St Stephens Lutheran Academy

PO BOX 70

Zelienople, PA 16063

3 Reviews

School District
Grade

1-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on May 19, 2023

I know very well that the options can be appallingly sparse when you have a son or daughter with special needs. Even so, I plead with every parent: do not send your precious child to St.Stephen's . Despite the optics on which we were sold, and which were maintained through each staff encounter or IEP meeting-- that of being a well-designed, transparent, supportive, safe environment staffed by well-trained staff who understand how to care for the developmental, social-emotional needs of the human beings in their care-- it is none of those things. My now-young adult child is irreparably, profoundly traumatized from the years they spent at St. Stephens, with crippling PTSD that negatively impacts their whole life. I HAD NO IDEA THE ABUSE MY CHILD WAS EXPERIENCING. As they resisted going to school, deteriorated, became easily agitated, etc, I naively accepted staff explanations and the perspective of their relentless behavioral lens that identified any problem as my child's attitude and faulty perception. In reality, it was complex PTSD and, as time progressed, my child's attempts to protect themselves. The PTSD and its source is absolutely UNDENIABLE. Some of the somatic re-experiencing is dramatic, extremely specific to things that happened, and heart-wrenching, complete with sweating, heart racing, inability to speak. Related hyper-vigilance has affected all of their future relationships and ,activities, caused unquantifiable mental and emotional distress, and deeply exacerbated other conditions. There are staff members at this school who were irreparably harming my child and deeply scarring them for the rest of their life, who would then play the friendly professional, looking me in the eye, pretending to be my child's advocate, and lying to my face. There are no words for the feelings about this.There is no recourse now. There would not be enough "proof", and no doubt staff would only continue to override and deny the very real experiences of someone with less social power than they have. I only wish that no one else go through this, and to this end I leave this here.
Submitted by parent on March 15, 2018

Poor...... Very difficult to deal with on most levels....they talk a good game but the follow-up is mostly non-existant. I fully expect that this review will never see the light of day due to the administration suppressing it. This school is the only alternative for students with learning disabilities and those in need of emotional support in the area and the school conducts its self as such, meaning we are the only game in town and we will act however we please.
Submitted by parent on April 01, 2015

St. Stephens is a fantastic school. Our son could not manage himself in s traditional school setting. At St. Stephens he excelled and learned how to handle his emotions. St. Stephens provided a loving and safe environment where each child is respected and families are supported. St. Stephens always included us in decision making and goal setting for our son. If not for this school, we do not believe our son would have graduated high school. Excellent school for children who just cannot make it in a traditional school.