Sappo School Announces New Name and New Location

Sappo School today announces its new name and new location. The newly named Journey Prep School will be located at 50 Cherry Street in Farmingdale, New York.

Sappo School was founded 25 years ago as an independent, non-religious, K-12 private school for students who would benefit from more attention, smaller classes of not more than 15 students and individualized learning programs. Today as Journey Prep School, under its motto “One School. Many Paths,” offers instructional programs tailored to: General Education, International, Anxiety/ADHD, and Dyslexia/Reading Disorders.

This rebranding coincides with the launch of Journey Prep’s new reading program designed for children with reading disorders, specifically dyslexia. The enhanced reading program will feature three full reading periods, five days per week, with reading skills integrated into every content based lesson. The program will provide two teachers in every content area classroom, for a teacher to student ratio of 1-to-7.

“The expansion of our services with a specialized reading and language arts program for children with dyslexia and language-based learning differences is a natural outgrowth of our tailored, personalized approach to education. Our goal is prepare every child for their journey, wherever life takes them,” said Steve Souhrada, President. “Journey Prep School is a more reflective name for the school we have become today.”

Souhrada also announced that Dr. Concetta Russo, who has more than 35 years expertise as a learning specialist for children with reading disorders and dyslexia, has been named Director of Reading at Journey Prep School.

Dr. Russo is President of the International Dyslexia Association of Long Island, and was formerly Director of Special Education for a prominent public school district in Nassau County. She has taught full time at Seton Hall University and St. John’s University and has written and presented extensively on learning disabilities, dyslexia, autism and technology.

“Helping dyslexic children learn for over 35 years, I have customized a language arts program, based on the Orton Gillingham (OG) methodology, that uses a multi-sensory approach, emphasizing accurate decoding and encoding skills,” Dr. Russo noted. “Our goal with this new reading program is to close the academic gap between potential and performance, help students overcome their learning challenges and have the opportunity to return to their academic environment in their home district,” she added.

Souhrada noted that prior to establishing the Journey Prep School’s dyslexic reading program, students had to travel to New York City, Westchester or Connecticut for this type of instruction.

“Journey Prep School will continue to examine the needs of Long Island families and make decisions based on how we can best serve every child who can benefit from individualized instruction in a welcoming environment,” he stated.