The Woods Schools
Leadership
Mary O’Neil
Vice President of Education Programs
Suzanne Zabicki
Principal, Gardner School
Joseph Schroeder
Principal, Crestwood School
Specialized Education Programs for Students with Complex Needs
At The Woods Schools, we provide comprehensive, year-round special education programs designed to support students with educational, emotional, behavioral, and medical needs. Our programs serve children and adolescents who benefit from highly structured instruction, therapeutic supports, and individualized care.
Our mission is simple: help every student grow, succeed, and move closer to achieving personal goals—both in school and in life.
A Licensed and Accredited Special Education Program
The Woods Schools are fully licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education as both a Private Licensed School and an Approved Private School.
We strictly follow the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), ensuring that every student receives a high-quality, compliant, and individualized education aligned with state and federal standards.
A Multidisciplinary Team Supporting Every Student
Each classroom is led by certified special education teachers and supported by a multidisciplinary clinical team that may include:
- Occupational therapists
- Speech-language pathologists
- Physical therapists
- Licensed clinicians and psychologists
- Nursing staff
- Direct support professionals
- This team-based approach ensures students receive consistent, coordinated, and wraparound support throughout the school day.
Individualized Learning Through IEPs
At the center of our educational model is the belief that every student learns differently and deserves a personalized pathway to success. All instruction is guided by each student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). Through the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process, families, students, educators, therapists, and support professionals collaborate to develop goals that reflect each learner’s strengths, interests, abilities, and aspirations.
Students participate in academic instruction, social skills development, therapeutic programming, adapted physical education, technology education, art, music, sensory experiences, community-based learning, and career exploration opportunities that support whole-child development.
Building Communication, Social, and Behavioral Skills
Many students with disabilities experience challenges with communication, social interaction, and self-regulation that can affect learning.
Our educational programs focus on:
- Increasing functional communication skills
- Strengthening social interaction and relationship-building
- Reducing behaviors that interfere with learning and safety
- Building motivation, confidence, and self-advocacy
We recognize that skill development and behavior support are deeply connected and address both simultaneously.
