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Our Story

Founders of The Joy School

 

 

The Joy School was founded in 1997 by a small team brought together by their passion for creating a school for children who learn differently. The co-founders include Patti Melcher, parent of a special-needs child; Dr. Jerome Rosner, an optometrist with 40 years of research involving children with learning differences; Patti Melcher, parent of Katie, a child with special needs; and Shara (Harmeyer) Bumgarner, at the time an elementary public school teacher.

The founders agreed that The Joy School should be a place of transition and transformation, where students with learning differences would get the help they need and then return to more traditional school settings. They wanted school to be a place where learning was fun rather than frustrating, and kids were celebrated for their progress, rather than penalized for their deficits.

One of Katie's former teachers said, "where there is joy, there is learning." We also knew that the reverse could be true - where there is learning, there is joy - and the name of the school was born.

While students come to The Joy School for help with academic, social, and/or executive function challenges, the most dramatic transformation is seen in the students' sense of self. Students who once described themselves as "stupid" or "just not good at school" return to mainstream schools with improved self-awareness, self-confidence, and most importantly, self-acceptance. Receiving schools repeatedly express admiration of former students' impressive self-advocacy skills. 

Throughout the School's evolution, The Joy School has not only been a haven for students, but a supportive community for all constituents. Families are welcomed by others who understand the unique journey of parenting a child who learns differently. Teachers are supported and empowered to trust their professional judgment to teach students the way they learn best rather than via a one size fits all approach. Other schools turn to The Joy School as a valued resource when they are unable to meet a student's needs in their own environments. 

In short, the school strives to model how school should be, for both children and adults.  

 

1997

 

The Joy School co-founders from left to right: Shara (Harmeyer) Bumgarner, Dr. Jerome Rosner and Patti Melcher.

2000

 

The Joy School moved into a house built in the 1940s located at #1 Chelsea Boulevard, and added a temporary building to its backyard.

2001

 

After learning enrollment was full, Cathy & Frank Montgomery had a new classroom built in the porte-cochere for their daughter Kate and five additional students.

2003

 

The Joy School received
its first accreditation
through the Texas
Association of Accredited
Private Schools.

When the doors opened in 1997, The Joy School had just four students. Today it educates approximately 160 children from kindergarten through eighth grade and serves families from approximately 40 zip codes throughout the Greater Houston area.

 

 

 

2010

 

Under the leadership and ten-year tenure of Board Chair Mary Watt, the School embarked on a $10 million Key to the Future capital campaign to unify four properties and construct a permanent building. 

2011

 

The Joy School became the first school in Houston for students with learning differences to be granted accreditation through the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest.

2013

 

The construction of the Crosswell and Reckling building was completed, and its doors were opened to many more Houston children with learning differences. 

 

For the first time, the School made the list of Houston Chronicle’s Top Workplaces with a special award for Meaningfulness.

  Since our inception, we have witnessed hundreds of Joy School students with learning differences successfully mainstream to traditional school environments.   

 

2019

 

Led by Lisa Stone, the Board of Trustees secured a 44,000-square-foot parcel adjacent to campus and launched the $17.5 million Dream Big campaign to fund the land and a multipurpose activity building for expanded student programs. 

2020

 

The COVID-19 pandemic forced global school closures, prompting a shift to online instruction; after months of remote learning, The Joy School reopened in September with health protocols to ensure safety.

2022

 

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, The Joy School received a $3 million gift from the Ed Rachal Foundation—the largest in its history—securing naming rights for a new multipurpose activity building to honor Mary and Dick Watt's dedicated service.

2023

 

The 11,000 sq. ft. Mary and Dick Watt Activity Center was completed, offering expanded opportunities and programming to support every student on their journey from struggle to success.

 

 

 

 

Thank you for your interest in The Joy School!

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