Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Garrison.
Elizabeth, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Notre Dame School was founded in 1963 by the School Sisters of Notre Dame with only 19 students. They started with only 19 students. At that time, there were no classroom programs for students with intellectual disabilities in Dallas. In 1972 when the school moved to the University of Dallas campus, enrollment had grown to 108 students aged 6 to 12. In 1973, a vocational component was added to the school programs to serve the needs of older students aged 13 to 21. Notre Dame moved to its current location in the Uptown area of Dallas in 1989. This central location has allowed for expansion and offers additional opportunities for vocational training. The school currently serves 155 students aged 8 to 23.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Notre Dame School receives more applicants than we can accept. Due to the needs of our students, we strive to keep a low student to teacher ratio of 10:2 in each classroom. That is 10 students, one teacher and one teacher-assistant.
The enrollment process takes time to allow for pre-placement visits with the potential families. After the family interview and careful review of testing/evaluation scores, if the child appears a fit for our program, we then invite the student to spend a day or two the appropriate classroom. Therefore, it is a lengthy process. We strive to admit students who will be a good fit for our specialized education programs.
In keeping with our mission, Notre Dame School accepts qualified students regardless of their ability to pay our tuition. We also set our tuition rate at half of what it actually costs to educate our students. Therefore, we must raise over ONE MILLION DOLLARS every year for our operating budget. That is a big challenge!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Notre Dame School of Dallas – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Notre Dame School is the only school in Dallas that exclusively serves students with developmental disabilities.
In line with our mission, Notre Dame School strives to integrate our students into society so that they become contributing citizens. We have a successful community-based-training program whereby our students explore their career interests and begin to develop the independent living skills what will help them to live and work in their communities. They participate in community training and job exploration at off-campus sites at least twice a week.
We also have an amazing vocational program for students ages 18 – 22 which partners with 30 local businesses to give our older students meaningful work. Students work off-campus in both paid and non-paid job internships in local businesses such as Trader Joe’s, Methodist Hospital, Whole Foods, CitySquare, Frontiers of Flight Museum, SPCA and several law firms.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We are looking at future expansion of a post-graduate program to serve our older graduates.
Pricing:
- Tuition for 2018-19 = $9,250
Contact Info:
- Address: 2018 Allen St.
Dallas, TX 75204 - Website: www.notredameschool.org
- Phone: 214-720-3911
- Email: egarrison@notredameschool.org
- Instagram: Notre Dame School of Dallas
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheNotreDameSchoolofDallas
- Twitter: Notre Dame School of Dallas
- Yelp: Notre Dame School of Dallas
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
