July Newsletter 2022

 
 

A Message From Our President and CEO

Happy birthday to us. My, how we’ve grown!

What began in July, 1967 as the School for Contemporary Education (SCE), with four students in a tiny McLean, Virginia schoolhouse, is now a nationally recognized, multi-faceted organization with programs reaching hundreds of people every year from the Washington metro area to Baltimore. Over the years, we have expanded to provide four special education day schools and Career and Technical Education programs, along with home- and community-based counseling services.

And we’re still growing! We’ve launched a new nonprofit, SpringForward, to create innovative companies built on our employee-centered framework, which provides tailored support services for those who need help overcoming obstacles to employment. The expansion of our Culinary Arts program at PHILLIPS School ~ Annandale is another of this year’s major initiatives to open new career pathways for our students. 

No matter how large we become, everything we do remains rooted in the approach our founder, psychologist E. Lakin Phillips, established 55 years ago when SCE began teaching children the public schools could not accommodate. Dr. Phillips advocated the use of strength-based strategies that are supported by research and experience. He rejected one-size-fits-all thinking.

“This basic empirical approach supersedes an unquestioning or rigid adherence to any given set of procedures. Flexibility of approach, when based on objective information, is a basic tenet of the organization,” he said.

This is the PHILLIPS Way. We recognize that each child comes to us with a unique mix of needs, interests and abilities. We meet them where they are and develop individualized, evidence-based solutions, drawing on decades of successful experience. Now we’re applying the lessons we’ve learned through our education programs to our new workforce development initiatives.

Dr. Phillips understood long ago that there were better ways to support children who have behavioral health needs and developmental disabilities. He made it his life’s mission to find solutions. Today, we at PHILLIPS Programs understand the need for the work we do is greater than ever. Some members of our staff have devoted themselves to our mission for more than 20 or even 30 years. One of them, Peter Schaffer, will retire next month after an incredible 53 years of service!

One benefit of being in operation for this long is seeing that the impact we have on young people can last a lifetime.

Former students have kept in touch with us for many years, updating us on their progress and thanking us for changing their lives. In fact, we still receive letters regularly from one of the first four SCE students, always addressed to “Doctor Phillips Programs.”

Of course, none of what we’ve accomplished in 55 years could have happened without the generosity of our donors, large and small, who share a passion for our mission. You can help keep PHILLIPS Programs growing by sending us a “birthday present” today. Simply click on our DONATION page, or connect with me by email or phone to learn how you can be part of our Capital Campaign, the Fund for Tomorrow’s World.

Here's to our next 55 years of service and success!

Sincerely,

 
 
 
 

Students in our ESY (Extended School Year) classes have been busy with a variety of projects that made learning fun this summer.

For example, PHILLIPS School ~ Fairfax took a cue from the popular Food Network culinary competition show and cooked up a CHOPPED challenge.

Each classroom was given a basket of secret ingredients that had to be used to create an entrée. The items included Ramen noodles, eggs, flour tortillas and a mystery item from each classroom's store. 

The students showed off their cooking, presentation and service skills to create a unique and delicious dining experience for the judges.

The winning class used all the items in their basket to create an elaborate 3-course meal with a side of phenomenal 5-star service.

What a tasty way to help students develop creativity, practice cooperation and gain confidence!

Join Our Team, Bring Your Personality

This video explains one of the many reasons educators find PHILLIPS such a rewarding place to work.

If you or someone you know wants to be part of a team that’s been changing lives one kid at a time for 55 years, please check the many job openings we now have.

Available positions include:

Behavior Support Assistant at PHILLIPS School ~ Fairfax 

Behavior Manager and Career Education Coordinator at PHILLIPS School ~ Annandale

Assessment and Curriculum Coordinator at PHILLIPS School ~ Laurel

Part-Time Counselor for Building Futures program in Leesburg

New Board of Trustees Leaders

 
 

We wish Dan Irvine all the best as he begins his term as Chairperson of the PHILLIPS Programs Board of Trustees. Dan is a portfolio manager, investment strategy expert and veteran financial software developer at 3Summit Investment Management in Vienna, Virginia. He's been Vice-Chairperson of our Board for the last two years and recently began serving as Treasurer on the SpringForward Board of Directors. 

Our new Vice-Chairperson is Stephen Masten, the founder and CEO of Allegiance Advisory Group in the Washington, DC area. He joined the PHILLIPS Board in 2019. Stephen has been an active participant on the Finance and Development Committee and is excited about the growth and forever-changing environment here at PHILLIPS. 

We also give our deepest gratitude for the leadership outgoing Chairperson Joe Burke provided during two years that were, to say the least, eventful. We're glad Joe will be staying with us as a Board member.

At PHILLIPS, Our Mindset Makes the Difference

 
 

PHILLIPS Programs for Children and Families
7010 Braddock Rd | Annandale, Virginia 22003
703-941-8810 | piper.phillips@phillipsprograms.org

PHILLIPS Programs for Children and Families is a private, non-profit organization serving the complex needs of children and youth living with cognitive, emotional and/or behavioral challenges in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area. Through excellence in specialized education, community programs and individualized support services, we provide our children and families every advantage to ensure they develop to achieve their greatest individual success. Their potential is our commitment.

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