do this on their own at other schools." I'd never heard a school say that. It wasn't about keeping Moises forever—it was about giving him the tools to soar. That was the moment I knew: this was the school for Moises.

Parent-Teacher Conferences at The Joy School? You've never experienced anything like them. You know the saying, "You get out what you put in"? As parents, we were all in, and so was every single person at The Joy School. Your child, the teachers, and you—you're all on the same team. In those first five years of elementary school, Moises was falling further behind, shutting down as a defense mechanism. It was as if shutting down spared him the pain and endless frustration of feeling like he was failing his teachers, his family, and himself. The amount of pain we were in seeing him suffer, doing everything we could, but nothing was working. Another month would go by, and a little further into the dark void he would drift. Many sleepless nights as parents who could not help their child and would do anything to get it to stop. Shutting down became so frequent that we celebrated days he made it through without doing that. It happened at The Joy School, too, but not for long. It didn't take much time for Moises to join in discussions, for his soul to shine again, for his confidence to return.

I have been fortunate to have visited a few places in the world, thanks to my parents. I have seen impressive cathedrals in Europe, one of the most incredible mosques in Morocco, walked the same streets where my favorite artists found their inspiration, and prayed at the Wailing Wall (Western Wall) in Jerusalem. I'm grateful for those opportunities and the beauty they held. Speaking of art, I've seen works that took decades to create and masterpieces like the Sagrada Família in Barcelona, Spain, still unfinished after 140 years. But none of those compares to what I've seen my son achieve at The Joy School these past two years. One of the most beautiful things I have ever witnessed and seen with my own eyes has been the work and love that was put into our son. The last two years, the transformation has been phenomenal, a symphony that just kept building and building. We weren't just getting our son back—we were getting the best version of him. All those years of struggling taught him resilience, making him kinder to others and himself. The Joy School has been an incredible gift not only for Moises but for everyone around him. The Moises you see today is the son we knew we had, the one we feared we were losing. The love, devotion, care, and strength from everyone at The Joy School are truly life changing. The Moving On Ceremony was one of the greatest moments of my life, a celebration of Moises's growth and readiness to soar, perfectly reflecting the school's mission: The Joy School prepares students with learning differences to return to traditional classroom settings by enabling them to reach their academic and social potential in a safe, supportive environment. Simply put: we fix what we can, give them strategies for the rest, and then send them on their way! To my family and friends, thank you for supporting Moises along the way. If you want to know more about how The Joy School changed our lives, call us anytime. We might be the biggest champions of this school and the utter joy it brings to the families who experience it.

To find out more about The Joy School or to sign up for a parent tour, visit our website at www.thejoyschool.org.